South Korea police refer NIS officials to prosecutors over fabricated report on Lee Jae-myung attack

South Korean police have forwarded three officials from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to prosecutors in connection with a fabricated report concerning the January 2024 stabbing of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. The officials are accused of creating a false official document and using it, allegedly to falsely claim that an investigation into the attack had been properly conducted.

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The National Intelligence Service intentionally created a false document to create the appearance of proper procedure.

The NIS officials reportedly submitted a falsified report to the Office for Government Policy Coordination's Counter-Terrorism Center. This report falsely indicated that a joint investigation team had conducted a proper investigation and reached conclusions on the day of the attack. The NIS then notified the center of this false report and took no further action until the suspect received a final verdict.

Police believe the NIS intentionally created the false document to create the appearance of proper procedure. This was despite the fact that the joint investigation team had not conducted a proper on-site investigation or reached any conclusions. The NIS had been urged by related government agencies to quickly submit the joint investigation results.

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Based on a comprehensive review of Kim's statements, reference materials, and the timing and circumstances of the report's creation, we determined there was intent to include false information.

Additionally, Kim Sang-min, a former legal advisor to the NIS, has been referred to prosecutors for allegedly authoring a legal review report that concluded the stabbing was not an act of terrorism. Police found that Kim had intentionally misrepresented facts in his report, including downplaying the weapon used as a "cutter knife." Based on this report, the NIS ultimately determined the incident was not terrorism. However, police found no concrete evidence to support allegations of a conspiracy or external forces orchestrating the attack. Investigations revealed the suspect had selectively consumed information from pro-North Korean YouTube channels, leading police to conclude the attack stemmed from the suspect's extreme personality and potential assistance from an accomplice, rather than a larger plot.

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No concrete evidence was found to support the claims of 'behind-the-scenes' forces.