Top auditor indicted in South Korea for allegedly quashing presidential office probe

Yoo Byung-ho, a senior official at South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), has been arrested and indicted on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of duty. This marks the first time a sitting BAI official has faced such charges, stemming from allegations that he obstructed an audit into the presidential office's relocation during his tenure as BAI Secretary General.

The special prosecutor's team alleges that Yoo frequently communicated with presidential office staff between February and March 2023. He is accused of directing investigators to conduct a written-only inquiry into an interior design firm, 21gram, which had ties to first lady Kim Keon-hee. This directive came after the audit team had already notified the firm of an in-person investigation, which Yoo allegedly halted by reprimanding the audit team leader.

Further accusations include Yoo prohibiting the presidential office from receiving official document requests and forbidding face-to-face interviews with presidential office personnel. The special prosecutor's team stated that the audit staff had made significant progress in uncovering the truth through objective data and legal review before Yoo's alleged interference.

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The special prosecutor's team stated that the audit staff had made significant progress in uncovering the truth through objective data and legal review before Yoo's alleged interference.

Investigators reportedly found memos where Yoo referred to President Yoon Suk-yeol as 'boss' and described the presidential residence relocation as the 'greatest decision since the Gyeongbu Expressway.' They also secured testimony suggesting Yoo appointed associates, known as the 'Tiger faction,' to key positions. One BAI official reportedly described Yoo to the special prosecutor's team as being so influential that even the BAI chairman referred to him as a "kingmaker."

Yoo was previously at the center of controversy regarding politically motivated audits conducted by the BAI under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. After his appointment as Secretary General in June 2022, he led audits targeting key policies and personnel from the previous Moon Jae-in government, including investigations into the National Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the West Sea public official murder case, the Wolsong nuclear power plant, and real estate statistics. He was appointed to the current BAI commissioner position, a deputy ministerial rank, in February 2024.

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Yoo Byung-ho as being so influential that even the BAI chairman referred to him as a "kingmaker."