Bereaved Family of North Korea-Shot Public Official Files Administrative Lawsuit Against Blue House and Ministry of National Defense for Information Disclosure Request

"Refusal Despite Request to Restrict Access to Bereaved Families Only"... Petition to Be Submitted to the UN

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The bereaved family of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official who was shot dead by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea has filed an administrative lawsuit against the government for refusal to disclose information.

The victim's older brother, Lee Rae-jin (56), and his son, Lee Mo (18), held a press conference in front of the Seoul Administrative Court on the afternoon of the 13th and filed a lawsuit to cancel the refusal to disclose information against the Blue House National Security Office, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Korea Coast Guard.

Earlier, on October 6 last year, Lee requested the Ministry of National Defense to disclose North Korean military conversation interception audio files and other video files, but the Ministry refused, stating that "the information is not subject to the Information Disclosure Act and is classified under the Military Secrets Protection Act."

On October 14 of the same year, Lee also requested the Korea Coast Guard to show the testimony statements of nine colleagues who were on board the fishing guidance vessel "Mugunghwa 10," and on the 28th, requested the Blue House to disclose reports and instructions received on the day of the incident, but these requests were also denied.

Lee said, "The Blue House, Ministry of National Defense, and Coast Guard ignored the constitutionally mandated information disclosure citing national security as the reason," adding, "Since the request is only to disclose the information to the bereaved family, there is no concern that the disclosure would harm the nation's significant interests."

He continued, "I will ask what the state was doing until a South Korean official lost his life in North Korean waters while on duty, and through this lawsuit, I will seek to uncover the truth against the unreasonable silence without even an apology."

His son, Lee, also appealed, saying, "Four months have already passed, but not only has the truth not been clarified, but even the family's right to know has been ignored, which is unfair. If they want to accuse my father of such a serious crime (violation of the National Security Act) despite having no body or audio evidence, then please show evidence, not speculation."

The bereaved family plans to deliver the administrative lawsuit complaint filed that day, the information disclosure request submitted to the government, and the refusal notice received from the government to the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul next week.

Kim Ki-yoon, the family's legal representative, explained, "The purpose is to inform the UN side in detail about the family's responses so far and to request assistance in handling the case going forward."

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