Korea denies the allegation… 29th warrant review
On the 24th, the prosecution, which is investigating allegations of fraudulent intervention in the reapproval of the 2020 general programming channel (general) review, requested an arrest warrant for Han Sang-hyeok (pictured), chairman of the Korea Communications Commission. It has been two days since the prosecution summoned Chairman Han as a suspect for investigation.
The 5th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutor’s Office (Chief Prosecutor Park Gyeong-seop) said on the same day, “We requested an arrest warrant for a chairperson in relation to incidents such as manipulation of TV Chosun re-approval scores, etc.” It is said that the prosecution also applied charges of abuse of power and preparation of false public documents. At 2:00 pm on the 29th, Chief Judge Lee Chang-yeol of the Seoul Northern District Court plans to conduct an interrogation of the suspect before arrest (warrant review) before deciding whether to arrest him.
The prosecution judged that Chairman Han had unfairly intervened in the review along with Director Yang Mo and Director Cha Mo, executive directors of the Korea Communications Commission at the time, and Professor Yun Mo, the head of the judging committee (each indicted under arrest), and applied the charge of hierarchical obstruction of justice. In addition, a chairperson is accused of intervening in the appointment of a person from a specific civic group as a judge (abuse of authority). It is said that the prosecution also applied the charge of instructing the press release to be written and distributed (preparation of false public documents) even though they knew that the scores were manipulated.
Chairman Han denied the allegations at the prosecution’s appearance on the 22nd, saying, “I have never given any illegal or unreasonable instructions in relation to the re-approval review of comprehensive programs.” The first trial against Director Yang, Director Cha, and Prof. Yoon, who was the head of the jury at the time, will be held on the 4th of next month at the Seoul Northern District Court.
Reporter Lee Ki-wook 71wook@donga.com
