Former Channel A Reporter Lee Dong-jae Also Acquitted in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae, who was prosecuted for coercing a source to provide misconduct information about ruling party figures including former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min, was acquitted again in the appellate trial.

At 2 p.m. on the 19th, the 9th Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Yang Kyung-seung) acquitted former reporter Lee and junior reporter Baek Mo, who were charged with attempted coercion, just as in the first trial. The prosecution requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months imprisonment for Lee and 10 months imprisonment for Baek, as in the first trial, but the request was rejected.

Former Channel A reporter Dong-jae Lee [Image source=Yonhap News]

The 'Channel A case' began in April 2020 when the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media filed a complaint against former reporter Lee and then-Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon, now Minister of Justice, based on MBC's report on 'collusion between prosecution and media.' It was alleged that Channel A reporters, leveraging their friendship with Minister Han, coerced 'Whistleblower X,' associated with former Value Invest Korea CEO Lee Cheol, to provide tips implicating ruling party figures including former Chairman Yoo.

The first trial acquitted former reporter Lee and reporter Baek, ruling that their actions could not be seen as threatening the source by notifying them of 'specific harm.'

The court reasoned that former reporter Lee did not threaten by saying, 'If you do not cooperate with me, I will move the prosecution to conduct a strong investigation against former CEO Lee,' but rather said something to the effect of, 'If you do not cooperate, the prosecution currently investigating may expand the investigation to your family,' and 'If you cooperate, there is a possibility of leniency through the prosecution.'