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South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has apologized after one of its commissioners was indicted on charges connected to the 2022 project to move the presidential office to Seoul's Yongsan district, Yonhap reported.

Ryou Byeong-ho, one of the BAI's seven commissioners, was indicted Friday while under arrest on charges that he unfairly interfered with the audit into the relocation project in an attempt to cover up results, the news agency said. At the time, Ryou was serving as the agency's secretary general.

According to special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team, Ryou was charged with abusing his authority by instructing auditors to request documents from the presidential office only verbally and not through official means, and to refrain from questioning presidential officials in person. Ryou arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on July 20 for an arrest warrant hearing over the allegations, a Yonhap file photo caption noted.

The audit into the relocation project was launched in late 2022 amid suspicions surrounding the selection of the construction company. After a two-year audit, the BAI announced in a September 2024 report that construction for the relocation proceeded as a joint effort between 21 Gram, an interior design firm linked to Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, and a licensed construction company. The special counsel team, however, suspects that 21 Gram effectively directed the entire project and that the BAI intentionally omitted the findings from its report.

Noting that Ryou is the BAI's first sitting commissioner ever to be indicted, the agency said in a statement that it "feels a grave responsibility, beyond a mere apology, for causing concern to the people about the BAI's independence and the fairness, objectivity and neutrality of audits." The agency said it will use the incident as a turning point to deeply reflect on itself and "make every effort to be reborn as an organization that unwaveringly carries out duties given under the Constitution and the law."

Following Yoon's removal from office over his failed martial law bid, President Lee Jae Myung took office and moved the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae, a sprawling complex that had served as the top office since South Korea was formally established in 1948.

Coverage comparison

Yonhap's coverage of the incident came from two angles. One report emphasized the investigation and indictment, detailing the special counsel's allegations against Ryou and the timeline of the audit into the relocation project. The other focused on the BAI's official response, quoting the agency's apology and its pledge of reflection. Both reports identified Ryou as the first sitting BAI commissioner to be indicted.

Key Claims

  • Ryou Byeong-ho, a member of the BAI, was indicted on charges of improperly intervening in the audit into the relocation of the presidential office and residence, Yonhap reported.
  • The audit was launched in late 2022 amid suspicions surrounding the selection of the construction company.
  • In September 2024, the BAI announced that construction for the relocation proceeded as a joint effort between 21 Gram and a licensed construction company.
  • The special counsel team suspects that 21 Gram effectively directed the entire project and that the BAI intentionally omitted that finding from its report.
  • Ryou is the BAI's first sitting commissioner to be indicted, the agency said.
  • The BAI apologized, saying it feels a "grave responsibility, beyond a mere apology" for causing concern about the agency's independence and the fairness, objectivity and neutrality of audits.
  • President Lee Jae Myung moved the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae after taking office.

Perspectives

BAI: The agency said it feels a "grave responsibility, beyond a mere apology" for causing concern about its independence and the fairness, objectivity and neutrality of audits. It pledged to use the incident as a turning point for deep reflection and to "make every effort to be reborn as an organization that unwaveringly carries out duties given under the Constitution and the law."

Special counsel team: Special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team alleged Ryou abused his authority by instructing auditors to request documents from the presidential office only verbally and to refrain from questioning presidential officials in person. The team also suspects 21 Gram effectively directed the entire relocation project and that the BAI intentionally omitted those findings from its report.