Anti-corruption agency investigates alleged perjury in West Sea official's death case

South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has launched a forceful investigation into allegations of perjury surrounding the 2020 death of a fisheries official in the West Sea. The CIO's 4th Investigation Division conducted searches of the Incheon Coast Guard and seized items, including the mobile phone, work logs, and emails of former Jeju Regional Coast Guard Director Park Sang-chun. Park is accused of giving false testimony during a parliamentary inquiry into the incident.

The "West Sea fisheries official shooting incident" refers to the death of Lee Dae-jun, an official from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, who went missing in waters south of Yeonpyeongdo Island on September 21, 2020, and was later shot and killed by North Korean forces in North Korean waters. Initially, the Coast Guard announced in September 2020 that Lee had defected to North Korea. However, after the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office, the investigation results were overturned in June 2022, with the finding that there was no evidence of defection intent.

The current investigation by the CIO aims to clarify the truth behind the conflicting accounts and potential perjury. The reversal of the initial findings has led to significant political scrutiny and public debate, making the investigation crucial for establishing accountability and resolving the lingering questions surrounding Lee Dae-jun's death.