◇ Korean-American groups in Washington have reportedly filed formal complaints with U.S. and UN bodies regarding various allegations, including suspected violations of North Korea sanctions, involving President Lee Jae-myung. / Photo = AI-generated image = @FreedomJoseon
(Washington D.C. = FreedomJoseon) — The Korean Association in Washington, U.S., said it has completed an international complaint process against President Lee Jae-myung.
James Daniel Shinn, president of the association, stated in a final official press statement distributed in Washington D.C. on the 19th of this month that “on November 13, together with multiple civic groups and overseas solidarity organizations, we officially completed international complaint procedures against President Lee Jae-myung.”
According to the statement, the complaint documents were submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the White House and relevant U.S. federal executive agencies, international organizations related to North Korea sanctions and human rights, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Allegations Cited in the Filing
Shinn’s side said the complaints include:
allegations of an illegal remittance of about USD 8 million to North Korea via Ssangbangwool,
allegations of human-rights violations related to coercive investigations targeting figures and groups in the judiciary and religious circles,
allegations involving the toleration of private use of corporate cards and political coordination with China and North Korea.
Legal Grounds and Requests to International Bodies
As legal grounds, the statement cited the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, South Korea’s National Security Act, and other domestic and international legal norms.
The submitted documents reportedly request that the ICC begin preliminary examination and formal investigation, that the U.S. government review potential unilateral sanctions (such as visa restrictions, asset freezes, and financial transaction limits), and that the UN Security Council’s 1718 Sanctions Committee investigate the alleged illicit remittances to North Korea.
Remarks from a U.S. Figure
Shinn’s side also told FreedomJoseon that, having completed the legal filings, they plan to “expand solidarity with many like-minded Korean expatriates and further intensify private diplomatic efforts to convey what we see as the truth about Korea.”
Regarding this matter, a prominent figure based in the U.S. East Coast, introduced as a longtime supporter of various American politicians including President Trump, told FreedomJoseon that “the U.S. president faces a wide range of urgent policy challenges, so Korean issues are not currently the highest priority.”
The person added, however, that “as Korean communities in the U.S. and elsewhere raise their voices through multiple channels, perceptions in the United States of Korea’s political situation may be affected.”
The source further advised that “it is essential to understand the U.S. political and policy-making process accurately,” adding that South Korea’s conservative camp should “communicate Korea’s situation in a more systematic and professional manner in line with those processes to strengthen diplomacy with the U.S. and future partnerships in Northeast Asia.”
The person also said that “regardless of future changes in the U.S. administration, the principles of respecting the ROK-U.S. alliance, international norms, and the UN sanctions framework will remain, and a careful short- and long-term strategy is needed in response to these issues.”