[The Hankyoreh, August 21 2008] Arrest warrant sought for six accused of leading newspaper ad boycott

Some within the prosecution say charging the six with obstruction of business is inappropriate

With a court set to review a request by prosecutors to issue a warrant to arrest six Internet users, who are alleged to have led a campaign to persuade companies to stop placing ads in three conservative newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and DongA Ilbo, the most critical issue is whether the six people conspired with other Internet users to obstruct the advertisers’ business.

The prosecution sought an arrest warrant August 19 for the six Internet users, who they are charging with obstruction of business for allegedly posting a list of the companies that advertise in the three conservative dailies on the Internet community site “National Campaign for Sovereignty of Media Consumers” and asking visitors to the site to call the companies. The 39-year-old creator of the site, who is only identified by the surname Lee, is among the six charged, all of whom are members of the site.