On August 22, the Incheon District Court’s Administrative Division 1-3, presided over by Judge Jang Yu-jin, ruled against the plaintiff—former police inspector A—who had filed an administrative lawsuit to overturn his dismissal by the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.
The officer, in his 30s, was found to have leaked an internal Investigation Progress Report in October 2023 to two journalists, including one identified as B. The report, created by the agency’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Division, detailed sensitive information, including the names, criminal histories, and occupations of individuals linked to Lee Sun-kyun’s case.
On December 28, 2023 just one day after Lee’s death a media outlet that had received the report published an edited version of its contents, sparking widespread public outrage.
A was later dismissed by the police disciplinary committee for violating confidentiality and the duty of diligence, one of the most severe penalties for a public servant. While A argued that he had a decade of honorable service and that sharing information with reporters was part of “common police-media relations,” the court rejected his claim.
In its ruling, the court emphasized:
“As a police officer, A had a responsibility to uphold strict professional ethics and legal standards. He knew the importance of safeguarding suspects’ personal data and maintaining investigative secrecy.”
“Disclosing whether a person is under investigation can severely impact the case. A’s unauthorized leak violated suspects’ rights and eroded public trust in law enforcement. The gravity of this misconduct is serious.”
A has since appealed the decision, with the case now moving to the Seoul High Court’s Incheon panel. He also faces separate criminal charges for leaking official secrets, with ongoing trial proceedings in the Incheon District Court.
In a related case, a 44-year-old investigator from the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office was indicted for leaking Lee’s investigation details on two separate occasions to a local newspaper.
Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in Parasite, was under investigation for drug use at the time of his death. He had been interrogated three times following his booking on October 14, 2023, and was found dead on December 26, four days after his last questioning—leaving the nation shocked and prompting deeper scrutiny over how confidential investigations are handled.
Sources: daum
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