The interrogation of former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu, who is at the center of the Moon Jae-in government's 'blacklist' by the Ministry of Industry, was over in three hours.
The interrogation began at 10:30 a.m. and ended around 1:35 p.m.
Former Minister Baek did not answer reporters' questions and boarded a convoy and moved to the Eastern Detention Center.
Attorney Goheung for former Minister Baek said, "I will wait for the court to make a wise decision."
Whether to arrest or not will be decided late at night today (15th) or early tomorrow.
When a warrant is issued, former Minister Baek will undergo formal imprisonment.
Previously, former Minister Baek appeared at the Seoul Eastern District Court at 10:12 a.m. today and repeatedly denied the allegations, saying, "During my tenure, I dealt with the work in accordance with the provisions of the law. I will work diligently today."
Former Minister Baek is accused of abusing his authority to interfere in personnel affairs (obstructing the exercise of the right to abuse of power), such as instructing employees to obtain the resignations of 13 heads of agencies under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy between 2017 and 2018, during the early stages of the Moon Jae-in administration.
It is also known that in 2018, employees were persuaded to resign from the then president of Korea District Heating Corporation, Kim Kyung-won, and unfairly supported by providing interview questionnaires and answer sheets so that the current president, Chang-hwa Hwang, could become the successor.
President Hwang served as the second secretary for political affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2002 to 2003, and as chief political affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2006 to 2007. was defeated by Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party.
He is also an aide to former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook.
Prosecutors suspect that Rep. Park Sang-hyuk acted as a link between the Blue House and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at the time, and it is known that he will be summoned for investigation soon as a suspect.
If the warrant for former Minister Baek is issued, it is predicted that the investigation will be extended to members of the Blue House at the time, even higher up in the House of Representatives.
Prosecutors summoned former Minister Baek on the 9th of this month to investigate for about 14 hours, and four days later, on the 13th, requested a preliminary arrest warrant.
In March of this year, the prosecution investigated the allegations of the 'Ministry of Industry's blacklist' in earnest three years after receiving the complaint, and seized and searched the departments related to nuclear power plants and affiliated organizations such as power generation subsidiaries of the Ministry of Industry.
Last month, they searched and searched the home and office of former Minister Baek, securing data such as e-mails and speeding up the investigation.
(Photo = Yonhap News)