Police Do Not Prosecute Lee Jae-myung in Election Law Violation Case for 'Impersonating a Prosecutor'

Investigation into Defamation Charges Continues

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police have dismissed the case in which KBS PD Choi Cheol-ho accused Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate during the presidential election, of inappropriately explaining the ‘impersonation of a prosecutor’ incident.

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency recently announced on the 25th that they have dismissed the case in which PD Choi reported Assemblyman Lee for violating the Public Official Election Act. However, it is known that the investigation into the defamation charges is ongoing.

PD Choi received a suspended sentence the following year on charges of impersonating a prosecutor in collusion with Assemblyman Lee, who was serving as the executive chairman of the Bundang Parkview preferential sale incident countermeasure committee in 2002. Assemblyman Lee was fined 1.5 million won.

In February, Assemblyman Lee stated in the Central Election Commission’s booklet-type candidate information disclosure material during the presidential election that the related criminal record "occurred during the process of uncovering the truth and reporting the Bundang Parkview preferential sale incident for the public interest as a civic activist." He also explained, "During an interview with the candidate (Advisor Lee), who was the executive chairman of the preferential sale incident countermeasure committee, PD Choi asked for the name of the prosecutor in charge and important details of the case, and after a legal dispute, it was ultimately ruled that he helped impersonate the prosecutor."

In response, PD Choi held a press conference and rebutted, "Looking at the materials, it was distorted as if I maliciously trapped (Assemblyman Lee) by slandering him."

In March of this year, PD Choi filed a complaint against Assemblyman Lee with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation. The case was then transferred to the Public Investigation Division 2, a department dedicated to elections, and subsequently moved to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.