"Jeon Hangil Now in Real Trouble"... Police Request Arrest Warrant

Defamation by Dissemination of False Information Alleged; Jeon Denies All Charges
Decision on Arrest Warrant to Be Made After Suspect Interrogation at Prosecutors' Office on April 13

The police have requested an arrest warrant for Jeon Hangil (legal name Jeon Yugwan), a YouTuber and former Korean history instructor, on charges of defamation, marking a turning point in the investigation. Jeon is suspected of spreading false information targeting President Lee Jaemyung and Innovation Party leader Lee Junseok.

According to Yonhap News on April 10, quoting investigative authorities, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Major Crime Investigation Unit applied for an arrest warrant for Jeon at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges including defamation by spreading false information under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The police determined that it was necessary to secure Jeon’s custody after summoning and questioning him three times between last month and this month.

Jeon is scheduled to appear at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at 2 p.m. on April 13 for a "pre-arrest suspect interview." This procedure, introduced in 2021, allows prosecutors to hear the suspect's opinion before requesting an arrest warrant. The prosecution will then decide whether to file for an arrest warrant based on the results of the interview.

The police have requested an arrest warrant for Jeon Hangil, a YouTuber and former Korean history instructor, on charges of defamation. Yonhap News

Jeon has continued making controversial remarks about President Lee and Leader Lee via his YouTube channel. On March 18, he cited and broadcasted a claim that "President Lee Jaemyung handed over 160 trillion won in slush funds and military secrets to China," and at the end of the same month, he insisted, "It is false that Leader Lee double-majored in economics at Harvard University." In response, the Democratic Party of Korea and Leader Lee's side filed civil and criminal defamation complaints against Jeon.

Past remarks have also become subjects of investigation. Jeon was additionally accused after raising suspicions about hidden slush funds related to the Daejang-dong project and allegations regarding personal matters. More recently, he was reported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for claiming “90 million barrels of Ulsan oil were sent to North Korea.” Currently, a total of nine cases involving Jeon have been filed, and the police are investigating them sequentially.

Jeon has completely denied the allegations and criticized the investigation. When appearing before the police, he stated, "If something is wrong, a correction should be requested, but abusing civil and criminal complaints is not befitting of politicians," and added, "I hope freedom of the press will be fully guaranteed." In a recent YouTube broadcast, he mentioned the investigation, saying, "Even Jeon Hangil now faces a crisis. What was bound to happen has finally arrived."

Furthermore, Jeon has characterized the investigation as a "commissioned investigation," arguing that it is politically motivated. He claimed, "The political attack to silence Jeon Hangil News, which has been reporting on the true face of the Lee Jaemyung administration, has reached its peak," and added, "Attempting to detain me when I have a fixed residence and no risk of flight or evidence destruction undermines the very foundation of the rule of law."

If the prosecution requests an arrest warrant, the court is expected to hold a warrant review hearing as early as next week to determine whether to grant the detention.

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