DP slams prosecutors for reviewing telecom subscriber records of thousands of politicians, journalists

Prosecutors looking into the alleged spreading of "fake news" against President Yoon Suk Yeol have reportedly reviewed the telecommunication subscriber information of several thousand politicians and journalists.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung reviews an attorney's opinion related to his trial at the National Assembly in Yeouido, wetsern Seoul, on Monday. [NEWS1]

Prosecutors looking into the alleged spreading of "fake news" against President Yoon Suk Yeol have reportedly reviewed the telecommunication subscriber information of several thousand politicians and journalists.

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) condemned these actions as "political surveillance," while the prosecution maintains they were "lawful inquiries conducted during the investigation."

"It seems that telecommunication data reviews are in vogue; my telecommunication subscriber information has also been reviewed," former DP leader Lee Jae-myung wrote on Facebook on Aug. 3, with a screenshot of a message indicating that his user information — including his name and his phone number — had been provided to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for investigative purposes on Jan. 4. The notification came approximately seven months after the initial review.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is investigating a defamation case involving Kim Man-bae, a controlling shareholder in Hwacheon Daeyu, over allegations that he disseminated untrue information about Yoon in an attempt to influence the presidential election in 2022.

DP lawmaker Choo Mi-ae shared a similar telecommunication data provision message on Facebook. Several other liberal party politicians and their aides, as well as journalists from various media outlets, have reported being subject to these reviews.

Screenshots of the prosecution's communication inquiry notifications shared by former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, left, and lawmaker Choo Mi-ae on Facebook on Aug. 3. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The reviewed telecommunication data involves identifying who the investigation targets communicated with by analyzing their call records. Under the Telecommunications Business Act, telecommunications companies can be asked to provide subscribers' personal information, including names, social security numbers and addresses. While reviewing the dates and times of calls requires a court warrant, simple inquiries into telecommunication subscriber information do not.

The revelation of these mass telecommunication reviews has ignited a heated political debate.

DP floor leader Park Chan-dae on Tuesday criticized the actions as "indiscriminate civilian surveillance reminiscent of a military dictatorship," questioning "how such actions could occur in a democratic republic in 2024."

"This large-scale telecommunication review, affecting at least 3,000 people, possibly more, is a Yoon-style blacklist," said DP Rep. Kim Yong-min. "Although the prosecution claims they only reviewed subscriber information, linking this with call records generates comprehensive surveillance data."

In contrast, the conservative People Power Party (PPP) defended the prosecution and the government.

"The DP is transforming a lawful investigative procedure into alleged illegal surveillance," PPP Secretary-General Suh Bum-soo said, arguing that the communication reviews were lawfully conducted during the investigation. "Calling this illegal surveillance is manipulation of public opinion and irresponsible political agitation."

The controversy over excessive communication inquiries by investigative agencies is not new.

Three years ago, during the Moon Jae-in administration in 2021, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) conducted similar inquiries into some 170 people including a journalist and his family and acquaintances, as well as over 80 lawmakers, during the investigation of former Seoul High Prosecutors' Office chief Lee Sung-yoon over allegations that he exercised undue influence in 2019 to stop an investigation into the alleged illegal exit ban imposed on the former scandal-hit Vice Justice Minister Kim Hak-ui.

This ignited heavy criticism even from then-presidential candidate Yoon of the PPP, who criticized the CIO as "crazy people" for conducting communication surveillance on him and his associates.

The DP, on the other hand, defended these actions as "necessary for collecting basic investigative materials."

The DP is now collecting cases of affected individuals and preparing legal responses at the party level.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]