Police assign Cho Hee-dae case over alleged official business expense irregularities to Metropolitan Investigation Unit; considering assignment to Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit

[Financial News] A complaint concerning allegations over Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s official business expenses has been assigned to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit. Police are considering having the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit within the Metropolitan Investigation Unit take charge of the case.
Hong Seok-gi, chief of the National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency, said at a regular press briefing held at police headquarters in Seodaemun District, Seoul, on the 27th, “Now that a complaint has been filed, we will proceed in accordance with the law and procedures.”
According to police, a complaint submitted by a civic group to the National Office of Investigation (NOI) on the 14th was transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and assigned to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit on the 27th.
Allegations had previously emerged that the records of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho’s official business expenses listed more people than had actually attended the meal. The National Court Administration explained that the entry was a clerical error by a staff member and that Chief Justice Cho was not involved.
Investigations are also underway into allegations of fabricated credentials involving the child of independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon and an alleged cover-up of a past police investigation. Police received a complaint on the 14th and assigned the case to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit on the 19th. Hong said the complaint also includes the alleged cover-up, and that police would investigate by analyzing the complaint and questioning the complainant, among other steps.
Regarding his comment the previous day at the National Assembly Security and Public Administration Committee’s comprehensive audit that the donation of 50 laptops by a lawmaker’s child was “not reasonable,” Hong clarified that he was not judging whether a crime had been committed. He explained that he meant only that a high school student’s donation of 50 laptops was unusual by ordinary standards, and that he had not judged whether the facts were false or whether a crime had been committed.
On the possibility of a separate review of the past police investigation into allegations involving the lawmaker’s child, Hong said a decision could be made after reviewing the investigation’s findings. He explained that whether investigators at the time had deliberately failed to pursue parts of the case, as well as the conditions under which the investigation was conducted, should be assessed in light of the circumstances at the time.
Asked about Serious Crimes Investigation Agency chief Kim Ji-hoon’s comment that some past police investigations appeared to have been “buried,” Hong avoided offering a specific assessment, saying, “It is not appropriate to comment on statements by another agency.”
Regarding the Hangang Bus rebate allegations referred for investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a request for investigation was received on the 16th and a complaint on the 20th. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit is investigating the case, questioning some Seoul city officials and analyzing related materials.
Addressing allegations that the investigation involving lawmaker Kim Byung-gi was being handled with undue deference to those in power, Hong said, “Absolutely no such thing is happening,” and added, “We are investigating in accordance with the law and principles.” He declined to comment on specific investigative matters, such as plans for additional questioning.
Allegations including that Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Seung-won sought favors for approval of a clinical trial for a new drug were initially investigated by Yeongdeungpo Police Station, but were transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 19th in light of the case’s seriousness and investigative conditions. A separate sexual harassment allegation is being investigated by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Unit.
In connection with allegations that Kang Ho-dong, chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF), misused public funds and received money and valuables, which the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs referred for investigation last April, one suspect has been referred to prosecutors in custody. Investigations into the remaining matters are continuing.
Police have completed questioning people around Jeong Won-oh, the former head of Seongdong District, as well as questioning Jeong himself, in connection with allegations including violations of the Public Official Election Act.
Hong added that while the timing and duration of investigations can vary depending on the circumstances of each case, police do not handle investigations differently based on the individuals involved, in response to allegations of biased investigations raised by political circles.
Police said that, regarding allegations that North Korean information technology (IT) workers had obtained jobs in South Korea under false identities, no direct harm of the kinds raised in the question—including identity theft involving citizens, or information leaks, hacking or extortion targeting domestic companies—had been confirmed to date.


[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter