[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Park Kwang-il, famous as the 'top instructor' for the Korean language section of the college entrance exam at Daesung MyMac, was arrested on charges of running a comment manipulation company and posting defamatory comments about competing instructors.
On the 18th, Han Seong-jin, the judge in charge of warrants at the Suwon District Court Seongnam Branch, held a warrant hearing for Park, who is accused of obstruction of business and defamation, and issued an arrest warrant, stating that "there is a risk of evidence destruction and flight." Two other individuals involved in comment manipulation, including employees of the comment manipulation company operated by Park, were also arrested on the same charges.
Earlier, the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch requested arrest warrants for Park and his associates on the 13th. Park and others are accused of creating hundreds of IDs over more than two years from July 2017 to post defamatory comments about competing companies and other instructors. Additionally, it was revealed that they used virtual private networks (VPNs) in the Philippines to circumvent IP tracking.
Park had previously issued a statement in June 2019, when the comment manipulation controversy first arose, saying, "I have committed a great sin against the examinees. Everything is entirely my responsibility, and I will accept the punishment accordingly." He also said, "I will complete the lectures for the 2020 college entrance exam," but it was found that he only stopped in-person lectures and continued online lectures afterward.
During the prosecution investigation, Park reportedly stated that "I did not directly participate in the comment manipulation. The company’s headquarters manager and employees led the comment work," partially denying some charges.
Meanwhile, as news of Park’s arrest spread, complaints demanding refunds from examinees have continued on the lecture bulletin board of Daesung MyMac, where Park was affiliated. Currently, Park’s photo and lecture titles remain on the Daesung MyMac website, but the lectures are inaccessible.
In response, on the 19th, Daesung MyMac posted on its official website, "Due to the arrest investigation of Daesung MyMac Korean language instructor Park Kwang-il related to the June 2019 incident, there has been disruption in the normal provision of the 2022 academic year Hunryeondogam lectures." They added, "We sincerely apologize to the students who were studying with instructor Park Kwang-il. We will announce Daesung MyMac’s position and countermeasures today."
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