Former Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jinsook to File Abuse of Authority Complaint Against Chief of Yeongdeungpo Police Station

The legal team of Lee Jinsook, former Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, who was arrested and later released by the police on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act, plans to file a complaint against the Chief of Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul and others for abuse of authority.

Yonhap News Agency

Im Mooyoung, attorney and legal representative for Lee, announced on his social networking service (SNS) account that he intends to submit the complaint to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office at around 1:30 p.m. on November 5.

Lee’s legal team named the Chief of Yeongdeungpo Police Station and the head of the second investigative division at the station as the accused in the complaint.

The legal team stated, “This is a case where police officers abused their authority to summon, compelling the complainant to appear at the police station and undergo questioning-an obligation that does not exist,” adding, “We hope they will be punished for abuse of authority.”

They further explained, “The police used a false summons to detain the complainant for two nights and three days, and instead of reflecting on their illegal actions, the officers demanded unnecessary appearances from the complainant. There was no choice but to comply, knowing that refusing to appear again could lead to another arrest, and out of fear of being falsely accused of non-compliance.”

Previously, Park Jeongbo, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, commented during a regular press briefing regarding Lee’s legal team considering filing a complaint, “That is their opinion,” and stated, “We intend to proceed according to the law and established principles.”

Lee was arrested at her home on November 2 on charges of making politically biased remarks and engaging in preliminary election campaigning through conservative YouTube and Facebook accounts between September and October last year and March and April this year. After being questioned twice while in custody, she was released on November 4 by court order following a review of the legality of her detention.