Prosecutors Conduct Search and Seizure at 5 Locations Including Channel A Office Over 'Prosecutor-Reporter Collusion' Allegations (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The prosecution investigating the so-called 'media-prosecution collusion' allegations, which surfaced through an MBC report, launched a full-scale forced investigation on the 28th by conducting a search and seizure of the offices of the comprehensive programming channel Channel A.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jung Jin-woong) sent prosecutors and investigators to Channel A's headquarters located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the same day to conduct a search and seizure of the offices, including the department where reporter Lee, who was reported by a civic group, works.

The prosecution's search and seizure began around 9:30 a.m.

In addition to the Channel A offices, the prosecution's search and seizure locations reportedly included five places in total, such as the residences of related individuals. MBC, which reported the related allegations, was excluded from the search and seizure on this day.

The prosecution is said to have launched the search and seizure to secure original audio recordings and other materials related to reporter Lee's investigation into the ShillaJen allegations.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the prosecution has already secured the mobile phones of reporter Lee, who was accused, and the prosecution officials, or whether these were included in the search and seizure targets on this day.

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 side of former Value Investment CEO Lee Cheol, who is currently imprisoned in connection with the ShillaJen case, to provide information on the misconduct of Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation.

Subsequently, on the 7th, the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media (MinEonRyeon) filed a complaint with the prosecution accusing Channel A reporter Lee and an unnamed prosecutor appearing in MBC's report of intimidation. The complaint argued that reporter Lee's request for information on Director Yoo's misconduct to the former CEO Lee's side, coupled with statements implying negative consequences for the investigation of Lee or his family if the prosecution did not cooperate, constituted 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 to investigate the related allegations on the 17th.

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

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