Board of Audit's probes into 'manipulated' statistics and 'forced' testimony revealed

An internal investigation by South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has uncovered alleged coercive tactics and fabricated testimony during audits conducted under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration concerning policies of the previous Moon Jae-in government. The findings relate to audits of alleged "real estate statistics manipulation" and the "West Sea civil servant murder case."

“

This audit is targeting the policy chiefs of the Blue House and the minister of land, infrastructure, and transport. To put it simply, it's about paving the way for the emperor.

The BAI's "Special Committee for Follow-up Measures to State Audit," announced its findings on Tuesday, recommending the prosecution of nine auditors for charges including abuse of power and obstruction of public duty. The committee also requested severe disciplinary actions, such as dismissal and suspension, for these individuals. Furthermore, the BAI forwarded investigative materials on ten key figures, including former BAI Chairman Choe Jai-hae and former Secretary-General Yoo Byeong-ho, to the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency.

The "statistics audit," conducted for about a year starting in September 2022, investigated allegations that the Moon administration's Blue House and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport influenced the Korea Real Estate Board's statistics compilation. The task force's investigation revealed that coercive interrogations and fabricated testimonies occurred, targeting high-ranking officials from the Blue House and the ministry.

“

If you don't cooperate, your public service career will end.

Evidence cited includes an auditor allegedly telling a Blue House official in January 2023, "This audit is targeting the policy chiefs of the Blue House and the minister of land, infrastructure, and transport. To put it simply, it's about paving the way for the emperor," and threatening, "If you don't cooperate, your public service career will end." In another instance, a Ministry of Land official reportedly spent 30-40 minutes alone in an empty room writing the character for "patience" (忍) on a notepad before reluctantly agreeing to a mobile phone forensic examination after facing pressure from auditors.

“

The evidence regarding the chain of command from high-ranking officials in the Blue House and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport is largely contaminated or illegally collected evidence.

The task force identified 220 cases where testimonies were misrepresented in the audit request submitted to prosecutors, with speculative statements from third parties included as definitive facts without the party's confirmation. In one case, an auditor allegedly fabricated a civil servant's testimony multiple times, stating that influence was exerted on housing statistics, despite the official not making such remarks. The auditor reportedly created a sense of fear by mentioning a past case where an audited official committed suicide.

“

There are no facts of coercive investigations or forced testimonies against the audited persons.