Lee Ha-neul upset by comments on Lee’s decision not to seek punishment for Yoo Si-min: “It’s irritating, as if something were being bestowed”

[Financial News] As President Lee Jae-myung has indicated that he does not want writer Yoo Si-min punished, singer Lee Ha-neul has expressed strong displeasure at some public reactions.
On the 26th, Lee Ha-neul went live over a meal on his YouTube channel “Jabgiwang Lee Ha-neul” after finishing a cuttlefish fishing trip with writer Yoo. While talking with Yoo and checking comments in the chat, however, Lee briefly stepped aside and frowned at the viewers.
“I saw a comment a little while ago that bothered me, so I’m going to say something,” Lee said. “Now that the president has canceled it, it seems people are starting to talk about it. Is that something you should be punished for, realistically? ‘I don’t want him punished’—does that make any sense?”
He continued, “Honestly, it irritates me to see it presented as some great act of goodwill, as if something were being bestowed.” Responding sharply to a comment mentioning the “SillaJen allegations,” he added, “What is there? What has come out? Don’t hate and attack someone who’s done nothing wrong for no reason.”
Back at the table, Lee told writer Yoo, “You can see from the chat that there are more people supporting us and liking us,” and offered comfort, saying, “So many people really hope you’re doing well and that you’re okay.” Yoo responded nonchalantly, “I’m not having a hard time, so why are you trying to comfort me?”
Earlier, in a YouTube broadcast on the 22nd of last month, writer Yoo criticized the direction of the prosecution reform being pursued by President Lee and claimed, “The president has deceived the public up to now. The prosecution reform President Lee had in mind was completely different from the reform we had in mind, the Democratic Party of Korea’s position, and what had been described as the president’s pledge.”
Afterward, the civic group Citizens’ Action for Establishing Judicial Justice filed a police complaint against writer Yoo, saying his remarks constituted defamation through false information. President Lee, however, stated that he did not want Yoo punished, and the Blue House conveyed Lee’s wish not to seek punishment on the 23rd.
On the 27th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Public Crimes Investigation Unit decided not to refer writer Yoo’s case for prosecution, citing “no prosecutorial authority.”
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter