Police refer Yoo Seung-min to prosecutors over daughter's university appointment
In short
South Korean police referred former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and three others to prosecutors on suspicion of obstructing Incheon National University's recruitment process for his daughter. Yoo denied wrongdoing and called the investigation politically motivated; police did not open a criminal case against his daughter.
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Police in Incheon said on October 16 that they had referred former South Korean lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and three others to prosecutors without detention on suspicion of obstruction of business. The case concerns alleged interference in the appointment of Yoo's daughter, Yu Dam (유담), to a teaching position in Incheon National University's trade department in the second semester of last year. The university president was among those referred, Korean outlets reported. [ 10 , 11 , 26 ]
Police also applied allegations of violating the anti-graft law to the university president and another professor in connection with allegedly receiving improper requests relating to the appointment. The reports said no evidence of money or valuables changing hands had been established. Police did not open a criminal case against Yu after one written inquiry because they found no indications of criminal wrongdoing. Of 26 suspects investigated, 22 were not referred. Police said they conducted 39 interviews involving 29 people and carried out four searches. [ 10 , 11 , 26 ]
Yoo denied wrongdoing, saying the recruitment process was fair and that he had never committed obstruction of business. He described the police investigation and the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit as politically motivated efforts to humiliate and suppress him. He said he would establish the truth and prove his innocence during prosecution and trial proceedings. According to Hankook Ilbo, Yoo also said Korea University's research ethics committee had found no problems after examining allegations concerning his daughter's research papers. His assertions were presented as his response to the police referral. [ 11 , 23 , 26 ]
Why it matters
The referral concerns alleged interference in a university faculty appointment and includes the university president. Police said they found no basis to open a criminal case against the daughter and declined to refer 22 other suspects.
Key facts
- Police said on October 16 that Yoo and three others were referred to prosecutors without detention on suspicion of obstruction of business. [ 10 , 11 , 26 ]
- The case concerns his daughter's appointment to the university's trade department in the second semester of last year. [ 10 , 11 , 26 ]
- Yoo denied committing obstruction of business and said the recruitment was fair. [ 23 , 24 , 26 ]
- Police did not open a criminal case against his daughter after finding no indications of criminal wrongdoing. [ 10 , 11 , 26 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the suspects committed the alleged offences. The documents report police suspicions and a referral, while Yoo denies wrongdoing; they do not report a trial judgment.