A police officer who leaked investigation information related to the late actor Lee Seon-kyun, who passed away while under investigation for drug use, denied some of the charges.
During the first trial held on the 10th under Judge Kim Saetbyeol of the Incheon District Court's Criminal Division 11, the lawyer for A, a former police officer in his 30s, who was indicted on charges including public secret disclosure, argued, "When viewed in light of recent precedents, there is room for dispute regarding the charge of public secret disclosure if strictly interpreted."
However, he acknowledged the charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the factual basis of the indictment.
Judge Kim pointed out that the defendant falls under both charges of 'public secret disclosure' and 'violation of the Personal Information Protection Act,' stating, "The statutory penalty for the Personal Information Protection Act is higher, and I question what practical benefit there is in disputing the legal aspects."
In response to the claim that it is not a public secret because it was photographed, he explained, "Even if it was photographed, the fact that it is a confidential document does not change, and confirming rumors as facts is a different matter from claiming there are no charges."
In response, A's lawyer partially changed his position, stating, "If given the next date, I will discuss (the acknowledgment of charges) again."
A is accused of leaking materials (investigation progress reports) containing the investigation status of Mr. Lee's drug allegations to two reporters, including Mr. B, by taking photos and sending them.
The materials contained personal information such as the names of individuals involved in the case and their criminal records, and related content was reported through an entertainment media outlet.
Subsequently, A was dismissed from his position, and he filed a lawsuit against the Incheon Police Chief to cancel the dismissal, but lost in the first trial.
The late Lee Seon-kyun was criminally charged on October 14, 2023, and was summoned for police questioning three times over two months, and was found dead near Waryong Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, four days after the third questioning on December 26 of that year.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
