Brother of West Sea Killed Official, Lee Rae-jin, Says "The State Has Abandoned Its Duty to Protect the People"

Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of the fisheries official killed by North Korean forces, and Kim Ki-yoon, the legal representative of the bereaved family, are being interviewed by reporters after meeting with Thomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, at the Seoul Global Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 28th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Rae-jin, the older brother of the late Lee Dae-jun, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official killed by North Korean forces, issued a statement on the 14th, emphasizing that "this is the most tragic incident where the state abandoned its duty to protect the lives and safety of its citizens." This statement was made in response to the Audit Board's announcement of the interim audit results on the 'West Sea Official Killing Incident' the previous day.

Lee stated, "The fact that (my deceased younger brother) was wearing a life jacket and had a bandage on his arm strongly suggests the possibility of an accidental fall during work," and claimed, "The National Intelligence Service, the National Security Office (Blue House National Security Office), the Ministry of National Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all aware of this, deliberately concealed the incident."

He continued, "The prosecution must conduct a stronger investigation into the illegalities revealed in the Audit Board's interim report," adding, "Information assets operated with enormous tax money should be used for the people, but if they were used for concealment and fabrication, it is an outrageous atrocity."

Lee said, "Those involved in this incident must face strict legal judgment, and there can be no leniency towards them."

Kim Ki-yoon, the lawyer representing the bereaved family, explained, "After analyzing the Audit Board's press release, it is judged that the Ministry of National Defense, National Intelligence Service, and Coast Guard executed the fabricated defection plan according to the Blue House (National Security Office)'s plan to fabricate the defection."

Lawyer Kim stated that he plans to file charges against former President Moon Jae-in for dereliction of duty and intends to additionally file charges or urge for arrest and investigation of former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook, former National Security Office Director Seo Hoon, former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, and former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won.

Meanwhile, the Audit Board, after conducting a 57-day audit, judged that the core security line during the Moon Jae-in administration systematically concealed and distorted the West Sea killing incident and requested the prosecution to investigate 20 individuals belonging to five agencies at the time.