Prosecutors Summon and Question Moon Government Blue House Personnel Secretary Over 'Blacklist Allegations'

Investigation Speed of Ministry of Industry Blacklist Allegations

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The prosecution investigating the 'blacklist allegations' during the Moon Jae-in administration has summoned and is currently questioning Kim Woo-ho, former head of the Ministry of Personnel Innovation, who served as the personnel secretary at the Blue House at the time.

According to the legal community on the 13th, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Seo Hyun-wook) is questioning Kim Woo-ho, former head of the Ministry of Personnel Innovation. Kim served as the personnel secretary in the Presidential Personnel Secretary's Office during the Moon Jae-in administration from 2017 to 2018. He then served as the head of the Ministry of Personnel Innovation from March last year until May this year.

Kim's summons and questioning are interpreted to be related to the blacklist allegations involving the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Previously, the prosecution has been investigating to uncover the substance of allegations that heads of government-affiliated agencies under ministries were unfairly forced out under pressure from higher-ups early in the Moon Jae-in administration.

Recently, the scope of the investigation has been expanded to determine whether the Blue House was involved as the higher authority in urging the resignation of heads of affiliated agencies.

The investigation into the blacklist allegations during the Moon Jae-in administration began when the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, filed a complaint in January 2019 accusing four individuals including former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu of abuse of power. At that time, the Liberty Korea Party claimed that the presidents of four subsidiaries of Korea Electric Power Corporation collectively resigned early in the Moon administration due to pressure from higher-ups in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

In late March, the prosecution launched a forced investigation related to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy blacklist by conducting raids on nine public institutions and subsidiaries under the ministry.

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