[Anchor]
Prosecutors have launched a search and seizure operation targeting the family of the late former President Roh Tae-woo in connection with allegations surrounding his slush fund. The investigation was triggered by a "slush fund memo" that emerged during the divorce trial between Roh's daughter, Art Center Nabi Director Roh So-young, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.
Reporter Shin Yong-il has the details.
[Reporter]
Proscutors carry blue boxes out and load them into a van.
[(What kind of materials did you secure today?) ………]
Prosecutors have carried out their first search and seizure to uncover suspicions regarding the so-called "Roh Tae-woo slush fund."
The warrant specifies violations of the Act on Regulation and Punishment of Concealment of Proceeds from Crime. The targets of the search include the Seoul Yeonhui-dong residence of Kim Ok-sook, the wife of the late former President Roh; the East Asia Cultural Center, where their son, Roh Jae-heon, Ambassador to China, serves as chairman; as well as the homes of former secretaries suspected of providing dummy accounts.
The prosecution's investigation was sparked by the divorce litigation between SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Art Center Nabi Director Roh So-young.
This is because, during the appellate trial of their divorce lawsuit in 2023, Director Roh's side submitted as evidence a memo concerning a slush fund amounting to 90.4 billion won, which she claimed was written in the past by her mother, Kim.
Director Roh's side argued that a specific notation in the memo reading "Sunkyong 30 billion" referred to a slush fund provided by former President Roh to SK Group, which served as the seed money for the formation of SK Group's assets, and therefore requested that her contribution be recognized.
At the time, the trial court viewed the 30 billion won in question as Director Roh's contribution to the division of property, but the Supreme Court ruled that illegal slush funds cannot be protected by law and thus do not constitute a subject for property division.
In the process, the existence of the new Roh Tae-woo slush fund came to light, and following complaints filed by organizations such as the May 18 Memorial Foundation, the prosecution's investigation began.
Through this search and seizure, prosecutors plan to focus on securing clues regarding the authenticity of Kim's memo as well as when it was written.
Based on the analysis of the seized items, prosecutors are expected to summon Kim and Ambassador Roh to figure out the source and paths of the funds.
(Camera & Video Reporting: Lim Woo-shik, Kim Se-kyung | Video Editing: Kim Ho-jin)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.