Park Deokheum: "How Was the Information Leaked to the Media?"
"If There Is Fear of Retaliation, Who Would Report?... Identity Protection Is Crucial"
During a parliamentary audit, concerns were raised regarding the need for strict protection of the identity of the girlfriend who reported comedian Lee Jinho’s (39) drunk driving incident and was later found dead.
On the 21st, at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee audit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, Assemblyman Park Deokheum of the People Power Party questioned how the information about the reporter, specifically that she was Lee’s girlfriend, was leaked to the media, noting that this detail had attracted significant media attention. Park stated, “Ultimately, the reporter suffered from psychological distress and passed away.”
He further emphasized, “Protecting the identity of whistleblowers is of utmost importance,” and pointed out, “If there are fears of retaliation or disadvantage, how can anyone come forward to report?”
Hwang Changseon, Commissioner of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, responded, “The report was published by a media outlet called Dispatch,” and added, “Although the circumstances of the information leak have not been confirmed, I believe that the identity of a reporter must never be disclosed.”
Previously, on the early morning of the 24th of last month, Lee was caught by police for allegedly driving under the influence for 100 kilometers from Incheon to his residence in Yangpyeong. At the time, his blood alcohol concentration was found to be 0.12%, a level high enough for license revocation.
Media reports revealed that the person who reported the incident was Lee’s girlfriend, identified as Ms. A. The situation escalated when Ms. A was found dead at her home on the 5th of this month. It was reported that Ms. A had been suffering from psychological distress after the incident became public.
However, the police have maintained their position that the identity of the person who reported the drunk driving incident could not be disclosed in their communications with the media. On the 15th, the Yangpyeong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced that Lee Jinho, who had been booked without detention for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), was referred to the Yeoju Branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office.
Meanwhile, Lee Jinho debuted as a comedian through SBS in 2005 and appeared on various programs such as JTBC’s “Knowing Bros” and tvN’s “Comedy Big League.” However, he suspended all broadcasting activities last year after being investigated by the police for illegal gambling. During the investigation, it was revealed that Lee Jinho borrowed money from fellow entertainers for illegal gambling and failed to repay them, causing a stir throughout the entertainment industry.
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