South Korea police investigating treason charges against president

June 28 (UPI) -- Police in South Korea are investigating charges against President Moon Jae-in after a North Korean defector and the former head of the Korea Medical Association accused Moon of treason.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's criminal investigation division said it is conducting a probe after Park Sang-hak of Fighters for a Free North Korea and Choi Dae-jip, a physician, filed the charges with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, News 1 reported Monday.

The complaint against Moon was filed May 13, according to local newspaper Herald Business. The two men accuse the South Korean leader of "joining an enemy state" and harming South Korean national interest. The president also is being charged with abuse of authority and "crimes that benefit the enemy," the report said.

Choi, who clashed with Moon at the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2020 over Moon's decision to not ban travelers from China, has resigned from his leadership position at KMA. On Monday, Choi addressed South Korea's anti-leafleting law, according to reports.

"After Vice Chairwoman of the Korean Workers' Party Kim Yo Jong made a commotion about the launch of 500,000 leaflets to North Korea, the commissioner of the National Police Agency ordered an investigation and raided Park's office," Choi said, according to News 1.

Choi also said "the president cannot give specific investigation orders to police and prosecutors" -- implying Moon interfered with Park's case.

South Korea's criminal code forbids actions that could be classified as treason, including "joining forces with an enemy state." Government actions taken against Park are the equivalent of treason, according to the activist and Choi.

"Although the dissemination of North Korean leaflets is an effective way to provide stimulating information about the outside world to North Koreans and induce changes in the North Korean system, it has been met with obstruction," Park and Choi said in their complaint.

South Korea's leaflet ban is the "act of joining with the enemy, North Korea," they said.

South Korea has defended the leaflet ban, citing resident safety near the demilitarized zone.