(CPJ/IFEX) – The Committee to Protect Journalists reports the release of American journalist Richard Choi by the South Korean government on his own recognizance. A Seoul court released Choi, who had been in jail since 19 December 1997, early Thursday morning, Korea time. He must still stand trial on charges arising from a complaint of […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – The Committee to Protect Journalists reports the release of
American journalist Richard Choi by the South Korean government on his own
recognizance. A Seoul court released Choi, who had been in jail since 19
December 1997, early Thursday morning, Korea time. He must still stand trial
on charges arising from a complaint of criminal defamation brought against
him by the Korea Times/Hankook Ilbo newspaper group. The complaint stems
from a report he
filed from Korea to his employer, Radio Korea of Los Angeles, for broadcast
exclusively in the United States. The 40-second broadcast, aired 15
December, discussed the rumored financial difficulties at the Korea
Times/Hankook lbo and a possible merger between the newspaper group, one of
the largest in South Korea, and the Hyundai Corporation.
**Updates IFEX alert of 30 December 1997**
Choi, an American citizen, is being prosecuted under a section of the Korean
criminal code which allows private companies to file a criminal complaint
against persons accused of defaming their reputation. He faces up to five
years in jail if convicted.
