Prosecutors Investigate Min Eon-ryeon Representative, Complainant in MBC Report on 'Prosecutor-Media Collusion' Allegations

On the morning of the 7th, representatives of the Minju Media Citizens' Coalition who came to submit a complaint against Channel A reporter Lee and an unidentified prosecutor appearing in MBC's report related to the 'collusion between prosecutors and media' at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, are responding to reporters' questions. Photo by Kim Hyung-min

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution is investigating the complainant on the 21st in connection with a case in which a civic group filed a complaint against a Channel A reporter and an unidentified prosecutor regarding MBC's report on the alleged 'collusion between prosecutors and media.'

This comes four days after Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol received an interim report on the fact-finding investigation from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Department on the 17th and ordered an investigation into the related allegations.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jung Jin-woong) summoned Kim Seo-jung, the standing representative of the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media (MinEonRyeon), as a complainant for questioning on the morning of the same day.

At around 9:25 a.m., Kim, who arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, told reporters, "As seen from the fact that the Korea Communications Commission decided to grant conditional approval to Channel A in connection with the investigation results of this case yesterday, this is a very important matter, so I plan to emphasize the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth."

He added, "Since suspicions continue to arise that it is not just an issue involving an individual reporter but that executives or higher-ups were also aware, we are considering filing additional complaints if new facts emerge."

Earlier, on the 7th, MinEonRyeon filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office accusing Channel A reporter Lee and an unidentified prosecutor appearing in the MBC report of intimidation.

According to the MBC report on the 31st of last month, reporter Lee allegedly demanded that the side of former Value Investment CEO Lee Cheol, who is imprisoned in connection with the SillaJen case, provide information about the misconduct of Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, and suggested that if they did not cooperate with the prosecution, it would negatively affect the investigation of Lee or his family, which constitutes intimidation.

Meanwhile, the MBC report included that reporter Lee flaunted his friendship with a prosecutor known to be a close aide of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and confirmed the contents of a phone call with that prosecutor to the representative of Lee Cheol's side.

However, after the report was released, Prosecutor Han, who was identified as the person involved, stated that he was not the prosecutor appearing in the recorded file, while Ji, known as the representative of Lee's side and the whistleblower, insisted that the recorded file he heard was definitely Prosecutor Han.

Therefore, following the complainant's investigation, the prosecution's first hurdle in this investigation is expected to be to determine through questioning reporter Lee, the accused, and witness Ji whether the recorded file Lee played for Ji was actually a conversation with the person in question.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.