Reporter accused of 'false reporting' sues investigation team at the Corruption Investigation Office for "prosecutors leaking suspect information"

On the 23rd, reporter Heo Jae-hyun of Report Act, who is accused of reporting false information related to the 'Busan Savings Bank investigation cover-up suspicion' involving President Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party candidate during the last presidential election, filed a complaint and accusation with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division against prosecutors of the investigation team and reporters who covered the 'Daejang-dong That Person' suspicion.

High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency. Photo by Asia Economy DB

On the same day, Heo filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) against prosecutors belonging to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's special investigation team on 'presidential election interference and public opinion manipulation' (team leader Kang Baek-shin, head of Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 1) for the charge of disclosing suspect information.

Before submitting the complaint, he told the press that during the search and seizure on the 11th, the warrant details, which even he as a suspect did not fully know, were reported in detail through Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo, claiming, "The prosecution leaked suspect information to these media outlets."

He stated that the prosecution, anticipating the ruling party candidate's defeat in the by-election for the Gangseo District Office held on the day of the search and seizure, publicized false suspect information related to the Democratic Party to minimize the vote gap with the opposition candidate, and submitted a complaint against these prosecutors for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Additionally, he filed a complaint against two Dong-A Ilbo reporters who reported on the October 2021 recording mentioning 'Daejang-dong That Person,' suggesting the possible involvement of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate at the time, for violating the Public Official Election Act.

Heo said that President Yoon's side used this article to claim, "All insiders point to That Person as candidate Lee Jae-myung," to manipulate public opinion, and added, "If there is a dark force interfering in the election, it should be investigated regardless of party affiliation."

Meanwhile, Heo denied the defamation charges against President Yoon applied by the prosecution. Regarding the so-called 'Choi Jae-kyung recording,' which the prosecution took issue with, he explained that it was obtained at the end of 2021 while investigating the 'Jung Young-hak recording,' and "the informant told me that one of the speakers was Choi Jae-kyung."

Heo said that in March last year, ahead of the presidential election, he secured a recording of a conversation involving 'Daejang-dong broker' Jo Woo-hyung, his cousin Lee Cheol-soo, and former head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Criminal Investigation Department Choi Jae-kyung, and reported its contents.

However, the prosecution judged that the person appearing in the actual recording was not former head Choi but Choi Mo, an aide to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-wook, and is investigating how Choi Mo was mistaken for former head Choi.

Regarding the informant's identity, Heo refrained from elaborating, saying, "Considering the informant's position and life path, if you were a reporter, you would review the report with high trust." He added, "I cross-checked and consulted multiple experts beforehand," and said, "I confirmed with journalists who have long covered the prosecution and legal professionals with prosecution backgrounds whether former head Choi would have actually made such remarks."