Police Search Korea Water Resources Corporation... Related to 'Hwang Hee's Quid Pro Quo Sponsorship' Allegation

Charges Including Violation of the Political Funds Act

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police have launched a forced investigation into Hwang Hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism), who is accused of receiving paid sponsorship funds from Korea Water Resources Corporation (hereinafter referred to as K-water).

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 12th that they conducted a search and seizure at the headquarters of K-water located in Daejeon earlier this month.

Hwang is suspected of proposing legislation favorable to K-water and receiving political donations.

According to Kim Yeji, a member of the People Power Party, in February last year, when Hwang was a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee in 2018, he proposed a bill allowing K-water to construct buildings and operate rental businesses in the Busan Smart City, an innovation industry promotion complex.

After the bill passed, it is known that from 2019, Hwang received political donations totaling 10 million won over two years from a senior executive directly under the president of K-water.

In response, the Civic Group for Judicial Exam Preparation filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in the same month against Hwang and two others, including a director at K-water, on charges including violation of the Political Funds Act. The complaint was transferred from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

A police official stated, "We are currently analyzing the seized items following the search and seizure."

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