Gift-Taking Justice Chief Reassigned

The Ministry of Justice assigned Policy Management and Public Relations Office Chief Hwang Hee-cheol, who passed the 23rd judicial examination, as the new assistant prosecutor general of the Daegu High Public Prosecutors` Office on Tuesday.

Hwang was earlier convicted of receiving a one million won check from Yun Sang-lim, who has been detained, through a third party.

The ministry said that it made this move after deciding that it would be inappropriate for an official associated with the “Yun scandal” to assist the minister of Justice.

The ministry appointed Assistant Prosecutor General of Daegu High Public Prosecutors` Office Park Han-cheol, who passed the judicial examination in the same year as Hwang, to succeed him.

Special Investigation Team Two of Seoul Central Prosecutors` Office, led by Superintendent Public Prosecutor Kim Kyeong-soo, is currently investigating more than 20 people who received 80 one-million-won checks from Yun around the same time that Hwang received his.

The prosecutors’ office said that among the 20 people, none were incumbent government officials, and that there were no signs of large money transfers.

Prosecutors are continuing their inspection because Hwang’s explanation that the check was part of a three million won gift that his brother-in-law gave him as a school admission present for his daughter clashes with Yun’s explanation.

Yun had testified that he had given the money to Hwang so that Hwang could treat his staff to dinner.

Prosecutors also decided to investigate former Deputy Chief of the National Police Agency Choi Kwang-sik, who has been found guilty of dealing with Yun.

Tae-Hoon Lee woogija@donga.com jefflee@donga.com