‘Circulation Manipulation Allegations’ Chosun Ilbo, Police Search and Seizure

On the 15th, for Headquarters and Subsidiaries

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The police investigating allegations of circulation manipulation by Chosun Ilbo conducted a search and seizure at the Chosun Ilbo headquarters.

The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reportedly searched the Chosun Ilbo headquarters located in Jung-gu, Seoul, and Chosun Ilbo subsidiary Chosun IS in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province on the 15th.

Earlier, in November last year, the police searched six Chosun Ilbo newspaper distribution offices and recycling companies in the metropolitan area, securing transaction records between the two parties.

Civil groups such as the Media Consumer Sovereignty Action and the Institute for Livelihood Economy Research filed complaints with the prosecution in March last year, accusing Chosun Ilbo of inflating its circulation numbers to unjustly receive government advertising funds, citing violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (fraud) and other charges. Some lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea also submitted complaints to the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Headquarters around the same time. The case was transferred to the police and assigned to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The Korea ABC Association is an organization that verifies and certifies the circulation numbers submitted by media such as newspapers and magazines. It is known that the government and private sectors determine the scale of advertising fees and subsidy support based on the circulation figures identified by the association.