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http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/04/29/200904290012.asp

MBC staff arrested over mad cow

Prosecutors said yesterday they had arrested four more staff members at MBC in connection with its mad cow disease report last year, despite vehement protests from media workers.

The staff members involved in MBC's investigative program PD's Notepad were arrested late Monday for spreading false rumors about U.S. beef causing mad cow disease, they said.

The members, including former producer Cho Neung-hee and writer Kim Eun-hee, were arrested after they ended their one-month long protest against the prosecution, held in the shelter of the company building.

They will be questioned on whether they intentionally manipulated the contents of the U.S. beef related broadcasting, according to officials.

Prosecutors also earlier arrested and released Lee Choon-geun and Kim Bo-seul, both producers of the program, on March 25, on charges of spreading false rumors and disturbing public peace.

The joint writers association of the four major broadcasting stations yesterday gathered at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office to demonstrate against the arrest.

"Prosecutors censured the writers' emails and phone records and infringed on the freedom of speech," said a spokesperson of the association. "We will fight to the end to secure our freedom of creativity and expression."

Meanwhile, MBC yesterday aired, as originally scheduled, an overview on the U.S. beef import negotiation which was concluded this day last year.

The contended program aired two installments last April and May, which sparked public fears over mad cow disease.

Former Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun and Min Dong-seok, former negotiator on U.S. beef imports, filed a suit on March 3 against four producers and two writers for the program.

MBC sent out an apology last August, claiming to have misinterpreted the original data, but U.S. beef imports negotiators accused the program of causing social disorder by unduly exaggerating the dangers of the disease.

By Bae Hyun-jung


([email protected])






2009.04.29

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