Choo Mi-ae Reveals Phone Number and Real Name of Reporter Who Published 'Gangster Photo'... Opposition Party Says "Targeting"

Yang Jun-woo "Attempt to gag the media"
Won Hee-ryong's side "Threatening legal action while violating personal information protection law"

Photo by Former Minister Chu's Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] The People Power Party criticized former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae for revealing the real name and phone number of a reporter who reported that she took a photo with a member of an organized crime group, calling it "targeting and a violation of the Personal Information Protection Act."

On the 21st, former Minister Choo posted messages exchanged with reporter A on her Facebook. In the photo released by former Minister Choo, reporter A sent a message saying, "I am leaving this message because I could not reach you. I contacted you to hear your position regarding the photo of you and Mr. Lee, a member of the Gukje Mafia faction."

In response, former Minister Choo said, "I do not know the person at all. Even if the photo was taken, as a party leader or public figure, it is difficult to verify the identity of everyone who asks to take a photo with their phone during events." Afterwards, reporter A published the photo in an article.

Former Minister Choo disclosed the messages exchanged with reporter A and the article, leaking reporter A's real name and phone number. She claimed, "What sustains democracy is the spirit of resistance and criticism against injustice. Media workers should especially uphold this. Despite explaining the situation, they maliciously reported with the headline and photo caption that I posed with the Gukje Mafia faction, damaging and distorting my public image."

Former Minister Choo Mi-ae.
Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding this, Yang Jun-woo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "Former Minister Choo Mi-ae posted the reporter’s real name and phone number on her personal SNS without mosaic, engaging in 'targeting.' The SNS post was shared and spread in some pro-government communities. It is practically a prominent politician marking a 'target' for supporters," he criticized.

He added, "In October last year, former Minister Choo caused controversy by posting a reporter’s photo without mosaic, attempting the same 'targeting.' This is the second time. It is a clear act of malice to muzzle critical questions. We regret the repeated attempts to muzzle the press with a distorted view of journalism," he stated.

Park Ki-nyung, spokesperson for former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong’s camp, also said, "Former Minister Choo Mi-ae lightly disregards reporters’ personal information. She revealed the reporter’s real name, phone number, and a photo containing text messages just because the reporter wrote an unfavorable article. Isn’t this just targeting the reporter to harass them through supporters?"

He continued, "While threatening legal action regarding the article later, why does she violate the Personal Information Protection Act herself? Isn’t she ashamed of the title of former Minister of Justice? She should immediately delete all posts and apologize to the reporter. And make sure that no one from the ruling party ever mentions the Media Arbitration Act again," he added.

Jang Cheon, spokesperson for former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, also raised his voice, saying, "Blocking free reporting activities by personally attacking reporters is a regression of democracy and dictatorship. I suspect that the ruling party’s amendment to the Media Arbitration Act is the starting point of media control with such intentions," he said.

Meanwhile, the reporter’s phone number posted on former Minister Choo’s Facebook is currently partially obscured.

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