Oh Kwang-soo, chief civil affairs secretary at the presidential office, who was embroiled in allegations of 'proxy loans' and 'proxy management of real estate', has been reported to the prosecution and police.
On the 12th, Lee Jong-bae, a Seoul city councilor from the People Power Party, reported Oh to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Financial Real Name Act, fraud, violations of the taxes Punishment Act, and obstruction of business by deceit.
The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (Seominwi) also submitted a complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency that day, alleging abuse of power, coercion, and violations of the Real Name Act and the Public Servants Ethics Act.
Councilor Lee stated, 'If the allegations of proxy loans are true, it is a serious crime,' adding, 'It is absurd for Oh, who has suffered a fatal blow to his morality due to various corruption allegations, to serve as the chief civil affairs secretary overseeing corruption.'
Seominwi remarked, 'This is a very inappropriate act that gives rise to reasonable suspicion that goes beyond morality and confirms illegality,' stating, 'If criminal facts are revealed through a thorough investigation, those responsible should be severely punished according to the principle of zero tolerance, regardless of their status.'
It is alleged that while serving as the head of the special investigation unit at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2007, Oh asked a friend to obtain a 1.5 billion won savings bank loan, and he allegedly prepared a written confirmation stating, 'I will use the entire loan amount and will repay the whole amount myself.'
Three years later, it was revealed that Park, the owner of the savings bank in question, claimed that he was the one who actually borrowed the money and stepped forward to repay it. Park explained that he sought Oh's help to secure funds necessary to meet the International Bank for Settlements' (BIS) capital adequacy ratio.
Oh is also facing allegations that during his time as a Director General, he managed real estate such as land and buildings owned by his wife under a friend's name and failed to disclose this in public asset reports from 2012 to 2015 while serving as a chief prosecutor.
Oh has previously expressed that he is 'sorry and embarrassed' regarding the allegations of 'proxy real estate.'