By Lee Kyung-min
The prosecution searched a sports organization, formerly headed by presidential secretary for political affairs Jun Byung-hun, over a corruption allegation, Tuesday.
This is considered a move to disprove the opposition party’s claimed “political retaliation” against two former conservative administrations.
Investigators of the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office searched Korea e-Sports Association in Mapo, Seoul, and the home of a person surnamed Yoon, the former assistant to Jun.
Prosecutors executed court-issued arrest warrants for Yoon and two others. They are suspected of pocketing part of the 300 million won ($270,000) Lotte Homeshopping donated to the association in 2015. They are also suspected of embezzling the association’s funds and receiving gift certificates from the business group.
The prosecution is looking into whether Jun pocketed part of the donations in return for any favors.
Jun first came under suspicion for his alleged involvement in the creation and management of the slush fund of the nation’s fifth largest group’s home shopping mall business last year, but managed to avoid questioning.
Jun flatly denied the allegation, saying he was never involved in any illegality.
Meanwhile, the search comes amid intensified recent prosecution investigations to “eradicate accumulated social ills.”
Prosecutors have questioned many figures involved in a suspected government-led scheme to use resources and capabilities of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the military to orchestrate online campaigns to shape public opinions to boost the then administration’s interests.
Former Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin was questioned earlier in the day over an allegation that he regularly briefed former President Lee Myung-bak about efforts led by the Cyber Command of the military to carry out an online smear campaign in the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election and the upcoming general elections.
Kim denied the allegation, saying the Cyber Command’s task was to detect and fight activities of North Korea-led propaganda undermining the country’s systems and institutions.
Kim’s stance is consistent with that shown during a National Assembly inspection in 2013.
Former head of the state-run broadcaster MBC Kim Jae-chul was questioned Monday over suspected involvement to control the media.
He allegedly received a document from an NIS official and shut down documentaries and popular programs produced or hosted by figures critical of the conservative administration.
He is also alleged to have posted employees in remote rural areas including journalists and news producers for producing and airing content critical of the government.
Prosecutors questioned leaders of conservative civic groups over allegations that they received taxpayer money to organize pro-government, pro-business rallies under the conservative administrations.
Choo Sun-hee, a former leader of Korea Parents’ Federation admitted to receiving up to 30 million won from NIS officials in person.