The police and prosecution officials who leaked the drug investigation information of the late Lee Sun-kyun have ultimately come to face legal judgment.
On the 5th, the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office's Criminal Division 6 (Director General Choi Jong-pil) prosecuting authority filed charges against former police officer A and prosecutor investigator B from the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office for violation of official secrets. In addition, entertainment reporter C, who received sensitive information from A and distributed it to another reporter, has also been indicted for violating the Personal Information Protection Act.
According to the prosecution, A is accused of taking a photograph of a report related to Lee Sun-kyun's drug suspicion drafted by the Incheon Police Agency's Drug Crime Investigation Unit in October 2023, and transmitting it to two reporters. The report reportedly contained sensitive personal details of the suspects, including Lee Sun-kyun's real name, criminal record, and occupation.
B is also accused of informing a local media reporter on two occasions about the fact that Lee Sun-kyun was under investigation for drugs and the progress of the investigation. This information was reported under the title, 'Top star L, under investigation for drug charges,' shocking the public.
Ultimately, A has been dismissed, and B is undergoing disciplinary procedures while being excluded from duty. However, the prosecution decided not to charge the three reporters who received information from them, noting that 'there is no clear indication of profit motive or improper intent.'
The late Lee Sun-kyun was charged with drug use on October 14, 2023, and was summoned for questioning three times. Four days after the last investigation, on December 26, he was found dead in a vehicle near Waryong Park in Jongno, Seoul. He was 48 years old.
At that time, foreign media reported in an article titled, 'Could the death of 'Parasite' star Lee Sun-kyun lead to a judgment on Korean society?' that his unfortunate death might potentially affect Korea's status as a global soft superpower.
After news broke that Lee Sun-kyun was under investigation for drug use, all details of the case were rapidly dissected over the two months, listing his three appearances before the police, stating, 'His death drew attention in connection with the current political and social landscape of Korea, and it could potentially impact Korea's standing as a global soft superpower.'
The domestic film industry did not remain silent after Lee Sun-kyun's death. Public cultural artists, including director Bong Joon-ho, held a press conference, stating, 'We cannot help but ask whether the police's security was properly maintained until the incident was first reported, and whether the facts concerning the media leak were clarified,' calling for a thorough investigation and the punishment of those responsible.
For two months, the late actor's name circulated online, creating a situation where it felt as if he had already undergone a public trial before the investigation was over. There are still voices of reflection, lamenting that the indiscriminate revelations against him and the lax discipline within public power led to the loss of a talented actor.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]