Prosecutors Drop Appeal in 'West Sea Official's Death' Case, Acquittals Upheld

Prosecutors have decided not to appeal the acquittal of former National Security Advisor Suh Hoon and former Coast Guard Commissioner General Kim Hong-hee in the "West Sea official's death" case. This decision effectively confirms their innocence as determined by the appellate court.

The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office stated on August 23 that after a thorough review of the second-instance ruling and consultation with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, they would not pursue a further appeal. This follows the Seoul High Court's decision on August 16, which, like the first trial, found Suh and Kim not guilty of charges including falsifying official documents and their use. During the appellate trial, prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of 1 year and 6 months for Suh and 2 years for Kim.

The "West Sea official's death" case pertains to the killing of Lee Dae-joon, an official from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, by North Korean soldiers in September 2020. Suh Hoon, then head of the National Security Office, and Kim Hong-hee, then Commissioner General of the Coast Guard, along with other security officials from the previous Moon Jae-in administration, were indicted on charges of abuse of power for allegedly ordering the concealment and downplaying of the incident. However, both received acquittals in the first trial.