Internet pundit's detention triggers debate in cyberspace

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- A fierce debate erupted in cyberspace Friday after
prosecutors in Seoul took into custody an anonymous online pundit once called the
"economic president."
The 31-year-old, identified only by his surname Park, allegedly posted over 100
economic reports and commentaries highly critical of President Lee Myung-bak's
responses to the global financial crisis.
Writing under the pseudonym "Minerva" on the nation's No. 2 portal Daum, which
provides the largest online forum, Park accurately predicted the collapse of U.S.
investment bank Lehman Brothers in September just days before it occurred. He
also criticized Lee's policies on currency stabilization, real estate and the
stock market, accusing the government of looking out for the interests of the
privileged.
Investigators have spent months trying to uncover Minerva's identity and to
undermine the veracity of his online postings, including one dated Dec. 29 that
prosecutors say falsely claims the government sent a secret memo to major
financial institutions banning them from buying U.S. dollars.
A heated debate erupted in cyberspace soon after Park's arrest as netizens argued
the merits of individual opinion in on-line forums.
Visitors to Agora, Daum's online discussion room, are challenging the legitimacy
of Minerva's detention and the charges against him of spreading false rumors.
Most lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the authorities, decrying Park's
arrest simply for posting comments critical of the government in cyberspace,
while others argue Park is responsible for circulating unproven facts.
"He has simply expressed his opinion on the Internet without any political
purpose and his writings attracted public attention. Why is he guilty of
disseminating false rumors," questioned one visitor to Agora going by the name
"Doin."
"I don't understand why investigators started the probe into (Park) and arrested
him. I want to leave this country," read another under the handle "Eunrang."
Some are also criticizing the government for being too sensitive to Minerva's
comments.
"Minerva just wrote that the government 'sent an emergency memorandum.' But the
financial ministry made a fuss over it, showing that it had lost confidence in
the market. People trust Minerva more than the government," one netizen called
"Wandoo" said.
Prosecutors insist that Minerva's on-line postings were false, citing one that
claimed he received a master's degree in the U.S. and had once worked for U.S.
financial institutions. Records show that Park graduated from a two-year
community college in Korea and has no experience in the financial sector.
"The charges against Park of spreading false rumors are obvious. We decided to
seek an arrest warrant," an official from the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office
said.
Under current communications law, those who spread untrue reports or stories via
electronic mediums, including the Internet, thereby harming the public interest,
can be sentenced to a five-year jail term or a 50-million-won fine.
Experts say that not all of Minerva's postings violate the communications law
because they express his personal opinion on the economic outlook and the
government's policies without harboring any intention of undermining public
interest.
"This may be the first case of restricting freedom of expression in the name of
banning groundless Internet rumors," said Koh Young-chul, a professor at Jeju
National University, adding that the views expressed were Park's own personal
opinion.
The Lee government and the ruling Grand National Party have been criticized for
tightening regulations that punish Internet users who write false posts or are
guilty of cyber defamation.
brk@yna.co.kr
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