Police Decide Not to Prosecute Won Hee-ryong and Spouse for 'Lee Jae-myung Sociopath' Remark

Allegations of Violation of the Public Official Election Act

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police have decided not to prosecute Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Heeryong and his spouse, who were reported for calling Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, a "sociopath" during the 20th presidential election.

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency recently announced on the 23rd that they decided not to prosecute Minister Won and his spouse due to insufficient evidence on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation by spreading false information.

The police investigating the case reportedly judged that the statement was closer to a subjective opinion rather than a concrete fact.

In October last year, Kang Yunhyung, the spouse of Minister Won and a psychiatrist, mentioned Lee on a YouTube broadcast, saying, "Rather than Jekyll and Hyde or Janus, he seems more like a sociopath (antisocial personality disorder)," and added, "Psychiatrically, it is called antisocial."

On the 23rd of the same month, Lee’s lawyer Hyun Geuntaek appeared on MBC Radio’s "Politicianssa" and demanded Minister Won to "apologize."

In response, Minister Won said, "I cannot apologize," and added, "If you report me for defamation, I will endure any criminal punishment. I believe my wife would not say falsehoods. I will take responsibility."

Two days later, the civic group Anti-Corruption National Participation Solidarity stated, "Ms. Kang distorted and defamed facts by spreading false information as if she had conducted psychiatric treatment and diagnosis on candidate Lee, even though she did not treat him," and "We reported Minister Won and his spouse to the prosecution." Subsequently, the prosecution handed the case over to the police.

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