Police raid five locations including home of Lee Hye-hoon over alleged illegal housing subscription and favoritism

Police have launched a compulsory investigation into former lawmaker Lee Hye-hoon, whose nomination for Minister of Planning and Budget was withdrawn over allegations of abuse of power and favoritism.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) announced on the 9th that it conducted search and seizure operations last week at five locations, including Lee’s residence.
In December last year, Lee became embroiled in a series of allegations, including her eldest son’s fraudulent apartment subscription, verbal abuse and abuse of power toward aides, preferential treatment in military service for her second and third sons, preferential admission for her eldest son to Yonsei University, speculative real estate investment on Yeongjong Island, and evasion of gift tax. As the accusations mounted, President Lee Jae-myung decided in January to withdraw Lee’s nomination.
In the same month, the civic group Citizens' Action for Establishing Judicial Justice filed a complaint against Lee, her husband, and their eldest son over the alleged fraudulent apartment subscription by the son, accusing them of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes and other laws. Following this, police assigned eight complaint cases related to Lee to the Financial Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
The SMPA has also opened a pre-indictment inquiry (preliminary investigation) into eight additional staff members of Saekdongwon, a residential facility for people with severe disabilities in Ganghwa County, Incheon, over allegations including sexual abuse. As a result, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Saekdongwon Case Special Investigation Team is now conducting pre-indictment investigations into a total of 12 individuals on suspicion of violating the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act.
Police are conducting a full-scale survey of 87 former residents and 240 staff members who have passed through Saekdongwon since it opened in 2008, in an effort to identify additional victims.
At a regular press briefing held the same day, a police official explained, "Of the total 87 residents, 25 have already passed away and 62 remain, and we have completed interviews with 20 of them," adding, "We are still working to reach the remaining 42." The official continued, "New matters requiring verification keep emerging, so we are carrying out additional investigations."
On the 27th of last month, police referred former Saekdongwon director Kim, who is accused of violating the Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes and the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office under arrest. Two former Saekdongwon teachers, who had been investigated without detention on suspicion of violating the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act, were also handed over to prosecutors.
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter