Police Search Uiwang Mayor's Home and Other Locations Over 'Moomin Park Allegations'

Police investigating cases transferred from the three special counsel investigations have launched raids on the residence of the mayor of Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, and other locations.

National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Kim Hyunmin, reporter.

The National Police Agency said it was conducting search and seizure operations at the mayor's residence and his office at Uiwang City Hall, among other locations, starting at 8 a.m. on October 8. A police official said, "The case concerns a construction project worth approximately KRW 2 billion to install facilities at Moomin Park in the Uiwang Baegun Valley urban development district," adding, "We cannot disclose the specific allegations."

Kim Seongje, mayor of Uiwang, is suspected of having been involved in a process in which Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, solicited favors concerning a private company's project. He is reportedly suspected of third-party bribery and abuse of authority that obstructed the exercise of rights.

In June, while the National Police Agency was operating under the Special Investigation Headquarters, which took over and investigated cases from the special counsel investigations, police also searched the offices of Uiwang Baegun Valley AMC and other entities responsible for managing funds for the Uiwang Baegun Valley urban development project.

Earlier this year, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Jeon to six years in prison, a harsher sentence than the prosecution had sought, after he was indicted on charges of mediation bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The first-trial panel found him guilty of asking Mayor Kim to advance the project and receiving money and other valuables from a company pursuing a Moomin character business in return for his mediation.

Jeon's five-year prison sentence was finalized in July.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.