Lee Hye-hoon referred to prosecutors amid fraudulent apartment subscription allegations
Police have referred former Ministry of Planning and Budget minister candidate Lee Hye-hoon to prosecutors over a range of allegations, including fraudulent apartment subscription.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's financial crimes investigation unit said Friday it had completed its investigation into Lee and referred the case to prosecutors on charges including fraud and obstruction of business.
Police also said they had filed a pre-indictment asset seizure request for the apartment obtained through allegedly fraudulent means, and had notified the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the investigation's findings.
Lee is suspected of winning a subscription for an apartment in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul in 2024 by falsely listing a son who had married in 2023 as unmarried, inflating the number of dependents on the application.
Lee was nominated last December as the inaugural minister of planning and budget under the Lee Jae Myung administration, but the nomination was withdrawn after allegations surfaced of fraudulent apartment subscription, real estate speculation and preferential admission of the son to Yonsei University.
arin@heraldcorp.com
