Prosecution officials arrested a senior prosecutor over suspicions that he took bribes from gaming company Nexon’s cofounder Kim Jung-ju on Thursday night.

The arrest came 13 hours after the prosecution began interrogating prosecutor Jin Kyung-joon, who is suspected of taking kickbacks and benefitting from shady stock transactions with the money at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. 



The prosecution suspects that Jin took 425 million won from Kim in 2005, bought Nexon’s unlisted shares with the money and sold them at 1 billion to buy Nexon Japan’s shares in 2006. As Nexon Japan’s stock value soared in 2011 when it entered the stock market, Jin later sold it for 12 billion won.

The prosecution also acquired evidence that Jin had received a car worth 50 million won under the name of his sister’s husband in 2008.

A series of suspected crimes that took place between 2005 and 2008 will be seen as all connected, which extends the 10-year statute of limitations for the 2005 case and gives the prosecution power to charge him with bribery.

During the probe, Jin allegedly admitted that he had received the money, but said that he had intended to pay it back.

Kim, who was summoned for questioning by the prosecution on Wednesday, allegedly admitted that he had offered the money mindful of Jin’s status as a high-ranking prosecutor.

The prosecution plans to seek a detention warrant for Jin within 48 hours.

The bribery scandal came to light early this year as the senior prosecutor reported a massive increase in his wealth in 2015. All high-ranking public servants are required to reveal their personal assets on a yearly basis.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)