Yoon calls for full probe into solar project corruption

Presidential spokesman Lee Do-woon speaks to reporters in a briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Suk Yeol called for “a thorough investigation” of corruption allegations made against solar power projects under the previous government.

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) on Tuesday requested a probe on a total of 38 individuals, including government officials, over alleged corrupt acts, and the president ordered the Office of the Secretary for Civil Service Discipline to conduct “a thorough investigation on those who were involved in the decision-making process regarding renewables projects” under the former Moon Jae-in administration, said presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon during a press briefing Wednesday.

“Depending on the result of the investigation, penalties may be imposed, and if clear violations of the law are found, it could result in a formal investigation,” said a source from the presidential office.

Those accused by the auditor of allegedly abusing power and violating the Subsidy Management Act include Gunsan Mayor Kang Im-joon and two former officials from the Energy Ministry under the previous Moon Jae-in government, along with 10 other people.

The BAI also referred 25 individuals suspected of facilitating the malpractices, including a CEO and employees of a private company, to the prosecution for the probe.

The BAI conducted audits on four large-scale solar power plant projects with a capacity of more than 40 megawatts under the previous administration.

Gunsan Mayor Kang was accused of providing preferential treatment to a local company whose CEO graduated from the same high school as the mayor.

The BAI also accused two former officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of colluding with a private company for a 300-megawatt solar power plant project in Taean, South Chungcheong. The two former officials allegedly helped the company work around a regulation on land use through an authoritative interpretation without a legal basis. One of the officials was later named an executive of the company, and the other official was also hired as an executive of another solar company.

The audit's result will be finalized after the review and approval from the BAI’s Council of Commissioners.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]