Controversy Grows Over Delayed Investigation into 30 Billion Won Yeosu World Island Expo

[Anchor]

Allegations of corruption have emerged regarding the selection process for the agency managing the Yeosu World Island Expo, a project with a budget of nearly 30 billion won. It has been confirmed that the police failed to assign the case for over a month after receiving key intelligence. Controversy is mounting over the police's delayed response and inconsistent case assignment regarding a project of national interest.

Here is a report by KBC reporter Park Seung-hyun.

[Reporter]

The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency received intelligence regarding bid rigging for the Yeosu World Island Expo early last month.

However, for some reason, the police did not assign the case immediately and spent over a month conducting internal reviews.

This is a highly unusual response, considering that criminal intelligence is typically reviewed and investigations are launched within a week.

With the investigation into corruption allegations delayed for an international event that has garnered government-level attention, questions are being raised about whether the police's initial response was appropriate.

[Representative of a participating bidder: I believe it is the duty of the police to look into and respond to these matters immediately. That is why I cannot understand this delayed response.]

The investigation, which finally began after many twists and turns, sparked further controversy during the assignment phase.

This is because the police assigned this key case to the intelligence team at the local Yeosu Police Station, rather than the experienced Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency.

Critics point out that it is inefficient to separate the Island Expo case, which is considered the core of the matter, to a local station while the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency's Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit is already investigating related corruption allegations involving the Island Day event.

[Representative of a participating bidder: Since the Yeosu Police Station would have senior and junior relationships with (Yeosu City) officials, I believe it is inappropriate for the Yeosu Police Station to conduct the investigation.]

Once the reporting began, the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency immediately transferred the case from the Yeosu Police Station back to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit.

The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency explained that at the time, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit had a heavy workload and there was a lack of concrete evidence, leading them to assign it to the local Yeosu station. They added that they later transferred it back to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit in consideration of the importance of the matter.

(Video by Park Myeong-shin, KBC)

Reported by Park Seung-hyun, KBC
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.