'Baekhyun-dong Allegations' Gyeonggi Nambu Cheong Investigation Team Smaller Than Burning Sun

Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit 100 Members
152 Deployed for Single Burning Sun Case
Insufficient to Uncover Truth of Daejangdong and Baekhyeondong Cases

Kim Jin-tae, Chairman of the People's Verification Special Committee of the People Power Party, and Representative Kim Eun-hye visited the so-called 'Retaining Wall Apartment' in Baekhyeon-dong, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 2nd to inspect the site. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo, Sehee Jang] The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency is handling politically sensitive cases such as those in Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong in Seongnam, but there are concerns that the current investigative personnel are insufficient.

According to a compilation of Asia Economy's coverage on the 7th, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency is conducting investigations into development-related allegations or complaints filed in its jurisdiction, including Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong in Seongnam and Gongheung District in Yangpyeong. All these cases are related to presidential candidates from both ruling and opposition parties, and with less than a month remaining until the presidential election, a full-scale investigation is inevitable. Inside and outside the police, there are remarks that "the current personnel of the Gyeonggi Southern Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit are insufficient to uncover the substance of these cases."

The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, led by Chief Jeong Myeong-jin and including section chiefs from divisions 1 to 3, consists of about 100 investigative personnel. Although this is a considerable size internally within the police, it is still overwhelming to handle these cases.

For example, during the past investigation of the single Burning Sun case, the police deployed 152 personnel but still failed to clearly uncover the core facts. Moreover, the Gyeonggi Southern Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit is also handling numerous general complaints and accusations besides the Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and Yangpyeong Gongheung District cases, making a full-scale investigation difficult.

Even looking at the Daejang-dong Allegations Task Force formed by the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency with Kim Kwang-sik as the investigation chief reflects the current difficult situation of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit. The Daejang-dong Allegations Task Force includes divisions 1 and 2 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit, but it is known that they are also investigating other general complaints and accusations besides the Daejang-dong allegations. It is a task force in name only. Typically, investigative agencies reinforce personnel through dispatch when there is a shortage of investigators. However, it is reported that there are currently no plans to reinforce personnel in the Gyeonggi Southern Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit. A representative of the unit stated, "We will proceed with the investigation based on personnel transfers rather than separate work support."

Experts, however, express concerned views about this situation. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University said, "The fact that these cases are related to presidential candidates seems to be a burden," but added, "If there is a will to investigate, it would be possible to form a task force (TF) and conduct focused investigations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.