South Korean police closed a defamation investigation on Feb. 27 into writer Yu Si-min after receiving a written statement from the presidential office confirming that President Lee Jae-myung does not want criminal punishment pursued against him.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crime Investigation Unit dismissed the case under the principle of “no right to prosecute.” Defamation is a crime where prosecution cannot proceed if the victim does not want punishment. The agency received the written document from the presidential office on Feb. 23.
Civic Group Criminal Complaint Triggers Investigation
The investigation began after a civic group named Action for Solidifying Judicial Justice filed a police complaint accusing Yu of spreading false information on a YouTube broadcast and damaging the president’s reputation. Police called in a representative from the organization for questioning on Feb. 19.
The dispute stems from Yu’s appearance on a MediaToday YouTube channel broadcast on Jan. 22. During the segment, Yu criticized President Lee’s policy framework regarding prosecution reform, stating that the administration had deceived the public. Yu argued that the actual reform plan pursued by the president differed entirely from what had been promised to voters and the Democratic Party.
Disputed Remarks on Prosecution Reform Plans
The commentary focused on remarks President Lee made during a national press conference on Jan. 18, where the president described an ultimate goal of dividing investigative functions and indictment authorities within the Ministry of Justice. Yu disputed those remarks on the broadcast, asserting that he had never heard such a proposal expressed previously.
Because defamation offenses require an injured party’s active desire for legal action, the receipt of the presidential office’s statement halting punishment forced investigators to close the file without charges.
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