The police, who are investigating the allegation of preferential treatment for the development project in Daejang-dong, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, have started to find out the whereabouts of lawyer Nam-wook, one of the key figures in the suspicion, who went abroad to disappear.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency's dedicated investigation team (team leader Song Byeong-il) announced today (9th) that it had requested cooperation with the International Criminal Organization (Interpol) on the 7th to find out the exact whereabouts of lawyer Nam, who is currently in the United States.
The content of the request for mutual assistance is not compulsory, unlike a wanted or criminal justice assistance, as it confirms the residence of lawyer Nam.
Prosecutors, another entity investigating the allegations, recently requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revoke Nam's passport.
The passport invalidation action is a procedure in which the relevant party is notified to return the passport if any cause for invalidation occurs.
A police official said, "The invalidation of passports and cooperation with Interpol are not overlapping procedures as they are different in nature.
Attorney Nam has been leading the Daejang-dong development project since 2009.
After Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) gave up public development, it bought the surrounding land for private development and persuaded landowners directly.
He participated in the development project with Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, in 2014, when Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung changed the Daejang-dong development method to a public-private joint venture.
He is also the effective owner of Hwacheon Daewoo subsidiary, Cheonhwa-dongin No. 4.
It is known that 87.21 million won was invested in the development of Daejang-dong and received a dividend of 170 million won.
It is known that he left the country several months before the suspicion of Jangdong-dong in earnest.