The second special counsel launched compulsory investigations into the Public Procurement Service and others over allegations tied to the transfer construction of the presidential office and residence.
The special counsel said in a media notice on the 12th that starting at 9:50 a.m. that day, it was executing search and seizure warrants on the Public Procurement Service and others to secure evidence related to construction contracts over allegations tied to the transfer construction of the presidential office and residence.
The residence transfer allegation is that the interior firm 21gram, which does not have a general construction license, won a no-bid contract for the residence expansion construction through ties with first lady Kim Keon-hee, and that in the process, government ministry budgets were illegally spent.
Earlier, the special counsel searched and seized related ministries including the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to secure related materials.
This week, a series of investigations is scheduled for senior officials of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration involved in the residence transfer.
On the 13th, the special counsel plans to summon former First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim O-jin as a suspect. Kim, the former vice minister, was arrested and indicted last December by the "Kim Keon-hee special counsel team" on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights in connection with the allegations.
On the 14th, the special counsel plans to summon former presidential senior secretary for general affairs Yoon Jae-soon as a suspect, and on the 15th, former presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-gi, respectively.