檢, search and seizure of Woori Bank for the second day… “A total of 40 billion won worth of unfair loans”｜Dong-A Ilbo

“It’s 8 billion more than what the Financial Supervisory Service figured out.
“Current management is also aware of the unfair lending process.”

Woori Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. 2024.10.7/News 1 The prosecution, which is investigating suspicions of unfair lending by Woori Bank, found that the loan size was around 40 billion won, which was more than the original amount. A search and seizure was conducted at Woori Bank’s head office for the second day.

On the 19th, the Financial Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Soo-hong) announced that it had searched and seized Woori Bank’s head office in Jung-gu, Seoul for the second day in connection with suspicions of unfair lending by the brother-in-law of former Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung. As with the previous day, the targets of the seizure and search were Woori Bank President Cho Byeong-gyu’s office, Woori Financial Group Chairman Lim Jong-ryong’s office, and the loan-related department at Woori Bank’s head office. The prosecution is looking into this, believing that not only the former management but also the current management was aware of the process of making unfair loans and did not immediately report it to the financial authorities. Prosecutors reportedly confirmed that some unfair loans were made even during the current management’s term. A prosecution official said, “We are looking into whether the loan in question is directly related to former Chairman Son.”

During the investigation, the prosecution determined that the scale of the unfair loans greatly exceeded the 35 billion won originally identified by the Financial Supervisory Service. A prosecution official said, “In addition to what was notified by the Financial Supervisory Service, we are investigating additional suspicions of illegal loans exceeding 8 billion won.” Previously, the Financial Supervisory Service handed over to the prosecution the results of an investigation that found that Woori Bank had made unfair loans worth 35 billion won to former Chairman Son’s brother-in-law and related persons from April 3, 2020, to January 16 of this year.

The prosecution is investigating former Chairman Son and Bank President Cho as suspects. To date, three people have been brought to trial in connection with former Chairman Son’s suspicion of illegal lending to his brother-in-law, including his brother-in-law Mr. Kim, former Woori Bank general manager Mr. Lim, and former vice president Mr. Seong.

Reporter Seo Ji-won wish@donga.com

• great
  0dog

• I’m sad
  0dog

• I’m angry
  0dog

• I recommend it
  dog