Coast Guard Chief Apologizes for 'Investigation of Attacked Official'... "Incident Information Does Not Prove Intentional Defection"

Jung Bong-hoon, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, is making a public apology on the 22nd regarding the investigation of the 'West Sea Shooting of Public Officials' incident that occurred in September 2020.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Jung Bong-hoon, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, issued a public apology on the 22nd regarding the investigation of the 'West Sea Shooting Civil Servant' incident that occurred in September 2020.

On that day, in the lobby of the Coast Guard headquarters on the first floor, Commissioner Jung said, "I sincerely apologize to the public and the bereaved families for causing many misunderstandings related to the announcement of the investigation results of the shooting civil servant."

He added, "As the Commissioner, I deeply feel responsible for causing confusion with the Coast Guard's investigation announcement and disappointing the public."

Commissioner Jung's statement was made suddenly after meeting with members of the People Power Party's 'Task Force (TF) for the Truth Investigation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Civil Servant Shooting Incident.'

TF members, including Chairman Ha Tae-kyung, strongly criticized the Coast Guard, saying, "This incident applied the presumption of defection to North Korea principle rather than the presumption of innocence principle," and demanded a public apology from Commissioner Jung.

Regarding the public suspicion that "the Coast Guard changed its legal judgment or altered its statements" after the final investigation results were announced on the 16th, Commissioner Jung explained, "At the beginning of the incident, the Ministry of National Defense's position was that it was judged as defection to North Korea, and the Coast Guard also judged it as defection based on information it independently confirmed."

He stated that the Coast Guard's own information judgment was based on three investigators confirming the presence or absence of Special Intelligence (SI) at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and verifying that information similar to the Ministry of National Defense's announcement existed.

He further explained, "In June of last year, we requested SI necessary for the investigation from the Ministry of National Defense, but since the Ministry did not provide the data, we were unable to secure evidence to prove the defection-related charges."

Commissioner Jung also said, "Strict proof is required for the intent of defection, and the consensus of the Investigation Review Committee was that the information in this case could not be used as 'evidence' under the rules of evidence," adding, "Since it was impossible to secure evidence regarding the initial defection charges and considering the litigation benefits of a case where the subject is deceased, this case was closed."

He continued, "I ask that the investigation results be judged by legal standards, and I offer my condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families," and said, "I request that Coast Guard personnel do not be disturbed by this incident and faithfully perform their basic duties so that the public can feel reassured."

The Coast Guard has sparked controversy by first announcing under the Moon Jae-in administration that the shot civil servant defected to North Korea, then reversing the investigation results within about a month of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's launch, stating there is no evidence to conclude defection.

In September 2020, the Coast Guard announced the interim investigation results one week after Lee Dae-jun (47 years old at the time of death), a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries civil servant, was shot and killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea, concluding that he defected to North Korea.

The main evidence was intelligence from military authorities intercepting North Korean communication signals and maritime drift prediction results analyzed using specialized agencies. The Coast Guard also cited Lee's frequent gambling and debts before his death as grounds for the defection judgment.

However, in a press briefing held 1 year and 9 months later on the 16th, the Coast Guard reversed the investigation results, stating they could not find evidence of Lee's intent to defect.