Two Former Officers On Cheonggyecheon Project Arrested

Special Investigation Department I of the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office (chief prosecutor: Yoo Jae-man), which is investigating the Cheonggyecheon Project, has arrested Kim (52), a professor and former elected researcher of Seoul Development Institute (SDI), and Park (52), a Gangnam-gu District Office director and former officer in charge of the Cheonggyecheon Project, and is investigating them. The prosecution also conducted a search and seizure of Park’s office in the Gangnam-gu district office and is analyzing his business notebook and computer files.

Kim and Park allegedly received favors, money, and other valuables from President Kil of a real estate development firm, “Miraero RED,” who planed to construct an intelligent building (including apartments and stores) in the fifth remodeling district in 2-ga Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, and asked them to “help him build a building higher than 30-stories” between 2003 and 2004.

If the charges against them are confirmed, the prosecutor will issue an arrest warrant against Kim and Park for receiving a rebate and taking a bribe, respectively.

Back in 2002 to 2004 when the SDI established a “plan to develop the urban center with the restoration of Cheonggyecheon,” Kim was an elected researcher in SDI, and Park was an officer in charge of the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Research Center.

Keuk-In Bae bae2150@donga.com tesomiom@donga.com