# South Korean legal and prosecutorial investigations

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-legal-and-prosecutorial-investigations
> Updated: 2026-10-27T05:45:03.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

South Korean prosecutors have issued non-indictment decisions for several former high-ranking officials involved in the investigation of the West Sea official shooting case. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min and former Unification Minister Lee In-young were cleared of charges regarding the destruction of public electronic records due to insufficient evidence. 

Other officials, including former Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee and former Korea Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Hong-hee, also received non-indictment decisions or dismissals. The case originated from the September 2020 death of Lee Dae-jun, a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official shot by North Korean forces, following allegations that officials conspired to manipulate the investigation.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-27: South Korean prosecutors avoid discipline after courtroom walkout

Two South Korean prosecutors have avoided formal discipline after walking out of a trial involving former official Lee Hwa-young, receiving only a warning or being cleared of charges.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-prosecutors-avoid-discipline-after-courtroom-walkout

### 2026-10-16: Prosecutors clear former officials in West Sea official shooting case

South Korean prosecutors have cleared former officials, including Noh Young-min and Lee In-young, of charges related to the 2020 West Sea official shooting investigation.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prosecutors-clear-former-officials-in-west-sea-official-shooting-case

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Cite as: South Korean legal and prosecutorial investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-legal-and-prosecutorial-investigations