'MB Government Comment Manipulation' Cho Hyun-oh Sentenced to 2 Years in First Trial, 'Imprisoned in Court'... "Undermined Police Trust"

Former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Hyun-oh, who was detained on charges of 'directing police comment manipulation,' is moving to the courtroom to attend the 7th trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Hyun-oh, who was indicted for overseeing the police's online comment manipulation during the Lee Myung-bak administration, has been sentenced to prison.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 29 (Presiding Judge Kang Sung-soo) sentenced former Commissioner Cho to two years in prison on the charge of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights on the 14th. Accordingly, Cho's bail was revoked, and he was taken into custody in court.

The court explained, "We rejected the defendant's claims and found all the charges to be guilty." Regarding sentencing, it stated, "The defendant organized a public opinion response team and made those under his command write comments favorable to the government or police, forcing them to perform duties they were not obligated to do. This infringed on the freedom of police officers, causing them to feel demoralized, and violated the public's right to express opinions. It significantly undermined public trust in the police, making the blameworthiness very high."

From January 2010 to April 2012, while serving as the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner and National Police Agency Commissioner, Cho was prosecuted for abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights by mobilizing subordinate organizations such as security, intelligence, and public relations to post over 37,000 pro-government comments online.

At that time, the police were investigated for manipulating online public opinion through comments on various issues including the Cheonan ship incident, Yeonpyeong Island shelling, foot-and-mouth disease, Kim Jong-il's death, Yuseong Enterprise labor union strike, half-priced tuition, the ratification of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the National Assembly, Hanjin Heavy Industries Hope Bus, Jeju Gangjeong Village incident, and investigations of politicians.