People Power Party Public Safety Committee Members Visit Police Agency to Protest... "Yonggu Lee's Internal Investigation Closure Undermines Police Trust"

Members of the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee are entering the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st to protest the police's decision to close the preliminary investigation regarding Vice Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu's assault on a taxi driver. From the left, People Power Party members Seo Beom-su, Park Wan-su, and Choi Chun-sik.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Members of the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee visited the National Police Agency on the 21st to protest the handling of the 'taxi driver assault' incident involving Lee Yong-gu, Deputy Minister of Justice.

People Power Party lawmakers Park Wan-soo, Seo Beom-soo, and Choi Chun-sik visited the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, around 1:30 p.m. that day, stating, "We will inquire about the reasons for closing the internal investigation and hear the basis for the disposition."

Lawmaker Park said, "Judging those close to power, especially government officials, as innocent undermines public trust," and pointed out, "The police are now on the test stand."

Lawmaker Seo also said, "The law must be applied equally to everyone," adding, "There is suspicion about whether the case would have been closed at this level if an ordinary citizen had done the same."

The police conducted an investigation into the incident on the 6th of last month in front of an apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where Deputy Minister Lee, who was working as a lawyer at the time, grabbed the collar of the taxi driver who had given him a ride and assaulted him. At that time, Deputy Minister Lee was reportedly asleep in the car while intoxicated, and the taxi driver tried to wake him upon arrival at the destination.

After the taxi driver expressed to the police that he did not wish to press charges, the police did not file a criminal case against Deputy Minister Lee and closed the internal investigation. Although the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (Special Act) imposes heavier penalties for assaulting a driver operating a vehicle, the police explained that, based on existing precedents, they judged this case as simple assault, which falls under the category of 'non-prosecution by victim's consent.' However, as this fact was revealed later, controversy continues over whether the handling at the time was appropriate.

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