Task Force on Murdered Official: "A Case of State Violence Against an Individual... Survival Concealed from Bereaved Family"

Final Report on the Investigation of the Killing of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Official by People Power Party
"The 2018 Manual for Detaining Civilian Ships and Personnel in North Korean Jurisdictional Waters Was Not Followed"
Must Keep Promise to Bereaved Families by Releasing Presidential Designated Records

Hataekyung, chairman of the People Power Party's TF for the investigation of the shooting incident involving the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries officials, is announcing the investigation results at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party and head of the task force investigating the truth behind the shooting incident involving a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, defined the incident on the 6th as "an organized human rights violation and state violence against an individual," criticizing that "the Moon Jae-in administration did not follow the established manual at the time."

In the final announcement of the investigation results held that day, Rep. Ha said, "(The Moon Jae-in administration) left the victim to die without efforts to rescue, accused the victim's family of defecting to the North, deceived the public, and misled public opinion."

He explained, "The bereaved family heard about Lee Dae-jin's disappearance and rushed to the West Sea, conducting search activities with the crew on a fisheries guidance vessel," adding, "The family was searching for Lee Dae-jin in the West Sea for three days and two nights from 10 a.m. on September 22, 2020." He continued, "The government knew this fact and at the same time recognized around 3:30 p.m. on the 22nd that Lee Dae-jin was in the North, and reported to the president around 6:30 p.m. that day about his presence in the North, yet did not inform the family. If the government had shared the fact that Lee Dae-jin was found alive with the family, he could have been saved."

He added, "Although a manual for responding to the seizure of civilian vessels and personnel within North Korean jurisdiction waters was established in April 2018, the manual was not followed. It states that the situation should be communicated and notified to North Korea when an incident occurs, but the government even hid this from the family, who were searching in the wrong area at that time."

Rep. Ha criticized, "Wasn't the Moon Jae-in administration a government born from the nationwide reflection on the Sewol ferry disaster, emphasizing crisis management capabilities to rescue citizens in danger?"

Claiming that the ruling party and government led the defamation of Lee Dae-jin as a defector after his death, Rep. Ha called for an apology from former President Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party of Korea. He emphasized, "Eventually, on October 22, 2020, a serious character assassination was committed against the victim, accusing him of defecting to the North due to gambling debts and mental panic. Former President Moon has remained silent until now. He must state his position at this point." He further demanded, "Whether the president did not issue rescue orders despite being informed of the victim's survival, whether he did not instruct to inform the family knowing he was alive in North Korean waters, and whether it was appropriate to designate the records as presidential archives and keep them confidential. Former President Moon promised the family on October 8, 2020, to uncover the truth. Yet, he sealed this truth as presidential designated records. He must acknowledge that he broke his own promise."