[The Hankyoreh, July 9 2008] Travel ban imposed for boycott campaign

Many are critical of the prosecution’s action and say the ban is excessive

Prosecutors investigating a campaign to boycott companies advertising in the nation’s three major newspapers have imposed an overseas travel ban on about 20 people suspected of leading the campaign.

On July 8, a team of prosecutors working with the Seoul Central District Court said that approximately 20 people who established an Internet site for the campaign and posted comments urging the companies to stop placing ads in the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and DongA Ilbo were banned from leaving the country. The prosecution plans to summon them soon.

Kim Su-nam, a high-ranking prosecutor, remarked that a travel ban could also be placed on other people involved in the campaign, depending upon the progress of the investigation.

“A few of the companies have actually suffered serious damage and netizens posted comments demanding that the companies stop advertising in the newspapers even after the prosecution’s investigation began. The travel ban was imposed according to normal investigative procedures,” an official who works on the prosecution’s investigative team said.