Minister Han Dong-hoon Files Complaint Claiming He Was Stalked by YouTuber
Politically Charged Individuals Face Consecutive Guilty Verdicts and Indictments
Experts Call for New Laws to Impose Sanctions
Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon is attending a public hearing on the 27th afternoon at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to determine the constitutionality of the 'Geomsu Wanbak' (Complete Removal of Prosecutorial Investigation Rights) bill. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] On the 28th of last month, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, filed a complaint claiming that he had been followed by a car for nearly a month on his way home from work. The charge is a violation of the Stalking Punishment Act. The police have booked a man in his 30s, Mr. A, associated with the YouTube channel ‘Citizen Media The Tamza,’ as a suspect and are investigating. Mr. A is accused of following Minister Han by car on his way home and lingering around the entrance of Minister Han’s apartment over the past month. The Tamza side reportedly claimed that they were observing the commute for the purpose of verifying tips and reporting.
On the same day, another YouTube channel representative was sentenced guilty at the Seoul Western District Court. The court sentenced Baek Eun-jong, CEO of Seoul Voice, to a fine of 3 million KRW for obstruction of business and other charges during the process of covering former Korean Medical Association President Choi Dae-jip. Baek’s side argued that “the acts were part of reporting on Choi’s politically biased behavior and are actions that can reasonably occur during the reporting process.”
YouTubers with clear political leanings are consecutively undergoing police investigations or receiving punishments. They appear to have influence similar to traditional media but do not bear responsibility for their reporting process and coverage. As a result, voices calling for regulation of these individuals are emerging.
On the 15th, in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, members of the Reform and Transition Candlelight Action Coalition held a press conference titled "Withdraw Han Dong-hoon's Nomination! Immediate Investigation of Kim Geon-hee! Condemn the People's Intimidation and Prosecutorial Rampage." Baek Eun-jong, the representative of Seoul Voice, is speaking. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
In Baek’s case, he targeted people with conservative views under the pretext of ‘retaliatory reporting.’ This year alone, he has received his fourth fine for obstruction of business. In September, the Supreme Court upheld a fine of 5 million KRW in Baek’s appeal trial, where he was charged with trespassing, insult, assault, and obstruction of business. The target was Professor Ryu Seok-chun of Yonsei University’s Department of Sociology. Baek is accused of trespassing into Professor Ryu’s office on September 24, 2019, and verbally abusing and assaulting him because Ryu allegedly made remarks during a lecture suggesting that Japanese military comfort women could be seen as voluntary prostitutes. Additionally, Baek was fined 2 million KRW and 3 million KRW respectively for obstruction of business after visiting the Seoul bureau of Sankei Shimbun and the office of Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon).
Similarly, conservative-leaning YouTubers have been prosecuted for insulting progressive politicians or making unverified claims. In September, Ahn Jeong-kwon, who held a rally near former President Moon Jae-in’s residence and was accused of using abusive language, was brought to trial while in custody. In the same month, Kim Se-ui, CEO of Gaseyeon, lawyer Kang Yong-seok, and former Sports World reporter Kim Yong-ho were indicted for spreading false information that former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk’s daughter was driving a Porsche.
There have also been cases where conflicts among them escalated into lawsuits. In July, Baek filed a 100 million KRW damages lawsuit against Ahn, claiming copyright infringement after Ahn reported Baek’s YouTube channel ‘Seoul Voice’ for copyright violation, resulting in the channel’s suspension. In June, Baek also reported Ahn to the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters for leading protests in front of former President Moon Jae-in’s residence.
Professor Lee Yun-ho, Chair Professor of Police Science at Korea Cyber University, said, “They operate outside regulation while playing the role of the press, and their influence can be greater than that of traditional media. Since they hold de facto ‘power,’ they must bear corresponding duties and responsibilities, and without control over them, criminal punishments like these will continue.”
Seung Jae-hyun, Research Fellow at the Korea Institute of Criminal Justice Policy, stated, “A new legal framework is needed to impose sanctions on YouTubers engaging in illegal activities, so as not to negatively affect well-intentioned YouTubers.”
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