The Korea Journalists Association (Reporters Association) has taken a critical stance against the prosecution for indicting reporters who covered the 40-year close aides of President Yoon Seok-yeol.
On the 14th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office indicted two UPI News reporters who visited the office of Dongbu Industries to cover former Dongbu Industry Chairman Hwang Ha-young on charges of violating the Act on Punishment of Violence and Others (intrusion of a common residence).
The Reporters Association issued a statement on the 22nd and wrote, “The complainant, an employee of Dongbu Industries, found that two men who said they were reporters had entered the bathroom without permission.” The contents of the complaint are all about this one line.” He said, “The story of the UPI News reporter is completely different, but they said that they knocked first and entered the office after hearing ‘yes’. He said, ‘Are you there,’ when he came back 10 minutes later to ask the question he had missed, and that he had entered through a half-open door,” he said.
The Reporters Association said, “The allegation of trespassing is deceptive. If you look at the conversation with the female employee, there is not even a trace of trespassing. Even in the legal community, there is a common view that the crime of trespassing itself cannot be established.”
Questions were also raised about the investigation process. The Journalists Association said, “What we are paying attention to is how such a filthy accusation was brought to trial. Did the prosecution go ahead until then?” he criticized. He continued, “It is not trespassing, and even if it is, it is an activity of the media covering public interest in the verification of presidential candidates.
The Journalists Association raised the possibility of external pressure. The Journalists Association said, “In view of this post-war context, it is our judgment that external pressure from the government level has worked.” If the special relationship with the president affected the process of turning normal media coverage into a crime and passing it on to trial, it is an act of oppression against democracy that curbs critical media.”
He added, “It is the same even if the prosecutors acted on their own in consideration of such peculiarities.” “Democracy cannot exist without freedom of the press.”
The Journalists Association has defined this incident as a media oppression. The association said, “This case is not just a matter of UPI News.” “The Journalists Association will define this case as a media oppression and will resolutely respond to moves by the prosecution and the government that curtail media activity in the future.” “Finally, we urge the court to make a sober judgment,” he added.
Prosecutors say that this indictment is a normal decision.
An official from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office said on the 21st to Media Today, “The reason the prosecutor in charge changed several times was because of departmental adjustments due to regular personnel appointments, etc., and there were no unusual or other unusual reasons.”
In addition, the official said, “There is no fact that reporters have asked for permission from the staff for entering the office or taking photos inside the office, and there is no fact that they have received permission. As a matter of fact, the prosecution has been prosecuted through the relationship of evidence and legal review.”
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