Prosecutors Indict Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and 2 Others Over 'Blacklist Allegations'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has indicted former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and two key aides on charges related to the so-called 'Oh Keo-don blacklist' allegations, which involved pressuring executives of public institutions under the city government to submit collective resignations during his tenure.

On the 8th, the Anti-Corruption and Strong Investigation Division of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office indicted former Mayor Oh, Park Mo, a special policy advisor who was a key aide at the beginning of Oh's term, and Shin Mo, an external cooperation advisor, without detention on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.

The case concerns allegations that after former Mayor Oh was elected in the June 2018 local elections, the Busan city government pressured about 40 executives, including heads of 25 public institutions under the city, to submit their resignations around the time of his inauguration. At that time, the Busan branch of the Liberty Korea Party (now the People Power Party) filed a complaint with the prosecution against six city officials, including senior bureaucrats, on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of rights.

In particular, former special policy advisor Park was a close aide who worked alongside former Mayor Oh in four local elections. He also served as a policy advisor when Oh was Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and was known as the 'King Advisor' after taking the policy advisor role in Busan, wielding significant influence in the city government.

Before the indictment, the Busan District Prosecutors' Office conducted searches of Busan City Hall and other locations in November last year and recently summoned key related individuals to question them about the allegations as part of the ongoing investigation.

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