Yoo Byung-ho, an audit commissioner facing allegations of conducting a lenient audit regarding the relocation of the presidential residence, has been indicted while in custody.
On August 7, the second special prosecutors' team announced that Yoo was indicted on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights.
The special prosecutors' team alleges that while serving as the Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, Yoo abused his authority to suppress the audit of the presidential office, which was the subject of the investigation.
According to the special prosecutors, after taking office as Secretary General, Yoo allegedly consolidated control over the Board of Audit and Inspection using his personnel and inspection powers, and improperly intervened in the audit of the presidential residence relocation while communicating with the presidential office.
Specifically, it is reported that in February and March 2023, Yoo instructed audit staff to prohibit requests for documents from the presidential office, ban interviews with officials from the presidential office, and prevent direct investigations of related companies.
The special prosecutors believe these directives contradict relevant regulations and Yoo's own emphasized audit methods, thereby obstructing the independent exercise of audit authority by auditors and compelling them to act outside their obligations.
During the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Board of Audit and Inspection was investigating allegations related to the selection of construction companies and expenditure during the relocation of the presidential office and residence. This inquiry followed a public audit request made by civic groups in October 2022.
Notably, the involvement of 21Gram, a company operated by Kim Tae-young, who is known to have connections with Kim Geon-hee, emerged as a contentious issue during the audit process. 21Gram had sponsored exhibitions organized by Kobana Contents, a company previously run by Kim Geon-hee, and was responsible for the design and construction of office spaces.
As a result, the audit staff deemed it necessary to directly investigate representatives of construction-related companies, including 21Gram, and issued attendance requests. However, according to the special prosecutors' investigation, the Board of Audit and Inspection abruptly withdrew these requests and switched to written inquiries following Yoo's directives.
The special prosecutors explained that the audit staff were aware of numerous allegations raised during the presidential residence relocation process. They had approached the substance of these allegations by securing objective data and reviewing legal principles, concluding that direct investigations were unavoidable, which led to the issuance of attendance requests. However, it was confirmed that these requests were retracted due to Yoo's instructions.
After conducting audits for approximately two years, the Board of Audit and Inspection released a report in September 2024 regarding illegal allegations related to the relocation of the presidential office and residence and the use of funds. Following this, concerns were raised about the inadequacy of the investigation into the selection of construction companies, leading to ongoing controversy over a 'shoddy audit.'
The special prosecutors suspect that the Board of Audit and Inspection failed to adequately clarify the involvement of 21Gram, which lacked a comprehensive construction license, in the overall construction of the presidential residence, despite having identified such circumstances during the audit process. In May 2024, the audit committee of the Board of Audit and Inspection deemed the initial audit report insufficient and requested supplementary investigations, which eventually led to delayed direct investigations of 21Gram representatives.
Yoo was arrested on July 20. He filed a request for a review of his detention on August 4, but the court rejected it. Throughout the special prosecutors' investigation, Yoo has denied all allegations.
Even after indicting Yoo, the special prosecutors plan to continue their investigation into the allegations surrounding the presidential residence relocation. A spokesperson for the special prosecutors stated, "We will do our utmost to clarify the full extent of the public concerns raised regarding the presidential residence during the remaining investigation period."
In response to Yoo's indictment, the Board of Audit and Inspection issued a statement expressing regret for causing public concern regarding its independence and the fairness, objectivity, and neutrality of its audits, stating, "We feel a grave sense of responsibility beyond mere apology and will observe the upcoming trial process with a serious and humble attitude."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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