Prosecutors Conduct First Interrogation of Seo Hoon After Detention... Likely to Request Detention Review

Seohun, Former Director of the National Security Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Seo Hoon, former director of the National Security Office, who was identified as the top person responsible during the 'West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident,' underwent his first interrogation after being detained at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of the 5th.

Seo was detained on the 3rd on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights for allegedly ordering related ministries to delete intelligence reports and conceal the fact of the shooting death of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, the late Lee Dae-jun, during a meeting of relevant ministers held around 1 a.m. on September 23, 2020.

He is also accused of fabricating and using false official documents by prematurely concluding that Lee had 'voluntarily defected to the North' when the shooting fact was unintentionally revealed through the media on the afternoon of September 23, 2020, and causing related agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense, the National Intelligence Service, and the Korea Coast Guard to include false information in their reports and press releases.

During investigations on the 24th and 25th of last month and the suspect interrogation before detention on the 2nd, Seo, who has completely denied the charges, is expected to be thoroughly questioned about the entire process from intelligence gathering to the Korea Coast Guard's interim investigation announcement that declared voluntary defection. It is also known that the prosecution has tentatively concluded, based on on-site investigations in the West Sea area, that Lee did not voluntarily defect but accidentally fell into the sea at night, drifted to the North, and suffered harm.

Seo’s side, denying all charges, appears likely to soon file a detention review petition to the court seeking reconsideration. Seo Wook, former Minister of National Defense, and Kim Hong-hee, former Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, who were detained on similar charges related to this case, were released through detention review petitions filed before the expiration of their detention periods last month.

The prosecution is also expected to summon Park Ji-won, former director of the National Intelligence Service, soon to investigate allegations that he deleted and modified related intelligence without authorization under the National Security Office’s instructions and ordered the preparation of reports emphasizing the voluntary defection circumstances.

Depending on the investigation results of these two individuals, the prosecution is anticipated to examine what role former President Moon Jae-in, the highest decision-maker of the previous government, played in pushing the narrative of voluntary defection.

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