Prosecutors question Busan vice mayor over bribery allegations

By Kim Hyun-bin

Prosecutors summoned Busan Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo for questioning, Thursday, over his alleged acceptance of bribes while working at the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in 2017.

The questioning came two days after the prosecution searched his residences in Seoul and Busan, his office in Busan and companies related to the allegations.

Vice Busan Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo

He underwent interrogation at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office as a suspect.

Prosecutors are investigating if Yoo received money and valuables from financial company officials while he was serving as financial policy director at the FSC.

In 2017, Yoo was investigated by the special inspection team under Cheong Wa Dae's civil affairs office over allegations that companies under the FSC's supervision provided him with money, flight tickets for his children who were studying abroad, and other perks such as a car with a driver.

However, the investigation was halted abruptly. No disciplinary action was taken at the time, and Yoo was assigned as an adviser to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea before accepting the vice mayor position. As the new investigation started at the end of October, he tendered his resignation to the city government.

Beyond the bribery allegation, the prosecution is also looking into why the presidential office's special inspection team halted the investigation at the time, and if the halt was an abuse of power by anyone in Cheong Wa Dae's civil affairs office.

Prosecutors plan to summon senior officials of the civil affairs office soon to question why and how the inspection was suspended at the time. Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who was the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, may face questioning as well.

Cho is under investigation for separate allegations involving his family members.