Yong-gu Lee's 'Taxi Driver Assault' Controversy Spreads... Police Investigate the Facts (Comprehensive)

Lee Yong-gu, Deputy Minister of Justice, attended the 'Agenda Coordination Committee on the Partial Amendment to the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office' held at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 8th, reviewing the materials. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The police are re-examining whether there were any issues in the handling process of the case in which Vice Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu assaulted a taxi driver before his appointment while he was still a lawyer, which was closed as a preliminary investigation.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated at a press briefing on the 21st, "Since precedents vary depending on individual cases, we plan to comprehensively review existing precedents, including those where the Special Act on Aggravated Punishment (특가법) was applied in similar situations and those where assault charges were applied."

The police official explained, "The law vaguely states the term 'while driving,' so we need to organize rulings case by case, but we have not yet completed a full review," adding, "We plan to examine the entire matter through experts and share the results." The police intend to thoroughly review related precedents by mobilizing in-house lawyers, legal professionals, and senior officers who handled the case.

According to the police on the 21st, Vice Minister Lee assaulted a taxi driver by grabbing his collar in front of an apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 6th of last month while he was still working as a lawyer. At the time, Lee was reportedly intoxicated and had fallen asleep inside the car, and the taxi driver tried to wake him upon arrival at the destination.

The police responded to the taxi driver's report, confirmed Lee's identity, and after deciding to investigate later, initially released him. Subsequently, when the taxi driver expressed that he did not wish to press charges, the police did not file criminal charges against Lee and closed the case as a preliminary investigation. Although the Special Act on Aggravated Punishment stipulates harsher penalties for assaulting drivers of vehicles in operation, the police explained that based on existing precedents, this case was judged as simple assault, which is a "non-prosecution upon victim's withdrawal" offense.

However, as these facts became known belatedly, controversy arose over whether the handling at the time was appropriate. The police judged that the taxi was not in operation because it was stationary, but some in the legal community have raised doubts. They argue that if the engine was running, it should be considered as being in operation, and in such a case, the Special Act on Aggravated Punishment could have been applied. There are also concerns that such problems may continue in the future as the police now have the authority to conclude first investigations amid the adjustment of investigative powers between prosecutors and police. Article 5-10 of the Special Act on Aggravated Punishment (aggravated punishment for assaulting drivers of vehicles in operation) stipulates that anyone who assaults or threatens a driver operating a vehicle used for passenger transportation, including cases where the driver temporarily stops for passenger boarding or alighting, shall be punished by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Civil groups have also filed complaints one after another. The Rule of Law Restoration Action Coalition filed a criminal complaint against Vice Minister Lee for violating the Special Act on Aggravated Punishment with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 19th, and the day before, requested an investigation into the investigation team members and unidentified persons who ordered the handling for dereliction of duty and abuse of power. The Judicial Examination Preparation Group (Sajunmo) also filed a complaint against Lee on the same charges. Sajunmo announced that it submitted a request for an audit to the National Police Agency, asking for a review of the preliminary investigation closure of Lee's assault case. The conservative lawyer group, Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of the Korean Peninsula, plans to submit a petition to the Korean Bar Association requesting disciplinary action against Lee.

Meanwhile, Vice Minister Lee has not yet made any official statements regarding the controversy.

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