YouTuber Accused of 'Lee Myung-bak and Kwak Sang-do's Shincheonji Collusion' Acquitted in First Trial

Former pro gamer turned YouTuber Hwang Hee-do. Photo by YouTube capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] YouTuber Hwang Hee-doo (29), who was indicted for raising suspicions on a YouTube broadcast that former President Lee Myung-bak, People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, and the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) were connected to Shincheonji, was acquitted in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Western District Court (Chief Judge Moon Byung-chan) on the 16th acquitted Hwang, who was tried on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, defamation, and obstruction of business, stating, "There is no proof of crime for all the charges."

Hwang raised suspicions on his YouTube channel in February last year, ahead of the 21st general election, suggesting that lawmaker Kwak was connected to Shincheonji, and was sued by Kwak. In the same month, he was also charged with editing a speech by former President Lee from a joint speech event of the Hannara Party presidential candidates in August 2007 without permission and arbitrarily adding subtitles saying "enthusiastic Shincheonji followers," raising suspicions about the connection between former President Lee and Shincheonji.

The court stated regarding the videos raising suspicions about the connections between lawmaker Kwak, former President Lee, the United Future Party, and Shincheonji, "It is difficult to see that the video content specifies concrete facts beyond raising suspicions," and "It is hard to consider that the motive or purpose of the videos was to defame."

The court also added that it considered the fact that the sources of articles or broadcasts presented as the basis for the video content were specified, allowing viewers to directly look up the articles. Previously, the prosecution reportedly sought a two-year prison sentence for Hwang.