The prosecution's investigation into humidifier disinfectants is expected to expand from companies to government ministries. Prosecutors have found circumstantial evidence that Aekyung Industrial and SK Chemicals had internal documents of the Environment Ministry regarding damage to humidifier disinfectants.
According to legal circles and the ministry on June 5, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office found the ministry’s documents while searching the Aekyung Industrial.
The investigation team believes that the "A" ministry official, who was in charge of rescuing damages, delivered the data to Aekyung. Prosecutors suspect that SK Chemicals also received internal data from A.
The ministry issued a standby order to A on June 5. A ministry official said, "As the official is under investigation by the prosecution, we thought he could not concentrate on his work, so we have issued a standby order."
Prosecutors have put the official on the investigation list. An investigation will also be launched into whether there was any systematic collusion between officials of the environment ministry and companies that sold humidifier disinfectants such as Aekyung Industrial and SK Chemicals.
It was interpreted that the prosecution's related investigation is nearing its final stage, including the arrest of former SK Chemicals CEO Hong Ji-ho last month, but with new circumstances, the investigation is likely to expand from companies to the government ministry.
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC), which judged SK Chemicals to be innocent of charges of violating the Display Advertising Act, is also likely to be investigated by the prosecution.