Attempted Search and Seizure at MBC Sangam-dong Headquarters
The police have conducted a search and seizure of the National Assembly Secretariat and a reporter affiliated with MBC in connection with the personal information leak allegations against Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit investigators entered the National Assembly's Legislative Affairs Office on the morning of the 30th to conduct a search and seizure related to allegations of personal information leakage involving Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency conducted a search of the home of reporter A, affiliated with MBC, around 9 a.m. on the 30th on suspicion of leaking personal information, seizing the mobile phone and all materials related to Minister Han's personal information. A search and seizure of the National Assembly Secretariat is also underway regarding documents submitted during Minister Han's confirmation hearing last year. A search and seizure is also being attempted on the office of reporter A's department at the MBC building in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
The police believe that documents such as the resident registration abstract and real estate sales contract submitted by Minister Han's side to the National Assembly during his confirmation hearing in April last year were leaked. Reporter Im is suspected of receiving the leaked documents and then passing them on externally.
Earlier, independent lawmaker Kim Min-seok filed a complaint with the police last month, alleging that personal information including resident registration abstracts and real estate sales contracts of Minister Han and his family had been leaked, accusing those involved of violating the Personal Information Protection Act. The police are reportedly tracking the leak route, believing that these documents were submitted to the National Assembly during Minister Han's confirmation hearing and then leaked externally, with reporter A being involved in the process.
The MBC labor union is opposing the police's attempt to search the headquarters office. The union stated, "Conducting a search and seizure of the MBC Newsroom over allegations of personal information leaks by an individual reporter is clearly an excessive investigation," adding, "The incident occurred more than a year ago, and due to the nature of journalistic work, all tasks are carried out through personal laptops, etc."
They continued, "Considering that the personal information involved concerns Minister Han or that the suspect is affiliated with MBC, this can only be seen as an excessive investigation," and added, "The National Union of Mediaworkers MBC Headquarters regards this search and seizure as the beginning of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's suppression of MBC and will resolutely respond to such moves."
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