Former Audit Board Member Arrested for Obstructing Presidential Residence Audit

Yoo Byung-ho, a key figure in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and central to several politically charged audits, has been arrested on charges of obstructing an official audit. His detention marks the first time a sitting member of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has been arrested. BAI members are subject to dismissal if convicted of a crime with a sentence of imprisonment or heavier.

According to a Hankyoreh investigation, the special prosecutor's team secured evidence suggesting Yoo, while serving as BAI Secretary-General in March 2023, instructed BAI investigators to conduct a written inquiry into '21 Gram,' an interior design firm reportedly connected to first lady Kim Keon-hee. This directive came after BAI had already notified the company of an in-person audit. Yoo allegedly reprimanded the audit team leader and changed the planned in-person investigation to a written one. He also reportedly prohibited BAI from requesting documents from the presidential office and from conducting face-to-face interviews with presidential office staff.

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Yoon Suk-yeol is the boss.

The special prosecutor's team believes Yoo continued to obstruct the audit into the presidential residence relocation even after Yoon appointed him to the BAI Board of Audit and Inspection in February 2024. The BAI's Audit Committee initially postponed deliberation on the audit report concerning '21 Gram' in May 2024, citing insufficient investigation. BAI only then proceeded with an in-person audit of the company. However, the written records of this in-person audit were allegedly modified to downplay '21 Gram's' role in the residence's expansion construction, with Yoo's influence suspected in this process.

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The relocation of the residence is the greatest decision since the Gyeongbu Expressway.

Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Yoo on May 14, charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights. The court issued the warrant the following day. Yoo had previously led audits targeting former Moon Jae-in administration policies and officials after being appointed BAI Secretary-General in June 2022. These included audits of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the West Sea public official's shooting, the Wolsong nuclear power plant, and real estate statistics, drawing criticism for "dusting" audits and coercive investigations using the Special Investigation Bureau.

Investigators also uncovered a memo where Yoo referred to former President Yoon Suk-yeol as 'the boss' and described the presidential residence relocation as 'the greatest decision since the Gyeongbu Expressway.' The memo, reportedly written around the time of Yoon's election, also contained phrases like "those opposing Yoon Suk-yeol are trash" and "Yoon Suk-yeol's election is fairness itself," indicating extreme loyalty to the administration. He is also accused of appointing associates, known as the 'Tiger faction,' to key positions, effectively controlling the BAI. One BAI official reportedly told the special prosecutor's team that even the BAI Chairperson referred to Yoo as the "Kingmaker."

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Those opposing Yoon Suk-yeol are trash.