Prosecutors Conduct Search of Channel A Over ‘Geom-eon Yuchak’ Allegations... Five Locations Including Department of Accused Reporter Searched

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution investigating the so-called 'media-prosecutor collusion' allegations, which surfaced through an MBC report, has begun a search and seizure operation at the offices of the comprehensive programming channel Channel A.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jin-ung) sent prosecutors and investigators on the morning of the 28th to Channel A's headquarters located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to conduct a search and seizure of the department where reporter Lee, who was reported by a civic group, works. It was confirmed that the prosecution conducted search and seizure at a total of five locations that day.

The prosecution is reportedly conducting the search and seizure to secure materials related to reporter Lee's coverage of the ShillaJen allegations.

On the 31st of last month, MBC reported that a Channel A legal team reporter flaunted his friendship with a close aide of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and requested the camp of former Value Investment CEO Lee Cheol, who is currently imprisoned in connection with the ShillaJen case, to provide information about the misconduct of Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.

Subsequently, the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media (MinEonRyeon) filed a complaint with the prosecution on the 7th, accusing the Channel A reporter appearing in MBC's report and an unidentified prosecutor of intimidation. The accusation is based on the claim that the reporter's request for information about Director Yoo's misconduct and the suggestion that non-cooperation with the prosecution could negatively affect the investigation of former CEO Lee or his family constitutes intimidation.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon, who had ordered the Human Rights Department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the report, instructed the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 17th to investigate the related allegations.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office assigned the case to the Criminal Division 1 and summoned Kim Seo-jung, the executive director of MinEonRyeon, on the 21st for questioning as a complainant.

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