Warrant sought for progressive journalist

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Joo Jin-woo

The prosecution Friday sought an arrest warrant for Joo Jin-woo, a progressive journalist of the popular podcast show Nakkomsu, for spreading false information about President Park Geun-hye’s brother.

In an interview with a weekly magazine Sisa-in last year before the presidential election, he was quoted as saying that Park Ji-man could have been involved in the murders of two relatives in September 2011 near Mt. Bukhan in Seoul.

Park’s relative Yong-soo was found dead hanging from a tree near a trail on the mountain and another relative was stabbed to death 3 kilometers away from the scene.

Police concluded that the former killed the latter after a fight over monetary issues, then committed suicide by hanging himself.

Joo questioned the results of the investigation, and further claimed that Park Yong-soo was murdered and that Park Ji-man might have been complicit in this.

President Park’s brother filed a complaint with the prosecution, claiming that the journalist was propagating false rumors about him.

Joo is also being investigated for defaming the late President Park Chung-hee, father of the incumbent President Park.

Joo returned to Seoul in March to be questioned by the prosecution after a months-long stay abroad in the wake of the presidential election last year.