Ex-Auditor-General Official Grilled by Special Prosecutor Over Flawed Audit Allegations

Yoo Byeong-ho, the former Secretary-General of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), appeared before a special prosecutor's office on Thursday for questioning as a suspect. He is being investigated for alleged dereliction of duty related to the BAI's audit of the presidential office's relocation.

The special prosecutor's team is investigating claims that Yoo, while serving as Secretary-General in March 2023, conspired with presidential office officials to limit the investigation into 21 Gram, a company reportedly linked to first lady Kim Keon-hee, to a written inquiry only. This action is alleged to have obstructed the legitimate duties of his subordinates and led to a flawed audit outcome.

Before entering the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Yoo addressed reporters. He criticized the investigation, stating, "The special prosecutor is creating a fictional scenario based on the usual work of auditors and is conducting indiscriminate searches and summonses." When questioned about whether he knew 21 Gram's qualifications for the construction work at the time of the audit, Yoo responded, "They have interior qualifications." He also denied ordering the reduction or omission of report details, asserting, "There was no reduction or omission."

The special prosecutor's team is expected to focus on whether Yoo intentionally induced a flawed audit. According to the BAI's audit processing rules, the matter concerning 21 Gram should have involved an in-person investigation. However, Yoo's directive for a written inquiry in March 2023 is seen by the special prosecutor as the cause of the allegedly insufficient audit. The special prosecutor's office had previously searched Yoo's assets in May, placed him on an exit ban, and questioned Shin Chi-hwan, former deputy secretary-general of the BAI, as a witness last month.