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Police Raid State Audit Agency Over Alleged Military Secrets Leak Linked to 2020 Fisheries Murder

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  • A stone marker engraved with the Board of Audit and Inspection's name marks the entrance of the agency's headquarters in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    A stone marker engraved with the Board of Audit and Inspection's name marks the entrance of the agency's headquarters in central Seoul. (Yonhap) Source Full size

Raid Executed After Complaints Target Former Audit Chief On 3 February 2026 the Seoul Metropolitan Police anti‑corruption unit conducted a search and seizure at the Board of Audit and Inspection, acting on complaints that former chief Choi Jae‑hae and associates illegally disclosed military information [1]. The operation focused on the agency’s headquarters and seized documents related to the 2020 fisheries case. Police officials said the raid aimed to secure evidence of the alleged leak.

Choi Jae‑hae Accused of Disclosing Classified Intelligence Prosecutors allege Choi released second‑level military secrets in press statements about the fisheries official case in October 2022 and again in December 2023, during President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s term [1]. The disclosed material reportedly included intelligence on the circumstances of Lee Dae‑jun’s death. Authorities consider the leaks a breach of national security laws.

2020 Fisheries Official Death Remains Central to Investigation Lee Dae‑jun, a senior fisheries inspector, was shot by North Korean soldiers on 22 September 2020 near the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea and later burned [1]. His disappearance and death sparked a high‑profile investigation that has persisted for six years. The case’s sensitivity stems from its implications for inter‑Korean tensions and intelligence handling.

Audit Report Claims Moon Administration Covered Up Incident The Board concluded that the Moon Jae‑in government neglected, concealed, and distorted facts about Lee’s death, portraying it as an attempted defection [1]. Although the audit committee initially refused to publish the report due to the presence of military secrets, a committee member overrode the decision and released it without the defense ministry’s review. The report’s release intensified calls for accountability.

December 2025 Court Acquittal Revives Scrutiny A Seoul court in December 2025 cleared former top security officials from the Moon administration of involvement in the alleged cover‑up, prompting renewed investigative pressure on the audit agency [1]. The acquittal reignited public and political demand for transparency regarding the leaked intelligence. The police raid represents the latest step in that renewed scrutiny.

Sources

Timeline

2019 – The Moon administration repatriates two North Korean fishermen captured near the eastern sea border, despite their wish to defect; they later confess to killing 16 crew members, providing context for later border‑related tensions [2].

Sept 22, 2020 – North Korean soldiers shoot fisheries official Lee Dae‑jun near the Yellow Sea de‑facto maritime border, his body is later burned, and the Moon government initially frames the incident as a defection attempt [1][5][6][7].

July 2022 – Acting on President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s instruction, the National Intelligence Service files complaints against former security adviser Suh Hoon and ex‑NIS director Park Jie‑won over the 2020 killing [4].

Oct 2022 – Former Board of Audit chief Choi Jae‑hae releases press statements about the 2020 incident that contain second‑level military secrets, later deemed illegal disclosure [1].

Dec 2023 – Choi Jae‑hae again issues classified statements on the case during President Yoon’s term, further exposing the leak of military intelligence [1].

2024 (audit report) – The Board of Audit and Inspection concludes the Moon government concealed and distorted facts about Lee’s death, portraying it as an attempted defection; a committee member overrides the decision to withhold the report and makes it public without defense‑ministry review [1].

Dec 26, 2025 – The Seoul Central District Court acquits Suh Hoon, Park Jie‑won, Suh Wook, Kim Hong‑hee and Noh Eun‑chae of cover‑up charges, citing lack of evidence and no clear motive to conceal facts [5][6][7][8].

Dec 2025 – Following the acquittal, the National Intelligence Service announces it will drop the complaints against Suh Hoon and Park Jie‑won, stating “We apologize to Suh and Park for the suffering caused by undue complaints” and pledging prudence in future actions [4].

Jan 1, 2026 – Prosecutors weigh whether to appeal the December 2025 acquittals as the legal deadline approaches, while the victim’s family protests the verdict and questions the process [3].

Jan 2, 2026 – Prosecutors declare they will appeal the acquittals of Suh Hoon and Kim Hong‑hee, but drop appeals against Park Jie‑won, keeping the case alive [2].

Jan 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung says, “Accountability should be considered,” criticizing the prosecution’s handling of the case; Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok adds, “The indictment is effectively fabricated,” suggesting prosecutors may forgo an appeal [3].

Feb 3, 2026 – Seoul Metropolitan Police’s anti‑corruption unit raids the Board of Audit and Inspection headquarters, seizing materials after complaints that former chief Choi Jae‑hae illegally disclosed second‑level military secrets about the 2020 fisheries murder case [1].

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