The prosecution has sought prison sentences for former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon and former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won, who were put on trial for attempting to cover up the “West Sea public official shooting incident” and allegedly promoting a false narrative that the deceased had attempted to defect to North Korea. For Suh Hoon, a four-year prison term was requested, as it was claimed he planned the cover-up without taking necessary response measures in his role as the National Security Office Director. Similarly, for Park Jie-won, a two-year prison sentence along with two years of disqualification was requested for his active involvement in the cover-up. Sentences were also sought for others involved: former Defense Minister Suh Wook and former Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Hong-hee were each requested to receive a three-year prison term, while former National Intelligence Service Chief of Staff No Eun-chae faced a one-year prison term and disqualification.
The incident in question involves the death of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, Lee Dae-jun, who was shot by North Korean forces in September 2020. Prosecutors allege that Suh Hoon and others distorted the facts to suggest Lee attempted to defect to North Korea and issued false reports to cover up the incident. The trial is nearing its end, with a verdict expected possibly before the end of the year.
Lee Dae-jun’s brother, representing the bereaved family, was present in court, expressing the prolonged suffering and urging the court to reveal the truth. This high-profile case underscores the contentious political dynamics surrounding national security issues in South Korea.