Police Conduct Search and Seizure at City Hall for Jeong Jang-seon, Pyeongtaek Mayor, on 'Third-Party Bribery Charges'

Allegations of Coercion in Hiring Close Associates... Forced Investigation at Pyeongtaek City Hall and Others

The police have launched a forced investigation into allegations that some service contracts related to the Pyeongtaek Eco Center project were unfairly signed with personnel from Mayor Jeong Jang-seon's campaign during his candidacy.

On the 22nd, according to the police, the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency conducted searches and seizures at Pyeongtaek City Hall, Pyeongtaek Eco Center, the Environmental Business Division of Company H, the former residence of the ex-CEO of Company H's subsidiary, and the residence of A, a close associate of Mayor Jeong, in connection with allegations of third-party bribery against Mayor Jeong. It was confirmed that the mayor's office and residence were excluded from the search targets.

Jung Jang-seon, Mayor of Pyeongtaek [Photo by Yonhap News]

The police are investigating whether Mayor Jeong pressured Company H's subsidiary, which was in charge of the Pyeongtaek Eco Center project, to sign a service contract with A, who was active in his campaign during the candidacy period. Company H's subsidiary was selected as the preferred negotiator for the Pyeongtaek Eco Center development project in January 2015.

The crime of third-party bribery applies when a public official does not receive a bribe directly but has another person receive it on their behalf.

Located in Haechang-ri, Godeok-myeon, the Pyeongtaek Eco Center is the largest environmental complex facility in South Korea, covering an area of 58,000 square meters, processing waste generated in Pyeongtaek and Anseong cities in Gyeonggi Province. After being selected as the preferred negotiator for the Pyeongtaek Eco Center development project, Company H's subsidiary began construction in 2016, and the center started operations in December 2019. Currently, Company H's subsidiary has merged into Company H, and the Environmental Business Division of Company H is managing the Pyeongtaek Eco Center project.

Mayor Jeong denied the allegations against him, stating, "There is absolutely no such fact."

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