Minor opposition party tables bill to launch special counsel probe into land development scandal

• Published date: 28 February 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

The minor opposition Justice Party on Monday tabled a bill to launch a special counsel probe into bribery allegations connected to a high-profile land development scandal.

The bill calls for an independent probe into the "5 billion club" allegations that prominent social figures were promised 5 billion won ($3.8 million) each from the asset management firm Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management that reaped astronomical profits from the development project in Daejang-dong district in Seongnam, south of Seoul.

The figures allegedly include former ruling party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, former prosecutor Park Young-soo and former Prosecutor General Kim Soo-nam.

Calls for a special probe into the case have spiked after Kwak, who previously was affiliated with the ruling party, was acquitted of graft charges by a district court earlier this month. The prosecution has since appealed the ruling to a higher court.

Rep. Lee Eun-ju, floor...