South Korean official arrested over alleged 'lenient audit' of presidential residence relocation

Yoo Byung-ho, a member of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), has been arrested on charges of abuse of power, marking the first time a current BAI member with the rank of vice minister has been detained.

The arrest warrant was issued by the Seoul Central District Court, which cited "concerns about the destruction of evidence." Yoo is accused of intentionally conducting a flawed audit during his tenure as BAI Secretary General from 2022 to 2024. The audit concerned the relocation of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's official residence.

Prosecutors allege that Yoo deliberately weakened the audit concerning interior design firm 21 Gram, which was responsible for the residence's move and had sponsored an exhibition by first lady Kim Keon-hee's firm, Kovana Contents. He allegedly reprimanded auditors who sought to directly investigate the company and instead directed them to conduct a written inquiry.

The special prosecution team is investigating suspicions that the presidential office contacted Yoo in March 2023, requesting that the investigation into 21 Gram be limited to written inquiries. This request is suspected to have originated from first lady Kim. The team has also reportedly obtained testimony from BAI employees suggesting that an audit report was pre-written in favor of 21 Gram and later modified.