Seoul: The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced it will withdraw complaints against former top security officials following their acquittal in connection with an alleged cover-up related to the 2020 murder of a South Korean fisheries official by North Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision comes after a special audit and inspection of the complaints lodged against ex-National Security Adviser Suh Hoon and former NIS Director Park Jie-won from the administration of former President Moon Jae-in. The complaints were initially filed in July 2022 under the directive of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, following an NIS internal audit into the purported cover-up of the 2020 killing near the western sea border, as well as the controversial 2019 repatriation of two North Korean fishermen by the Moon administration.

The NIS revealed that a subsequent inspection initiated under the Lee Jae Myung administration unveiled issues in both the factual and legal foundations of the complaints. The agency issued an apology to Suh and Park for the undue distress caused and pledged to exercise greater prudence in future complaints and the execution of public authority.

Earlier this month, a Seoul court acquitted Suh, Park, and former Defense Minister Suh-wook of allegations related to covering up the 2020 incident, citing insufficient evidence. The case traces back to September 22, 2020, when fisheries official Lee Dae-jun was shot by North Korean soldiers near the Yellow Sea maritime border, his body subsequently burned. Additionally, in 2019, the Moon administration faced criticism for repatriating two North Korean fishermen despite their expressed desire to defect, after they admitted to killing 16 crew members.