Prosecutors Summon Coast Guard PR Officer During 'West Sea Official Killing' Incident

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution investigating the 'West Sea Public Official Killing Incident' is summoning a police inspector who was in charge of public relations at the time to question him.

According to the legal community on the 27th, the Public Investigation Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Hee-dong) is questioning Inspector A, who worked in the public relations office of the Incheon Coast Guard at the time, as a witness.

During the investigation, the prosecution is reportedly asking Inspector A about the basis on which the Coast Guard judged Lee's possibility of defecting to the North, and whether there was any involvement from higher-ups in the Coast Guard during the 'presumed defection' briefing process.

The Incheon Coast Guard, where Inspector A worked, investigated Lee Dae-jun's disappearance and the possibility of his defection to the North immediately after he went missing in September 2020. Based on investigation materials from the Incheon Coast Guard and intelligence from military authorities, the Korea Coast Guard, which investigated the case, announced interim investigation results on September 29, 2020, eight days after Lee's disappearance, stating that he was judged to have defected to the North.

However, on the 16th of last month, the Incheon Coast Guard overturned the previous conclusion by announcing the final investigation result that "Lee's intention to defect to the North was not found."

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