It has been confirmed that the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), which is investigating suspicions that the Moon Jae-in administration unjustly delayed the formal domestic deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, has requested an investigation into four people, including former National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong. This comes approximately 13 months after the BAI began its audit concerning the “THAAD formal deployment delay suspicions” in October last year.
According to the BAI on the 18th, the Special Investigation Bureau’s First Division requested an investigation last month with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office against Chung and three others on charges of abuse of authority, among others. It is alleged that they intentionally and unjustly delayed the procedures for the formal deployment of THAAD, which was temporarily stationed in Seongju County, Gyeongbuk Province, by violating related laws.
The BAI has been investigating allegations that the Moon administration purposefully postponed the environmental impact assessment necessary for the formal deployment of THAAD ahead of former President Moon’s visit to China in December 2019. The BAI also looked into suspicions that the Moon administration concealed investigation results showing that electromagnetic waves and low-frequency noise from THAAD were not harmful to human health, and destroyed related documents.
Earlier, in July of last year, the BAI initiated an audit following a public interest audit request by the Former Generals Association for the Protection of Korea. However, the BAI decided not to audit claims from the Former Generals Association that the Moon administration promised the Chinese government to limit THAAD operations, stating that “this is a result of diplomatic negotiations and not subject to audit by the BAI.”