"Lee Seon-gyun's Death, Backward Investigation Practices"... Moon Jae-in, Lee Jae-myung, and Cho Kuk Speak in Unison

Lee Jae-myung Posted an Article and Deleted It Within About an Hour

Regarding the death of actor the late Lee Seon-gyun, opposition politicians collectively criticized the investigative authorities. Former President Moon Jae-in posted on social media (SNS) on the 28th, "I mourn the tragic death of actor Lee Seon-gyun," adding, "As an actor familiar through movies and dramas, it feels as if a close acquaintance has passed away."

Former President Moon Jae-in is delivering a greeting at the 5th anniversary ceremony of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration held on the afternoon of September 19 at the 63 Building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Former President Moon said, "The investigative agencies' investigation methods and the media's reporting behavior seem to be causes of the extreme choice, which makes it even more heartbreaking," and added, "I earnestly hope this sad and tragic event will serve as an opportunity to reflect on and break away from backward investigative and reporting practices so that such incidents never happen again." He also emphasized, "We must put an end to the practice of publicly disclosing suspect information or leaking it to the media before confirming criminal charges, leading to rampant speculative reporting, and excessively forcing suspects to stand at photo lines, which causes great damage to their honor and dignity and drives them to extreme choices."

Earlier, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also posted on SNS regarding Lee’s death, stating, "An innocent citizen has been sacrificed again by the state investigative power tasked with protecting the people from crime. I feel deeply pained, as I believe I bear considerable responsibility for (Lee’s death)." However, Lee deleted the post about an hour after posting it.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk posted on SNS shortly after news of Lee’s death broke, saying, "There are more than a few people who have chosen suicide while under investigation by the prosecution and police. It does not feel like someone else's issue. I am filled with anger." This is interpreted as an indirect reference to the situation where he and his family were investigated by the prosecution during the 'Cho Kuk incident.' Cho added, "The prosecution and police possess and exercise the strongest 'legal violence' under normal circumstances," and further stated, "The presumption of innocence? The suspect’s human rights and right to defense? Those exist only in law books and textbooks."