[2022 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Clash Over 'West Sea Official Killing'... Verbal Abuse Over Defection Debate

Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is taking the witness oath at the National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries held on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, the late Lee Dae-jun, who was killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea, died while on duty. The dispute over whether it was a simple slip or an intentional defection to the North, as well as the state funeral by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, escalated into a controversy involving harsh language.

At the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on the 6th, Ju Cheol-hyun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Looking at the minutes of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries state funeral candidate selection committee meeting, it seems as if they acknowledged the facts as if Lee Dae-jun died from slipping, but is there any evidence that the deceased died from slipping?"

He added, "It is the same as saying that a public official who runs away from work during working hours and gets into an accident while fooling around elsewhere should also be treated as a work-related injury." When Jeong Hee-yong of the People Power Party pointed out that the expression 'fooling around' was inappropriate, Ju explained, "I am not saying the deceased did that."

Yoon Jae-gap, also from the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Based on my 30 years of experience in the navy, after comprehensively judging various aspects, the conclusion was that it was a defection to the North, so why are there completely opposite results on the same matter?" He questioned, "Was there pressure from higher-ups on the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries regarding the state funeral decision?"

In response, Ahn Byung-gil of the People Power Party said, "The core of this case is that our citizen was shot and burned in North Korean waters, and despite the government having enough time to save him, they did not do so and instead concluded it was a defection to the North," adding, "Even if the cause of death is unclear, the decision to hold a state funeral by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is natural, so criticizing this is lamentable."

Cho Seung-hwan, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, replied, "The deceased was an employee of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and went missing while on duty," and said, "For that reason alone, I believe it is appropriate as the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to proceed with sufficient restoration of the employee’s honor."