Former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Jin-sook speaks after submitting a constitutional appeal against the bill to establish a Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee on the 1st at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News. 

Police have arrested former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Jin-sook on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and other offenses.

According to Yonhap News, the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station executed an arrest warrant around 4 p.m. on the same day near the former chairman's residence in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, and is currently escorting her to the police station.

It is understood that the police decided to arrest the former chairman after she failed to comply with the summons for investigation scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 27th of last month.

Police stated, "We arrested the former chairman after she failed to respond to more than three summons requests, and a court issued an arrest warrant."

The charges against the former chairman include violations of the Election Act and the State Public Officials Act.

Police believe that her remarks made on YouTube channels with conservative leanings in September, after her duties were suspended due to the impeachment motion in August of last year, violated the political neutrality obligation of public officials.

Notable remarks include: "The Democratic Party and left-wing groups are a group that does everything we can imagine, and even things we cannot imagine," and "I am truly grateful for the words of the warrior for the conservative cause; we need warriors to fight against fake leftists."

Police contend that remarks directly mentioning the Democratic Party could be legally construed as pre-election campaigning aimed at preventing the election of President Lee Jae-myung.

The Board of Audit and Inspection had previously issued a 'caution' in July regarding the former chairman's remarks, stating that they violated the obligation of political neutrality, followed by complaints from the Democratic Party and civic groups.

The former chairman's side has protested the arrest as unjust, arguing that she could not respond to the investigation on the 27th of last month, the day the police requested her appearance, due to her participation in an unlimited debate, or filibuster, concerning the bill to establish a Broadcasting, Media, and Communications Committee.

The former chairman's lawyer told Yonhap News, "I was at the National Assembly from the evening of the 26th to 8 p.m. on the 27th due to the filibuster schedule," and argued, "They executed an arrest warrant despite submitting a letter of absence and providing a verbal explanation."

An arrested suspect must be brought before a court for an arrest warrant application or released within 48 hours of their arrest.

It is understood that police will proceed with questioning the former chairman and then review the course of action regarding her custody.

Yonhap News