Prosecutors Request Arrest Warrant for Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, over 'TV Chosun Reauthorization Suspicion'

The prosecution has moved to secure the custody of Han Sang-hyuk, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, who is suspected of improperly intervening in the reauthorization process of the general programming channel TV Chosun.

Chairman Han Sang-hyuk of the Korea Communications Commission is responding to reporters' questions as he enters the Northern Seoul District Prosecutors' Office in Dobong-gu on the morning of the 22nd to undergo investigation by the prosecution as a suspect in connection with allegations of score manipulation during the comprehensive programming channel TV Chosun's reauthorization review.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 24th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Park Kyung-seop) announced that they had requested an arrest warrant for Chairman Han on charges including obstruction of official duties by deception.

Chairman Han is accused of knowing about score manipulation during the TV Chosun reauthorization process but failing to inform the standing commissioners of the Korea Communications Commission. The prosecution summoned Chairman Han as a suspect on the 22nd and conducted an investigation lasting about 14 hours.

Chairman Han denies all charges. He stated, "I never gave any illegal or improper instructions during the 2020 general programming reauthorization process."

The prosecution began the investigation after receiving materials related to the TV Chosun reauthorization suspicions from the Board of Audit and Inspection in September last year. The prosecution has already indicted and detained Yang, a director at the Korea Communications Commission who requested score modifications after being informed of TV Chosun's final evaluation score, Cha, a manager, and Professor Yoon, who was the chairman of the evaluation committee at the time.

The reauthorization criteria for general programming channels require a minimum score of 650 out of 1000 points and at least 50% of the points in key evaluation areas. During the 2020 reevaluation, TV Chosun's overall score was 653.39, surpassing the threshold. However, in the key evaluation area of "public responsibility and feasibility of fairness in broadcasting, and regional, social, and cultural necessity," the score did not exceed 50% of the allocated points, resulting in conditional reauthorization.