Japanese Asahi Shimbun Demanding Public Explanation: "Corruption Investigation Office Also Accessed Our Reporter’s Communication Data"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgi Na Cho] The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Gong-su-cheo) reportedly accessed the communication data of a Korean journalist affiliated with the Seoul bureau of the Japanese Asahi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun reported on the 30th.

The newspaper stated in both its print and online articles that Gong-su-cheo has been extensively collecting communication data of journalists, opposition party lawmakers, and legal professionals, and that their own journalist was also included among the targets.

The Korean journalist affiliated with Asahi Shimbun's Seoul bureau applied for information disclosure from the relevant telecommunications company on the 20th of this month to check whether there had been any inquiries into personal information related to them by investigative agencies over the past year, and received the results on the 26th. According to the notification, Gong-su-cheo accessed the journalist's communication data twice in July and August, including their name, resident registration number, address, and mobile phone subscription date. The reason for the inquiry was stated as "information collection to prevent harm to trials, investigations, execution of sentences, or national security pursuant to Article 83 of the Telecommunications Business Act."

Asahi Shimbun said, "It is unclear whether the journalist's call history or call recipients were also accessed," and publicly demanded that Gong-su-cheo disclose the reasons and circumstances for accessing their journalist's personal information in the form of a comment from their public relations department.

Furthermore, the newspaper reported that among the journalists whose communication data was accessed by Gong-su-cheo, many had reported critically on the Moon Jae-in administration. Gong-su-cheo, established through the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecution reform, has investigative authority over politicians, high-ranking officials, and judicial personnel, but journalists are not included as subjects of Gong-su-cheo investigations. The newspaper added that personal information of legal professionals and opposition People Power Party lawmakers, who have opposed prosecution reform in the same manner, was also accessed.

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