[Comprehensive] "Tell the Truth About Yoo Si-min's Misconduct" Channel A-Prosecutors 'Media-Prosecution Collusion' Allegation Scandal

MBC Raises Channel A-Prosecutor 'Collusion' Allegations in Shinrajen Investigation
Channel A Denies Any Violation of Reporting Ethics... Chief Prosecutor States 'Groundless' Position

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] A Channel A reporter has been accused of pressuring a source to reveal misconduct of Yoo Si-min, chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, by leveraging a friendship with a sitting chief prosecutor. Channel A denied any violation of journalistic ethics. The prosecutor in question reportedly told MBC that the allegations were completely unfounded. Meanwhile, Chairman Yoo stated that he had already sensed the prosecution's movements, suggesting that the issue may escalate.

On the 31st, MBC reported that B, a reporter from Channel A's legal affairs team, contacted Lee Cheol, former CEO of Value Investment Korea, who is currently imprisoned at Seoul Southern Detention Center on charges of financial fraud. Lee received a 12-year prison sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court last September for illegally collecting investment funds without authorization.

According to MBC's report, Reporter B conveyed to Lee that "the prosecution has initiated an investigation into allegations of insider trading involving ShillaJen," expressing a desire to meet. This report was based on a tip from Lee.

Lee appointed an acquaintance, Mr. C, as his proxy to meet with Reporter B. B met with C and mentioned Lee's family and asset confiscation, delivering a message that "if Yoo Si-min, the chairman, does not reveal misconduct, he will face harsh investigation."

Furthermore, B promised that if Chairman Yoo was reported on, the prosecution would assist in receiving leniency.

Chairman Yoo gave a congratulatory speech at a ShillaJen technology briefing and had a close relationship with Lee, who was the largest shareholder, leading opposition parties to raise suspicions of Yoo's involvement with ShillaJen.

Reporter B also relayed to Mr. C a phone conversation with a certain chief prosecutor known to be a close associate of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. B played a recording of the conversation with the prosecutor for C, which included discussions suggesting that if Lee cooperated with the prosecution's investigation, investigations into his family could be prevented.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Chairman Yoo stated that he had already sensed the prosecution's movements regarding allegations that a media reporter colluded with a sitting chief prosecutor to target him and track his misconduct, and he maintained that there was nothing problematic.

On the 31st, on the foundation's YouTube channel 'Alileo,' Yoo said, "A legal expert familiar with the prosecution told me to be cautious because the prosecution is trying to link the issues of a detained CEO with me," adding, "If I had anything to fear, I would be nervous, but I have nothing to fear."

He also said, "Far-right YouTubers and the media have been loudly claiming that I will go to prison in connection with the ShillaJen case, and when Prosecutor General Yoon reinforced the investigation team, my name came up, which made me uneasy, wondering 'What are they trying to do?'"

He continued, "But it seems Prosecutor General Yoon has been less active lately, possibly due to the cases involving his mother-in-law and wife," and criticized, "Look at how passive he was regarding the Shincheonji raid." He added, "Is it that Prosecutor General Yoon has no time to deal with me?"

Meanwhile, the prosecutor in question reportedly told MBC that he is not in charge of the ShillaJen investigation and denied having any conversations as described in the report.

Channel A responded to MBC's report by stating, "MBC secretly filmed the meeting between the source, who requested leniency from the prosecution, and the Channel A reporter, and received secretly recorded conversations between the reporter and the source to broadcast the story," adding, "We suspect MBC's intent and background in obsessing over reporting unrelated to the main issue of political and business involvement in the ShillaJen case." They further said, "We want to ask whether this violates journalistic ethics," and "We plan to respond strictly according to legal procedures to any parts of MBC's report that are factually incorrect or distorted and exaggerated."