"A Serious Crime That Deceived the Public and Ostracized the Bereaved Family"
On November 5, prosecutors requested a four-year prison sentence for Suh Hoon, former Director of the Blue House National Security Office, who was brought to trial on charges including the cover-up of the 2020 'West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident.' For Park Jie-won, former Director of the National Intelligence Service, prosecutors requested a two-year prison sentence and a two-year suspension of qualifications.
Former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, who was indicted on charges of attempting to cover up the 'West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident,' is attending the sentencing hearing held on the 5th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
During the sentencing hearing held on this day at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Guyon), prosecutors made these sentencing recommendations for former Director Suh, former Director Park, and others.
For Suh Wook, former Minister of National Defense, prosecutors requested a three-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors stated, "The defendants, who were high-ranking public officials, abused their authority to conceal their mistakes, deleted official electronic records, and labeled a citizen who was shot and burned after the incident as a defector to North Korea. This constitutes a serious crime, as it deceived the public and socially ostracized the bereaved family."
Regarding former Director Suh, prosecutors emphasized, "He failed to fulfill his role as the control tower in a national crisis and took no responsive action. Despite knowing about the shooting and burning, he planned and led the cover-up, bearing the ultimate responsibility for this case."
Prosecutors also pointed out that, "Despite being the head of the agency responsible for collecting intelligence on North Korea, former Director Park actively participated in the National Security Office Director's cover-up plan."
Regarding former Minister Suh, prosecutors stated, "As the official responsible for military command and supervision, he was informed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff that a South Korean citizen had been found, yet took no necessary actions for rescue."
Additionally, prosecutors requested a three-year prison sentence for Kim Honghee, former Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard, and a one-year prison sentence with a one-year suspension of qualifications for Noh Eunchae, former Chief Secretary to the Director of the National Intelligence Service.
Former Director Suh is accused of ordering security maintenance to Joint Chiefs of Staff officials and former Commissioner General Kim during a ministerial meeting on September 23, 2020, after confirming intelligence that Lee Daejun, an official from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, had been killed by North Korean soldiers on September 22, 2020, thereby concealing the incident.
Additionally, former Director Suh is accused of instructing the Coast Guard to distribute false press releases suggesting that Lee was still being searched for, and of having the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard prepare and distribute reports and briefing materials to fabricate the narrative of defection to North Korea.
Former Director Park, former Minister Suh, and former Chief Secretary Noh were indicted for complying with these security maintenance directives by instructing National Intelligence Service and Ministry of National Defense staff to delete related intelligence and documents.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
