Police: "10-Year Statute of Limitations Applied to Lee Jinsook... Judgment Remains Open, Not Changed"

Commissioner Park: "We Need to Reach a Quick Conclusion on the Lee Junseok Case"

On November 24, the police stated regarding the application of the 10-year statute of limitations to former Korea Communications Commission Chairwoman Lee Jinsook, "It is not that our judgment has changed, but rather that the matter remains open."

Former Chairwoman Jin-Sook Lee of the Korea Communications Commission is speaking to reporters as she is escorted to Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

At a regular press briefing that day, a representative of the National Police Agency said, "Whether there is a connection to her official duties and whether she used her position is something we need to investigate," adding, "We proceeded with the investigation while leaving open the possibility of applying the shorter statute of limitations. The final determination was made after concluding that there was a connection to her official duties."

National Investigation Headquarters Commissioner Park Sungjoo commented on Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, making remarks of a sexual nature during the presidential TV debate, saying, "(The speed of the investigation) cannot be unreasonably slow because there is a statute of limitations," and added, "We are fully aware of that and will need to reach a conclusion quickly."

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News

Commissioner Park stated that regarding the People Power Party's accusation of abuse of authority against Minister of Justice Jeong Sungho and Vice Minister Lee Jinsu following the decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case, "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Serious Crime Investigation Unit is conducting the investigation."

Commissioner Park also addressed the alleged preferential hiring of Yoo Dam, daughter of former lawmaker Yoo Seungmin, as a professor at Incheon National University, saying, "The case was initially reported to the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station, but due to the high level of public interest, it has been transferred to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit."

Commissioner Park further stated that regarding the investigation into allegations that Kim Byungki, floor leader of the Democratic Party, used his status as a lawmaker to facilitate his son's university transfer, "The investigation is ongoing at the Seoul Dongjak Police Station."