West Sea shooting incident: Maritime police executives involved in investigation also cleared

Prosecutors have decided not to indict two former senior officials from the South Korean Coast Guard who were involved in the investigation of the "West Sea Defection" case. The decision cites insufficient evidence for charges including abuse of power and falsification of official documents.

The officials, former South Sea Regional Coast Guard Chief Yoon Sung-hyun and Pohang Coast Guard Station Chief Kim Tae-gyun, were investigated for allegedly manipulating the investigation into the death of fisheries official Lee Dae-jun. Lee was shot and killed by North Korean forces in September 2020 after drifting into North Korean waters. The investigation aimed to prove that Lee had voluntarily entered North Korean territory, a claim that has been highly contentious.

This decision comes after a series of acquittals for other high-ranking officials implicated in the case during the previous Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Former National Security Advisor Seo Hoon, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won, former Defense Minister Suh Wook, and former Coast Guard Chief Kim Hong-hee were indicted in 2022. However, prosecutors opted not to appeal the recent acquittal of Seo Hoon and Kim Hong-hee in their second trial, effectively confirming their innocence.

Furthermore, former President Moon Jae-in, who was also accused by a private organization of involvement in the case, was recently cleared of charges. Yoon Sung-hyun expressed his relief after the final non-indictment decision, stating it was a "difficult and patient time" after remaining a suspect for four years. Kim Tae-gyun commented that the prosecution had "neglected the case for four years."