Controversy Over 'Taxi Driver Assault' Involving Legal Affairs Vice Minister Lee Yong-gu, Reported by Civic Groups

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] It was recently revealed that Lee Yong-gu, Deputy Minister of Justice, assaulted a taxi driver during his time as a lawyer. The deputy minister has been reported by a civic group.

On the 19th, the civic group Action for Restoring the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) announced that they filed a criminal complaint against the deputy minister with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Special Act).

Beopse-ryeon claimed, "The deputy minister’s act of temporarily stopping the taxi upon arrival at his destination, verbally abusing the taxi driver who tried to wake him, and grabbing him by the nape constitutes clear assault or intimidation of a driver operating a vehicle."

On the same day, Beopse-ryeon also announced plans to request an inspection against the police who closed the investigation into the deputy minister’s case. Beopse-ryeon stated, "The police’s decision to close the investigation may constitute dereliction of duty depending on the circumstances."

According to the police, it was revealed late that in early last month, the deputy minister grabbed the collar of a taxi driver at an apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul. It is known that the deputy minister, intoxicated and asleep inside the taxi, grabbed the driver’s collar when the driver tried to wake him.

At the time, the taxi driver got out of the car and reported the incident to the police. The police confirmed the deputy minister’s identity and released him with plans for further investigation. The police judged that the deputy minister was not subject to the Special Act, and since the taxi driver expressed that he did not wish to press charges, the investigation was closed.

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