'Alpensia Bid Interference' Allegation... Former Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon Sent to Prosecution

Gangwon-do Cheong officials and KH Group affiliates among 3 sent for prosecution... 1 overseas resident wanted
Fair Trade Commission confirms both bidding companies are KH Group subsidiaries... Police investigation requested

Choi Moon-soon, former Governor of Gangwon Province [Photo by Yoon Dong-ju]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Choi Moon-soon, former governor of Gangwon Province, who had been under police investigation for bid-rigging allegations related to the sale of Alpensia in Gangwon Province, has been sent to the prosecution.

The Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency announced on the 7th, "We have referred former Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon to the prosecution on charges of bid interference."

It was confirmed that former Governor Choi, who gave final approval for the sale of Alpensia, was questioned by the police at the end of last month as a suspect.

The police also sent one public official related to Gangwon Provincial Office and three others, including Bae Sang-yoon, chairman of KH Group, which purchased Alpensia Resort, to the prosecution.

One KH Group official currently staying overseas has been placed on the wanted list.

Previously, Gangwon Province invested 1.6 trillion won to build Pyeongchang Alpensia for the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

After the Olympics, facing financial difficulties, Gangwon Province attempted to sell Alpensia Resort through its first public auction in 2020, but after four failed attempts, it sold the resort last year to KH Gangwon Development, a subsidiary of KH Group, for about 710 billion won.

During this process, both companies participating in the bid were confirmed to be subsidiaries of KH Group, raising suspicions of bid-rigging.

In September of last year, the Fair Trade Commission detected signs of collusion during the Alpensia Resort bidding process and requested a police investigation.

The police conducted raids on the Japanese Gumi Trade Division and Investment Attraction Division of Gangwon Provincial Office, as well as on KH Group, the final successful bidder for Alpensia Resort.

The police secured evidence and circumstances indicating that former Governor Choi interfered with the bidding process during the resort sale and booked him without detention.

Meanwhile, during his tenure as governor, former Governor Choi has also faced criticism for causing serious financial damage to Gangwon Province, along with allegations of unfair contracts related to the development of Legoland.

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