Lee Hwa-young's 'concentration of alcohol' case, Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency investigates

Police investigating the so-called "prosecution drinking conciliation" case of Lee Hwa-young, a former deputy governor of peace in Gyeonggi Province, said they transferred the case from the front-line police station to the provincial police office.

At a regular press conference of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency held on the 7th, the police said, "Considering that it was a case that attracted social attention, there was a suggestion to transfer (from the front police station), and accordingly, the case was transferred to the anti-corruption and economic crime investigation team of the provincial Nambu Police Agency within a week of receiving the complaint."

The police said, "It is too early to tell the investigation situation. We will strictly investigate according to the procedures," adding, "We will investigate the accuser in the near future, and if necessary, we may investigate Lee Hwa-young."

Lawyer Kim Kwang-min, a former deputy governor's lawyer, filed a complaint with Suwon Nambu Police Station on charges of violating the law on the execution of the sentence and treatment of prisoners on the 25th of last month.

Former deputy governor Lee claims that there was a drinking conciliation, saying, "Salmon dishes and alcohol were prepared in the prosecution's investigation office, and we had a drinking party with Kim Sung-tae."

The police are also speeding up their investigation into election cases that came before and after the April 10 general election.

Police said they are investigating 280 people in connection with 209 cases of complaints and accusations against the Public Official Election Act. Of them, 25 were elected and 14 were defeated.

The investigation into Yang Moon-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been suspected of reporting a reduction in property and making expedient loans, has recently ended, and the investigation is in full swing. Among the related suspicions, the police have reportedly decided to investigate the allegations of property reduction reports and the prosecution has reportedly decided to investigate the allegations of expedient loans.

The investigation into Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Joon-hyuk, who was accused of causing a stir due to remarks on sexual favors by Ewha Womans University students, has been investigated by the accuser.

Regarding the preferential hiring of children by the Election Commission, the police investigation is still "tentatively suspended" as the Board of Audit and Inspection asked the prosecution, not the police, to investigate after the audit.

A police official said, "We planned to investigate the results of the audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, but the Board of Audit and Inspection asked the prosecution to investigate," adding, "We will decide whether to proceed with the investigation after coordinating with the prosecution."

Date: 2024-05-07

Reporter: 서화목