PM’s secretariat raided in Ulsan election probe

Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the Seoul-located Civil Affairs Office under the Prime Minister’s Secretariat in Sejong and secured office records including electronic hardware belonging to an official only identified by the surname Moon, in the ongoing election-meddling probe.

Moon, who was then working at the Blue House Civil Affairs and Justice Office, is suspected of tampering with intelligence with his superiors, and of tipping off police with the intention to influence the 2018 Ulsan mayoral election.

Song Cheol-ho, a close friend of President Moon Jae-in, won the 2018 Ulsan mayoral election against incumbent Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon. Moon, who was working at the Blue House, allegedly produced intelligence that tied Kim’s associates to bribery suspicions. Police opened an investigation later.

Prosecutors are looking into whether the Blue House unlawfully aided Song Cheol-ho in the 2018 election. They reportedly secured leads that implicate Blue House officials in drawing up Song’s campaign strategies and pledges. A senior Blue House official refused to comment, saying, “We will see how the situation unfolds.”

While working at the Blue House, Moon reported to former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who is facing separate accusations of power abuse for having wrongly suspended an internal inspection of a senior official who now stands trial on bribery charges. Cho also faces corruption allegations involving his family.

Cho refused to open up during questioning about corruption suspicions, but broke his silence and denied any wrongdoing when he was questioned about his role in halting the inspection. He said there was political responsibility, but prosecutors said they have testimony showing he willingly ended it.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)