Prosecutors Summon Chief Prosecutor Shin Seong-sik as Suspect in 'KBS False Report Involvement' Investigation

Early This Month, Summoned to Verify Report Details and Questioned About Communication Status

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It has been confirmed that Shin Seong-sik, a research fellow at the Judicial Research and Training Institute (prosecutor general), who is suspected of informing a KBS reporter about the report content during KBS's 'Channel A false report' incident, was recently investigated by the prosecution.

On the 12th, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Jun-dong) announced that they summoned Prosecutor Shin earlier this month for questioning as a suspect.

Through the investigation, the prosecution questioned Prosecutor Shin about whether he had any conversations or contact with KBS personnel regarding the report content.

Prosecutor Shin is known to have denied the allegations, stating that he never confirmed the report content with the KBS reporter.

KBS reported in July 2020 that there was evidence confirming that Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, and Lee Dong-jae, former Channel A reporter, conspired to raise suspicions of former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation director Yoo Si-min's involvement in the SillaJen stock price manipulation case.

At the time of their alleged conspiracy in February 2020, Minister Han had been demoted from head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division to deputy chief prosecutor of the Busan High Prosecutors' Office.

KBS reported, "Then-Deputy Chief Prosecutor Han said things to the effect of 'Director Yoo has retired from politics' and 'Even if investigated, the political burden is not significant,' and it was confirmed that there were discussions about the timing of the report ahead of the general election."

Minister Han immediately filed a defamation lawsuit with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office against KBS reporters and investigative agency officials who provided false information, calling the report "fiction and fabrication." KBS admitted the false report and apologized.

In December of the same year, Minister Han identified Prosecutor Shin as the prosecutor who confirmed the false report content to the KBS reporter. At the time of the KBS report, Prosecutor Shin was serving as the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

After receiving the complaint, the prosecution investigated the facts with KBS reporters and others, and in August conducted a search and seizure of Prosecutor Shin's office and residence to secure related evidence.

The prosecution plans to soon decide whether to indict Prosecutor Shin and the KBS reporters involved.

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