So Su-jin: "Letter from the son of the shot public official contains resentment over father's classification as defector"

President Moon Faces "'Should We See Him as the Son of a Voluntary Defector?' Handwritten Letter"
Family of Officer Lee, Killed in Shooting, Submits Request for Truth Investigation to UN on the 6th

So Su-jin, Member of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A handwritten letter sent by the son of Lee Mo (47), a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who went missing near Yeonpyeongdo, Incheon, and was shot and killed by North Korean soldiers, has been made public. In response, Jo Sujin, a member of the People Power Party, asked, "I request a response from President Moon Jae-in. Should this be seen as a letter from the 'son of a voluntary defector'?"

On the 6th, Jo wrote on her Facebook, "In the open letter sent to President Moon by the high school son of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was shot and burned by North Korean soldiers near Yeonpyeongdo last month, this question was raised," adding, "The letter is filled with resentment over the father being labeled a voluntary defector and an appeal for the restoration of his honor."

She continued, "The President must strongly and immediately urge a joint South-North investigation," and "The President should demand that North Korea hand over the victim's body."

She also added, "We must continue to pressure for a resolution condemning North Korea," and "We should demand a UN-level investigation and punishment of those responsible, and consider filing a complaint against North Korea at the UN."

Earlier, on the 5th, Lee Raejin, the older brother of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official Lee, revealed a handwritten letter from his nephew, Lee Mo, addressed to President Moon Jae-in. In the letter, Lee introduced himself as "the son of a public official who was unjustly shot by North Korean soldiers," and claimed, "My father spoke on the phone as usual and even had a video call with my younger brother, saying he would come home in a few days."

Lee also questioned about his father, "He never professionally learned how to swim," and asked, "Do you really think it makes sense that he swam 39 km against the current?"

He further expressed, "My father was a public official of the Republic of Korea and a citizen who deserved protection," and lamented, "Who created the current situation where even the body cannot be found? What was the country doing when my father was brutally killed? Why couldn't my father be protected?"

Lee Rae-jin, the brother of the government official killed by North Korean gunfire, is entering the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 6th to deliver a request for a fair investigation to the United Nations. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the 6th, Lee’s family also made public a request letter urging the United Nations (UN) to investigate the circumstances of Lee’s death. Lee Raejin visited the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and delivered the request letter to Thomas Ojea Quintana, the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean human rights.

At a press conference held in front of the Human Rights Office building, Lee Raejin said, "We want to inform the international community of North Korea’s brutal atrocities and request a fair and objective investigation at the UN level," adding, "We hope this will be an opportunity to stop North Korea’s atrocities and ensure universal human rights are absolutely guaranteed for everyone."

Meanwhile, President Moon reportedly expressed that he was "heartbroken" over the letter from Lee’s son.

Kang Minseok, the Blue House spokesperson, said at a briefing at the Blue House Chunuchu Hall in the afternoon, "I will convey President Moon’s remarks regarding the public letter from the son of the fisheries guidance officer belonging to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ West Sea Fisheries Guidance Unit," adding, "After receiving the letter during the Cabinet meeting he presided over at the Blue House in the morning, President Moon said, 'I understand the heart of a son who lost his father,' and 'I am heartbroken as well.'"

He continued, "The Coast Guard is investigating various circumstances. Let us wait for the Coast Guard’s investigation and search results," and "I send my condolences and hope that the mother and younger brother endure this hardship together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.