President Lee does not want writer Yoo Si-min punished in defamation case, Blue House says
In short
The Blue House said on 21 October that President Lee Jae-myung has said he does not want writer Yoo Si-min punished over a defamation complaint. Police had started investigating on 19 October after a civic group accused Yoo of spreading false claims when he said Lee had "deceived the people" over prosecution reform. Outlets expect the police to close the case once Lee's wish is formally passed to them.
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President Lee Jae-myung has expressed that he does not want writer Yoo Si-min (유시민) punished in a defamation investigation, a Blue House official said on 21 October. The official said Lee conveyed the wish on 20 October. Newsis, Yonhap and others reported that the Blue House is to pass the wish to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which is handling the case. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
Yoo appeared on 22 September on a Media Today YouTube programme. He said that the prosecution reform Lee had in mind was completely different from what Yoo's side, the Democratic Party position and Lee's pledges had described, and that Lee had "deceived the people until now". He also said Lee had said at a press conference that splitting investigating and prosecuting prosecutors inside the Justice Ministry was originally the maximum of prosecution reform, and that he had never heard such a thing. Dong-A Ilbo dated that press conference to 18 September. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
The civic group Sasehaeng (사법정의바로세우기시민행동) filed a complaint against Yoo on 28 September, accusing him of defamation by stating false facts under the information and communications network law. The agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit questioned Sasehaeng head Kim Han-me (김한메) as the complainant on the morning of 19 October. Kim said Lee had stated a position on separating investigation and prosecution on the Alilleo YouTube channel in April last year, so Yoo's remarks were false. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 ]
On 24 September the Blue House said it regretted what it called a distortion of the president's will on prosecution reform, but that no decision had been made on any legal response. In July Yoo made a similar claim on another YouTube programme, and a presidential spokesperson rebutted it at the time, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
Outlets said the charge is an offence that cannot be punished if the victim does not want it, so police are expected to close the case once Lee's wish is formally conveyed. Kyunghyang Shinmun said police would close it for lack of the right to prosecute, and reported an analysis that Lee's step aims to prevent conflict within the ruling camp. The same outlet quoted Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Min-hee (최민희) welcoming it on Facebook. On 22 October, Maeil Business reported that Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said many people think Yoo has gone too far and that criticism should keep within limits. [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 16 , 17 ]
Why it matters
The offence is one that cannot be punished if the victim does not want it, so outlets expect the police investigation to end. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported an analysis that the step is meant to prevent conflict within the ruling camp.
Key facts
- A Blue House official said on 21 October that President Lee Jae-myung had expressed on 20 October that he did not want Yoo Si-min punished in the defamation investigation. [ 5 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The Blue House is to pass Lee's wish to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which is handling the case. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 12 ]
- The civic group Sasehaeng (사법정의바로세우기시민행동) filed the complaint on 28 September, accusing Yoo of defamation by stating false facts under the information and communications network law. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- The agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit questioned Sasehaeng head Kim Han-me (김한메) as the complainant on the morning of 19 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 ]
- The charge is an offence that cannot be punished against the victim's will, so police are expected to close the case. [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- President Lee Jae-myung expressed that he does not want Yoo Si-min punished in the defamation investigation, according to a Blue House official. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]
- The Blue House is to convey Lee's wish to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 12 ]
- Sasehaeng filed a complaint against Yoo for defamation by stating false facts under the information and communications network law over his remarks on a Media Today YouTube programme. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 12 ]
- Police questioned Kim Han-me of Sasehaeng as the complainant on 19 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 10 ]
- Outlets report the offence cannot be punished if the victim does not want it, and expect police to end the investigation. [ 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Lee's wish has formally reached the police. Most outlets say the Blue House will convey it soon; Dong-A Ilbo's summary says it was conveyed to investigators, while its text says Lee told Blue House staff and the document is expected to be sent soon.
- Whether Yoo's statements were false. Sasehaeng says Lee had already backed separating investigation and prosecution in an April appearance on the Alilleo YouTube channel; Yoo said he had never heard Lee describe the maximum prosecution reform as splitting the functions inside the Justice Ministry.
- When exactly the police will close the case. Outlets say closure is expected or likely, not announced.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 19 October, Dong-A Ilbo reported that police had started investigating and were questioning Sasehaeng head Kim Han-me as complainant. [ 1 ]
- On 21 October, Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Lee had expressed that he did not want Yoo punished. [ 5 ]
- On 21 October, Newsis reported the Blue House official's account that Lee's wish would be conveyed to Seoul police. [ 6 ]
- On 21 October, Yonhap reported it had been confirmed that Lee asked that Yoo not be punished. [ 12 ]
- On 22 October, Maeil Business reported Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok commenting on Lee's wish. [ 17 ]