Ruling Party's West Sea Attack TF Visits Ministry of Unification... Minister Kwon Young-se Pledges "Cooperation"

Chairman Ha Tae-kyung: "If the Ministry of Unification Had Led the North Korea Policy, This Incident Would Not Have Unfolded Like This"

Hataek Kyung, head of the People Power Party's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries civil servant shooting incident fact-finding task force, is holding a meeting with the bereaved family member Lee Rae-jin at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] The People Power Party's "Task Force (TF) for the Truth Investigation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Official Shooting Incident" visited the Ministry of Unification on the 28th to demand a thorough investigation of the truth.

The TF, composed of Chairman Ha Tae-kyung, and members Kim Seok-ki, Shin Won-sik, Kang Dae-sik, Jeon Ju-hye, and Ahn Byung-gil, visited the Government Seoul Office in the afternoon to investigate the facts of the incident. During a meeting with Kim Ki-woong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Unification, Ha said, "In reality, the Ministry of Unification should take the lead in North Korea-related issues, but it has not done so, and as a result, this unfortunate incident occurred."

He continued, "If the Ministry of Unification had taken the lead in (North Korea policy), this incident would not have resulted in neglecting the protection of citizens to the point of death, nor would it have escalated into a second character assassination and defamation," raising his voice.

Member Ahn Byung-gil referred to former President Moon Jae-in’s social media post in June 2020, when a Korean citizen was kidnapped by pirates off the coast of Gabon, Africa, and was released safely after 37 days, saying, "(Former President Moon) proudly posted that the 24-hour response system was well operated immediately after the citizen was abducted, and that information sharing with nearby countries such as Nigeria and France helped rescue our citizen. However, three months later, our citizen was mercilessly killed by North Korea and the body was burned."

He then questioned, "How can three months before and three months after be so different? Isn't it because the target was North Korea?" and explained, "The Ministry of Unification will seek the truth about why our government responded the way it did at that time."

Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se said about the incident, "Our citizen was absurdly killed and later defamed," and promised, "We will cooperate fully in all areas where the Ministry of Unification can assist regarding the role it played at the time."

The West Sea official shooting incident involves Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official Lee Dae-jun, who went missing on September 21, 2020, while aboard a fishing guidance vessel near Soyeonpyeong Island, the northernmost point of the West Sea. He was shot by North Korean soldiers and his body was burned. Recently, the Coast Guard and Ministry of National Defense reversed their previous interim investigation result, which presumed "voluntary defection," stating they found no evidence that Lee attempted to defect to North Korea. Subsequently, the People Power Party formed a related TF and visited the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, and on this day, the Ministry of Unification.