Also targets around the 3rd new town… Joint investigation team dispatched to LH headquarters
The investigation target for allegations of speculation in the new city has been expanded to Cheongwa-daero. Originally, it was limited to LH, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Gyeonggi-do, but President Moon Jae-in ordered to include the Blue House staff and their families today (5th). In addition, it was decided to investigate not only the planned site of the 3rd new town, but also its surroundings. The government joint investigation team went down to the LH headquarters in Jinju and started an on-site investigation.
First, reporter Seong Hwa-seon.
[기자]
This afternoon, this is the LH headquarters in Jinju, Gyeongnam.
A joint investigation team of related agencies under the Prime Minister’s Office has arrived.
[이해정/국무조정실 감사관 : (오늘 확인하실 내용이나 자료는 어떤 내용인가요?) 3기 신도시 관련 토지거래의 전수조사 진행 상황과 복무관리 실태…]
The survey targets were at least 14,000, including officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, local government offices, and LH employees.
This includes employees of the relevant departments of local governments.
If they add their spouses and direct descendants, it is expected that there will be tens of thousands of people.
The Blue House also went into its own thorough investigation.
President Moon Jae-in ordered a prompt investigation into whether all employees and their families, including the chief of the Blue House, secretaries, and administrators, made land transactions in the third new town.
An official at the Blue House explained that the investigation plan was drawn up and that the investigation has already begun.
The ruling party also started a thorough investigation to see if there were any lawmakers belonging to the new city project site.
The area to be investigated is also growing.
We also decided to look at 8 places including the 3rd new town and surrounding areas.
An official of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport explained, “If there is a suspicious transaction while investigating the history of land transactions in the district, we will also investigate the surrounding land transactions.”
Investigation agencies are also entering into full-scale investigations.
The National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters has formed the’Special Investigation Team for Real Estate Speculation Instructors’ to investigate allegations of speculation in advance in new cities.
However, even if speculation is confirmed, the confiscation of land and the collection of market capitalization are still unknown.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs released related materials today.
However, only strict responses, reasonable punishment, etc., were provided.
Under current law, it is difficult for LH employees to determine if they have bought land using information they know about their work.
There are concerns that criminal penalties could also be avoided.
[서성민/민변 민생경제위원회 변호사 : 업무 처리 중 알게 된 비밀이냐, 업무 처리 중 알게 된 정보냐에 따라서 처벌 여부가 달라지는 것이고. 그것도 안 되면 징계에 그칠 수 있는 사안입니다.]
In the ruling party, bills have been proposed one after another to confiscate profits when public officials use inside information to speculate.
However, it is difficult to legislate retroactively, and the LH employees involved this time are likely not to apply.
(Video Design: Jo Sung-hye · Kang A-ram)