Prosecutors Simultaneously Summon Kim Man-bae and Shin Hak-rim for 'False Interview Allegations' Investigation

During the last presidential election period, the prosecution investigating allegations that false reports damaged President Yoon Seok-yeol's reputation simultaneously summoned Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management (Hwacheon Daeyu), who is the subject of the 'false interview allegations,' and Shin Hak-rim, former chairman of the Korean Federation of Journalists' Unions, for questioning as suspects.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the legal community on the 17th, the Special Investigation Team on Election Interference and Public Opinion Manipulation at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (led by Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin) summoned former chairman Shin, who is accused of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and bribery, for questioning as a suspect on the morning of the same day. Kim, who is also accused of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and bribery, appeared as a suspect.

The prosecution believes that Kim, a private entrepreneur involved in the Daejang-dong case, conducted a false interview with former chairman Shin, who was a specialist at Newstapa on September 15, 2021, claiming that "President Yoon covered up the Jo Woo-hyung case while investigating the Busan Savings Bank case at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Central Investigation Department." They also believe that Kim paid Shin 165 million won on September 20 of the same year as compensation. This interview, containing Kim's voice, was broadcast through Newstapa on March 6 last year, three days before the presidential election.

The prosecution suspects that Kim deliberately induced the interview with Shin to be reported in order to shift the focus of responsibility for the Daejang-dong allegations from Lee Jae-myung, then governor of Gyeonggi Province and leader of the Democratic Party, to President Yoon's side, thereby spreading false information through the media.

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