Radio Journalist

The perils of foreign reporting

BY STACY LAVILLA

AP Photo
CHOI: "I was shocked that I was arrested ... I have the responsibility to report any kind of story."

Although he had often heard the horror stories of how the Korean government imprisoned journalists for publishing various news stories, Richard Choi never imagined that as a foreign journalist reporting on a business rumor it would happen to him.

Late last month, however, Choi, a news reporter for the Los Angeles-based radio station KBLA-AM, or Radio Korea USA, found himself in a South Korean prison for reporting on a rumor involving a large Korean newspaper.

While covering the presidential elections in Seoul, Korea, Choi, who was born in South Korea but is a U.S. citizen, reported that the Hankook Ilbo-Korea Times newspaper group was in financial trouble and might merge with Hyundai.

Contrary to the rumors, Hankook Ilbo was not acquired, and the company responded by filing a libel lawsuit against Choi. The lawsuit, which raises compelling questions about American journalists' rights when abroad, accuses Choi of malicious slander and attempting to cripple the newspaper at a time when the country was experiencing a financial crisis.

While Hankook Ilbo, which also owns an LA-based radio station that competes with Radio Korea USA, did acknowledge financial difficulties, it stressed that they weren't as severe as Choi reported. The newspaper also claimed that it experienced subsequent financial losses due to withdrawals of advertising that occurred in the aftermath of Choi's story.

After spending three weeks in prison, Choi, who is 49, was released earlier this week, but must remain in South Korea until his case has been closed. A trial date for the case has not yet been set.

While individuals in the United States have the option of filing a civil suit for defamation and seeking punitive damages, Hankook Ilbo filed a criminal complaint, which led to Choi's imprisonment and indictment for the crime of spreading rumors.

The statute Choi is accused of violating states, "Anybody who makes false statements and thereby damages the credit or reputation of another person shall be subject to imprisonment of up to five years." Choi is the first foreign journalist to be imprisoned and indicted under that law.

Under South Korean law, a judge will hear the case, decide whether Choi is guilty, and determine the appropriate prison term.

What is difficult for Choi to comprehend is not only why he was arrested for reporting on a rumor, but why he was the only journalist arrested for a rumor that appeared in at least three other publications.

"I was shocked that I was arrested ... I have the responsibility to report any kind of story, and I clearly mentioned that it was a rumor here," Choi said from his hotel room in Seoul, adding that he spoke to over 200 people who confirmed the rumor. "I was so confused of how I could be jailed for reporting what everyone was saying on the street ... A weekly magazine here, and one or two other weekly magazines, and a monthly magazine all published that the newspaper was in financial trouble."

Choi also noted that while his broadcast reported on three Korean newspapers facing financial difficulties, only Hankook Ilbo filed charges.

"The other two newspapers didn't give me any objection and didn't say anything," Choi added. "This is how the media group, who is supposed to protect the journalists and reporters [responded], by complaining to the prosecutor's office and letting them arrest [me]. This is the most embarrassing thing to me."

Choi, who has been with Radio Korea USA for eight years, did not begin his professional career in journalism.

After graduating from Yeon Se University in Seoul with a bachelor of science degree in physics, Choi headed out to California and became the manager of a 7 Eleven store in Los Angeles, where he oversaw both daily sales and inventory.

His career then took a turn toward business. At the Los Angeles-based J.B. Mercantile Inc., Choi served as vice president in charge of both international trading matters and general affairs for nearly a decade.

It wasn't until 1989 that Choi decided to tackle radio journalism, a move which eventually landed him in the position of vice president at Radio Korea USA. Among his accomplishments at the Korean-language station is his four year anchoring stint of a news program called Good Morning Radio Korea.

Radio Korea USA, human-rights groups, and numerous international journalism organizations have rallied around Choi's case and publicly voiced their opposition.

Lee Jang-Hee, president of Radio Korea USA, defends Choi's story and is eagerly awaiting his return to the United States.

"He was wrongly accused," Lee said. "We hope they drop the charges, because he didn't do anything wrong."

"I think this is a human [rights] violation [and a violation] of freedom speech, and it should not happen," Lee said. "I'm really pleased that they released without bail Richard Choi, but I want them to drop the criminal charges and send him home."

The World Press Freedom Committee sent a letter to South Korea's president and urged him to look into Choi's case and drop the charges.

Choi, whose passport is being retained by the Korean government, is coping despite his circumstances, but is anxious for his case to be resolved and for the charges to be dropped.

"Right now I'm working, but it's not work. I'm resting, but it's not resting," Choi said. "I can't sleep well, and I can't work well."

"I want to have all the charges dropped, because I'm not guilty and I didn't make a mistake, so I should be free."

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