Prosecution Bans Park Ji-won from Leaving the Country... Seo Hoon to Be Notified Upon Entry

Former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon (left) and Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Regarding incidents that occurred during the Moon Jae-in administration, such as the 'West Sea government official killing' and the 'forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen,' the prosecution has imposed a travel ban on former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Ji-won. For former NIS Director Seo Hoon, who is currently staying in the United States, measures have been taken to notify the prosecution upon his entry into South Korea.

On the afternoon of the 15th, the Public Investigation Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Lee Heedong) and Public Investigation Division 3 (Chief Prosecutor Lee Junbeom) of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that they had taken necessary measures such as travel bans against individuals involved in the cases.

According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, with this measure, former Director Park has been banned from leaving the country for one month, and the ban period can be extended upon the prosecution's request. Former Director Seo, who is staying in the United States, will have his return to the country reported to the prosecution immediately upon his arrival in South Korea.

Earlier, the NIS filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against former Director Park and others on charges including unauthorized deletion of intelligence-related reports concerning the West Sea government official killing case during their internal investigation. Former Director Seo and others were also reported for forcibly ending a joint investigation early in connection with the forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen case.

The West Sea government official killing case involves the late Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official Lee Dae-jin, who was killed by North Korean soldiers in the West Sea in 2020. At the time, the Ministry of National Defense stated three days after Lee’s disappearance that he was believed to have voluntarily attempted to defect to North Korea. However, on the 16th of last month, after one year and nine months, the Ministry of National Defense reversed its previous statement, saying, "After reanalyzing the related information, it was impossible to prove that the missing official voluntarily defected." Former Director Park is accused of unauthorized deletion of an intelligence report containing intercepted communications in which Lee said to North Korean soldiers, "I am a government official of the Republic of Korea. Please rescue me."

The forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen case involves two North Korean sailors who, in November 2019, killed 16 colleagues, defected, and expressed their intention to seek asylum, but were repatriated to North Korea through Panmunjom. Former Director Seo is accused of ignoring their asylum intentions, prematurely ending the government's joint investigation after five days, and forcibly repatriating them.

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