"Have They Already Forgotten the Late Lee Sun-kyun?"...Civil Group Files Complaint Against Official and Reporter Over Cha Eun-woo Tax Evasion Leak

[Financial News] A civic group filed a police complaint on the 10th against the public official who allegedly leaked singer and actor Cha Eun-woo’s "around 20 billion won tax evasion allegations" to the media, as well as the reporter who first ran the story. The group argued that personal tax information, which should have been protected to safeguard taxpayers’ rights, was disclosed to outside parties. Citing the case of the late actor Lee Sun-kyun, whose investigation details were leaked at a preliminary, pre-indictment stage, the group also stressed that society must take such conduct seriously.
The Korea Taxpayers Association (KTA) stated that it had "filed a complaint with the National Office of Investigation against an unidentified tax official who leaked tax audit information on Cha Eun-woo and the reporter who first reported it, on charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the Criminal Act’s provision on disclosure of official secrets." The KTA is a tax-focused civic group that works to protect taxpayers’ rights and interests.
In its complaint, the group argued that the unauthorized release of specific tax information violated the confidentiality principle under the Framework Act on National Taxes and infringed taxpayers’ rights. It further contended that the leak runs counter to the Personal Information Protection Act, which prohibits disclosing personal information learned in the course of one’s duties, and to the Criminal Act, which punishes public officials for divulging official secrets.
The association added, "This complaint is not intended to defend or side with any particular individual, but to establish social trust that tax information is kept safely protected under all circumstances."
In making its case, the group also pointed to the example of Lee Sun-kyun. In October 2023, a serving police officer leaked parts of an investigation report on his alleged drug use to several reporters, and Lee was subjected to a wave of competitive coverage before being found dead two months later. The KTA pointed out, "We must not allow a situation to be repeated in which the disclosure of unverified investigative or audit information leads to irreparable damage to an individual’s honor and human rights."
gaa1003@fnnews.com Ahn Gaeul Reporter