KOREA: Court refuses to issue arrest warrant for media union head

Seoul Nambu District Court says union leader unlikely to flee during police investigation or to destroy evidence related to his case

The Korea Herald
Thursday, July 30, 2009

A Seoul court turned down on Wednesday a police request for a warrant to arrest the chief of a national union of media workers, who was detained earlier on charges of masterminding a four-day walkout to deter parliamentary approval of the government's controversial media reform bills, Yonhap News said.

Choi Sang-jae, chief of the National Union of Mediaworkers, which claims about 18,000 members in more than 100 news organizations nationwide, was arrested by police investigators at his house north of Seoul early Monday morning for questioning about his role in the unionized media workers' strike.

The police requested an arrest warrant for Choi on Tuesday evening.

However, the Seoul Nambu District Court said there is no sufficient reason to suspect that Choi would flee from a police probe, as he has a stable residence. The court also noted that Choi is unlikely to attempt to destroy evidence related to the charges, as police have already secured evidence and testimony from relevant figures.

On being released from police custody after the court ruling, Choi vowed to continue his struggle against the media reform bills.

According to Yonhap News, Choi was also accused of breaking into the National Assembly building last Wednesday morning, along with other union members, in a bid to protest against the ruling Grand National Party's (GNP) drive to pass the media industry reform bills.

Date Posted: 7/30/2009