Former Lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and Incheon National University President Referred to Prosecutors Over Alleged Preferential Hiring of Daughter

▲ Former Lawmaker Yoo Seung-min

Former Lawmaker Yoo Seung-min has been referred to the prosecution over allegations of preferential treatment in the appointment of his 32-year-old daughter, Yoo Dam, as a professor in the Department of Trade at Incheon National University.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit announced that it has forwarded four individuals, including former Lawmaker Yoo and Incheon National University President Lee In-jae, to the prosecution without detention on charges of obstruction of business.

Among them, President Lee and two Incheon National University professors also face charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Yoo and the others are suspected of interfering with the university's recruitment process when Professor Yoo was hired as a professor in the Department of Trade at the College of Global Politics and Economics during the second semester of last year.

President Lee and one other are also suspected of receiving illicit requests regarding Professor Yoo's hiring, though no evidence of accepting money or valuables has been confirmed.

The police received the related complaint 11 months ago in November of last year and investigated 23 accused individuals, later additionally booking three others, including former Lawmaker Yoo.

However, out of the total 26 suspects, the police decided not to forward the remaining 22 individuals, concluding that the charges against them were not substantiated.

Professor Yoo, the central figure in the allegations, underwent a written investigation only once.

The police did not book Professor Yoo, as they were unable to confirm any criminal charges against her.

A police official stated, "We conducted investigations 39 times involving 29 people, including the accused and witnesses, secured evidence through four rounds of search and seizure, and forwarded the suspects whose charges were recognized."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

※