Four Colleagues Who Were on Duty with the Late Sergeant Lee Hold Press Conference
Claim: "Orders Came from Incheon Coast Guard Chief and Yeongheung Substation Chief"
Coast Guard: "Allegations Are Groundless"... Full Investigation to Uncover the Trut
There have been revelations from colleagues alleging that there was an attempt to cover up the case involving the late Police Sergeant Lee Jaeseok (34), a coast guard officer who died while rescuing a Chinese man in his 70s stranded on a mudflat. Colleagues who worked with Sergeant Lee urged a thorough investigation, stating, "The delayed response from superiors and violations of regulations exacerbated the incident."
Sergeant Lee Jaeseok (right), who removed the life jacket from a stranded man in his 70s from China on the mudflat and died. Photo by Haiker News, Yonhap News Agency
"There Was an Order to Remain Silent About the Incident," Colleagues Testify
On the 15th, four team members who were on duty with Sergeant Lee at the time of the accident at the Yeongheung Police Substation of the Incheon Coast Guard held a press conference at a funeral hall in Dong-gu, Incheon. They revealed, "We were instructed by the head of the Yeongheung Police Substation to remain silent about the incident because Sergeant Lee needed to be portrayed as a 'hero'." They added, "The substation chief told subordinates that if they saw the bereaved family, they should 'shed tears, say nothing, and remain quiet.'"
On the morning of the 15th, officers from the Yeongheung Police Substation of the Incheon Coast Guard, who were team members of the late Sergeant Jae Seok Lee, who died while trying to rescue an elderly man stranded in the mudflat alone, held a press conference at a funeral hall in Dong-gu, Incheon, ahead of Sergeant Lee's funeral. Photo by Yonhap News
They further stated, "The first order to remain silent about the incident came when Sergeant Lee, who had gone missing, was being transported to the emergency room after being rescued." They explained, "Behind the container used as the Yeongheung Police Substation, the substation chief gathered our team members and other team members who had been urgently mobilized for the search and relayed the instructions, saying they were from the head of the Incheon Coast Guard."
The colleagues also claimed that they received instructions to remain silent from the head of the Incheon Coast Guard. One team member who was on duty with Sergeant Lee said, "When we met an acquaintance of Sergeant Lee, both the head of the Incheon Coast Guard and the substation chief asked, 'What is your relationship?' and then instructed, 'Do not say anything to the bereaved family.'" They added, "Initially, we intended to reveal everything during the subsequent investigation, but after meeting with the bereaved family yesterday, we decided to correct the distorted facts and reveal the truth."
"Delayed Response and Violation of Regulations Worsened the Incident"
The team members argued that the team leader failed to respond promptly, which delayed the rescue. They said, "The team leader returned to the container after a break but did not share Sergeant Lee's situation at all." They continued, "A few minutes later, we received a report from the drone company and realized the seriousness of the situation." They further explained, "Our coast guard always patrols in pairs, and even when going for meals or to a convenience store, we never move alone. This was the first time such a situation occurred. If the team leader had pressed just one emergency bell inside the substation immediately after the incident, all the off-duty personnel would have responded, but that did not happen."
Coast Guard: "No Attempt to Cover Up"... Pledges Full Cooperation with Investigation
On the 15th, fellow police officers salute at the funeral ceremony of the late Police Sergeant Lee Jaeseok held at the Incheon Coast Guard Station in Seo-gu, Incheon. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
In response, the Korea Coast Guard stated, "We have provided the bereaved family with all available materials related to the incident, including CCTV footage, radio transcripts, and drone videos." They explained, "Although strong suspicions have been raised that the head of the Incheon Coast Guard and the substation chief attempted to cover up the truth internally, the head of the station has firmly denied these claims." Lee Gwangjin, head of the Incheon Coast Guard, later issued a separate statement, saying, "There was absolutely no cover-up," and pledged, "We will actively cooperate with the investigation team and clarify all the facts."
On September 11, at 2:07 a.m., a drone patrol company spotted a person sitting on the mudflat during a period of high tidal difference and contacted the substation. Sergeant Lee went to the scene alone. Around 3 a.m., while rescuing Mr. A, who had injured his foot, the water rose to waist level. Sergeant Lee removed his life jacket and gave it to the man, helped him put on patrol gloves, and attempted to move toward land. However, he went missing in the process and was found in cardiac arrest more than six hours later. He was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
