Arrest Warrant Dismissed for Reebak School Head over 'Presidential Election Comment Manipulation'

Son Hyo-sook, the head of the conservative group "Reebak School," who is suspected of manipulating online comments ahead of the 21st presidential election, has avoided detention.

Yonhap News Agency

On September 18, Judge Park Jeongho, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pretrial detention hearing for Son, who is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act. In the early hours of the following day, the judge dismissed the arrest warrant, stating, "There is insufficient evidence to support concerns about flight risk or destruction of evidence, which are grounds for detention."

Son is accused of operating a comment manipulation team called "Jasongun" (Freedom Finger Army to Save the Nation with Comments) ahead of the 21st presidential election in May.

There are also allegations that Son instructed participants to post negative comments about Lee Jaemyung, the then-presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, or arranged for them to be hired as instructors at the Neulbom School.

Son's side has reportedly denied the allegations, claiming that the activities were legitimate political actions and that the hiring of instructors at Neulbom School was unrelated.

Son is also under police investigation over suspicions that the presidential office pressured the Ministry of Education to support Reebak School-related organizations in their application for the Neulbom School public project.

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