BAI requests probe into possible corruption linked to presidential office relocation

The presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has requested the prosecution to investigate a senior official at the Presidential Security Service and an individual from a bulletproof glass installation company on charges of corruption, including state financial loss, during an audit of the relocation of the presidential office.

According to an investigation by the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of this paper, on Tuesday, the senior official allegedly assisted an acquaintance in securing a contract to install bulletproof glass for the presidential office. The selected company then submitted an inflated quotation, resulting in a state financial loss of more than 1 billion won ($724,000).

The audit institution requested the investigation in October last year, suspecting that the senior official let the overpriced quotation pass and allegedly accepted bribes. The BAI said that the request for the investigation was initiated in advance, even though the audits were not finalized, due to concerns of potential evidence tampering during the investigation process.

The prosecution commenced its investigation in November, conducting raids on the company's premises and summoning the acquaintance implicated in the case. The senior official, who denied all allegations during the BAI's investigation, has been relieved of duties.

The audit on the relocation of the presidential office commenced in December 2022, following a request from the civic group People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. The BAI initiated audits to scrutinize the decision-making process behind the relocation and to probe potential corruption in the construction project. This marked the first major audit conducted on the Yoon administration.

The BAI said it would disclose the results of the audits promptly once they are finalized.

The presidential office relocated to Yongsan in central Seoul from the Blue House in Jongno District in May 2022, upon President Yoon Suk Yeol assuming office.

BY PARK TAE-IN,CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]