Police are searching the computers and other equipment of Hanmi Ilbo. [Photo=Hanmi Ilbo]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Financial Crime Investigation Unit conducted a search and seizure at the Hanmi Ilbo office on the morning of February 3.

This coercive investigation was conducted in relation to defamation allegations, and the search and seizure warrant was issued by Judge Nam Se-jin of the Seoul Central District Court, upon the request of Prosecutor Oh Sang-yeon of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

The warrant included the titles of the articles in question and summaries (intent) of each article.

However, it did not specify on a sentence-by-sentence basis which expressions or sentences in the articles were false, or the concrete grounds for determining their falsity.

The suspects listed in the warrant are a total of seven individuals, including Hanmi Ilbo CEO Heo Mo and Editor Kim Mo, with those involved in the writing and editing of the articles listed as joint offenders. This includes two column contributors and two U.S. citizens as suspects, which is expected to cause controversy.

According to the summary of criminal facts, regarding the articles involving CEO Heo Mo, the investigative authorities stated that the possibility of the U.S. government and intelligence agencies (CIA) and the White House eliminating President Lee Jae-myung has not been confirmed as fact.

However, this article is an interview with Pastor Shin Dong-young, who is engaged in missionary work in the United States. A recorded file has also been released.

Furthermore, regarding the article (Andong Dam Report) involving Editor Kim Mo, it contains content that alludes to President Lee Jae-myung's criminal record from his childhood, but the determination was made that it is difficult to confirm the truth of the matter through objective data.

This article is a summary of interviews obtained from reporting on the Andong area for three nights and four days. The police have already submitted the expense receipts from that time.

In this search and seizure, the police executed the seizure under the pretext of verifying the entire process of article writing, editing, and posting, including computers and other electronic devices in the office, email and messenger records, draft articles and interview notes, and electronic files stored on servers and storage media.

In addition, the personal mobile phones of CEO Heo Mo and Editor Kim Mo were included in the warrant, and data acquisition procedures were carried out.

The scope of seizure included not only materials directly related to the articles in question but also electronic data and information on mobile phones that could confirm the overall process of article writing, editing, and decision-making.

It is reported that the police will review the establishment of the charges based on the secured data.

Hanmi Ilbo was present during the search and seizure and stated, "We will cooperate with the investigation, but we will seek legal judgment, including constitutional appeals, regarding the appropriateness of the warrant issued without specifying false sentences and the broad scope of the seizure."

Hanmi Ilbo Editorial Department