Prosecutors Raid Communications Standards Office... Ryu Heelim Suspected of Retaliation Against Whistleblower

The prosecution has launched a compulsory investigation into the case involving Ryu Heelim, former Chairman of the Korea Communications Standards Commission, who is suspected of taking disadvantageous actions against a whistleblower.

Yonhap News Agency

On September 24, the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Lee Kyungmin, conducted a search and seizure at the Korea Communications Standards Commission office in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, in connection with Ryu, who is under suspicion of violating the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, among other charges.

Ryu is accused of having his family members and acquaintances file petitions to review news reports that cited the transcript of the "Kim Manbae-Shin Hakrim interview" by Newstapa, and of directly participating in the review process himself.

After these suspicions were revealed through a whistleblower, Ryu conducted an internal audit, claiming that the petitioners' personal information had been leaked, and requested an investigation, which led to controversy over retaliatory actions against the whistleblower.

Previously, in July, the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul referred Ryu to the prosecution on charges of violating the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act.