Civic Group Files Complaint Against President Lee Jae-myung Over COVID-19 Vaccine Concerns
A civic group in South Korea has filed a complaint against President Lee Jae-myung and a high-ranking Blue House official, alleging abuse of power and dereliction of duty related to the handling of reports of foreign substances found in COVID-19 vaccines. The complaint centers on concerns that the government did not adequately address reports of contaminants and failed to take appropriate follow-up measures.
Complaint Details
The Working People’s Livelihood Countermeasures Committee filed the complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on March 24, 2026, accusing President Lee and First Deputy Director Kim Hyun-ji of the Blue House of wrongdoing. The group claims the government’s response to reports of foreign substances in COVID-19 vaccines was inadequate, causing mental and material damage to citizens who experienced adverse effects after vaccination.
Board of Audit and Inspection Findings
The complaint is based on findings from the Board of Audit and Inspection’s (BAI) “COVID-19 audit results” released on February 23, 2026. The BAI reported that the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) received approximately 1,280 reports of foreign substances in COVID-19 vaccines between March 2021 and October 2024. These included 835 reports of rubber stopper fragments, as well as 127 reports of other concerning substances such as mold, hair and silicon dioxide. [Source: The Chosun Ilbo]
Allegations of Inadequate Response
The complaint alleges that despite receiving these reports, approximately 14.2 million doses of vaccine from the same manufacturing numbers continued to be administered. The KDCA allegedly failed to notify the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in all 1,280 cases, despite being required to do so under established protocols.
Calls for Accountability
The civic group expressed concern that no action had been taken against former President Moon Jae-in or former Minister of Health and Welfare Jeong Eun-kyung (who served as the KDCA director during the period in question) even a month after the BAI released its findings. The group argues this inaction constitutes an abuse of power and dereliction of duty.
Recent Leadership Changes at the BAI
In December 2025, President Lee Jae-myung nominated Kim Ho-chul, a human rights lawyer, as the new chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection. [Source: Sedaily] This appointment followed concerns raised about staff expertise and its potential impact on disaster responses, as highlighted by the BAI itself. [Source: The Chosun Ilbo]
Policy Audit Abolishment
Recently, the Board of Audit and Inspection abolished the ‘policy audit’ following a request from President Lee Jae-myung to avoid discouraging public officials. [Source: WordKorean] This change aims to create an environment where public officials can perform their duties without fear of undue scrutiny.
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