By Kim Se-jeong
Kim Mi-hwa is planning to sue former President Lee Myung-bak for suppressing her freedom of expression and damaging her career, the comedian said Tuesday.
Arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul, Kim said, “I am consulting with my lawyer on the extent of people I need to sue to get justice for myself.”
Kim was the second, following actor Moon Sung-keun, to be questioned by the prosecution with regards to a blacklist drafted during Lee’s 2008-13 presidency.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is under investigation for serving the interests of Lee, and the prosecution indicated the investigation can end with Lee.
The NIS allegedly drafted a list of 82 artists, entertainers, actors, actresses and musicians critical of the Lee government before stopping support or otherwise hindering their careers.
Besides Kim and Moon, movie director Lee Chang-dong, entertainer Kim Je-dong and singer Yoon Do-hyun (YB) were also on the blacklist.
In April 2011, comedian Kim was removed from a longtime radio show which she had hosted, after speaking critically about the government. The NIS was also alleged to pressure TV stations not to cast her.
The comedian said she was deeply disappointed with the former president.
“I was told former President Lee made a big plan to suppress freedom of expression, and the NIS and television stations executed the plan. Mr. President, is that really true?” she said. “If my president turns his back on the people, how can we trust him?”
The blacklist began rattling the country since last year after ousted former President Park Geun-hye was found to have created a long blacklist of people critical of the government.