Audit Board denies extended leave to official involved in 'West Sea incident' probe, citing evasion concerns

An official from South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), who was involved in the investigation into the 'West Sea incident' under the previous administration, has had their request for extended parental leave partially denied. The official, identified as 'A,' had been studying in the United Kingdom and applied for a six-month leave to care for their child, intending to return to their duties by the end of the year.

However, the BAI approved only 17 days of leave, from the 1st to the 17th of the current month. The decision was reportedly based on the BAI's assessment that the request might be an attempt to evade an ongoing police investigation. The BAI stated that 'A' had previously been investigated twice via written inquiries while abroad, and the police had requested face-to-face interviews, which had not yet occurred.

Official 'A' was part of the BAI's team that re-examined the handling of the 'West Sea incident' – a case involving the alleged distortion of facts surrounding the death of a South Korean fisheries official. In November of the previous year, the BAI's 'Operational Innovation Task Force' filed a complaint against 'A' and six others, accusing them of leaking military secrets without proper security procedures. The BAI also noted that 'A' had not been fully cooperative with a follow-up task force investigating the matter.

The police have initiated a compulsory investigation, executing search and seizure warrants at the BAI's offices on the morning of February 3rd. This action is aimed at securing evidence related to the complaint filed by the BAI concerning the alleged disclosure of military secrets. The BAI's denial of extended leave to official 'A' highlights the tension between administrative procedures and ongoing legal investigations, particularly concerning sensitive cases from a previous government.