CIO Accusation Over 'Jongseob Lee Travel Ban Leak' Dismissed

Jongseop Lee, former Minister of National Defense. Photo by Yonhap News

The case in which a High-ranking Officials Criminal Investigation Agency (CIO) official was accused of informing the media about the travel ban imposed on former Minister of National Defense Jongseob Lee has been dismissed.

According to the legal community on April 18, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor: Shin Douk) dismissed the case involving an unidentified CIO official suspected of leaking official secrets. Dismissal is a decision to close a case without reviewing its merits when the requirements are not met.

Previously, Seoul Metropolitan Council member Jongbae Lee filed a complaint with the prosecution against an unidentified CIO official, alleging that the official leaked the confidential information regarding the travel ban to the media.

The prosecution explained that since former Minister Lee had already submitted an objection to the Ministry of Justice regarding the travel ban, the relevant agencies were already aware of the travel ban. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that the CIO leaked the information about the travel ban.

Earlier, in January 2024, the CIO imposed a travel ban on former Minister Lee at the beginning of its investigation into alleged external pressure related to the death in the line of duty of Sangbyeong Chae. On March 4 of the same year, Lee was appointed Ambassador to Australia and filed an objection with the Ministry of Justice the next day to lift the travel ban. The media reported the travel ban on March 6, one day after the objection was filed. The Ministry of Justice accepted Lee’s objection and lifted the travel ban, after which Lee departed for Australia on March 10.

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