YouTuber indicted for threatening top prosecutor

By Kim Rahn

YouTuber Kim Sang-jin / Yonhap

Prosecutors have indicted a conservative YouTuber for filming clips threatening key liberal officials, including newly appointed Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Monday that YouTuber Kim Sang-jin had been indicted without physical detention last Friday on charges of issuing threats and interference with public duty. Three others who aided in the live YouTube broadcast were also indicted on the same charges.

Kim and the others allegedly visited Yoon's residence several times earlier this year when he was head of the prosecutors' office and live-streamed the visits, whilst voicing hatred of Yoon.

In an April clip, broadcast ahead of the office's decision on whether to temporarily suspend former President Park Geun-hye's jail term to allow her to receive medical treatment, Kim went to Yoon's house and said he knew his car license plate number and would kill him.

Kim also made similar remarks outside the houses of other liberal figures, including Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Rep. Woo Won-shik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and JTBC President Sohn Suk-hee.

Prosecutors raided Kim's home and broadcasting studio on May 2. They summoned him for questioning but he refused to appear, claiming the investigation to be “political repression.”

Kim was, however, detained on May 9 for questioning, and prosecutors sought an arrest warrant, which was issued by a court. He later asked for a review of the arrest, and the court released him on bail of 30 million won, May 16.

He faces another charge of inflicting injury ― at a rally in central Seoul on May 4 when the participants called for dissolution of the major conservative Liberty Korea Party, Kim allegedly hit a protester in the face with his elbow.