Court refuses to issue arrest warrant for media union head

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court turned down on Wednesday a police request for a warrant to arrest the chief of a national union of media workers, who was detained earlier on charges of masterminding a four-day walkout to deter parliamentary approval of the government's controversial media reform bills.

Choi Sang-jae, chief of the National Union of Mediaworkers, which claims about
18,000 members in more than 100 news organizations nationwide, was arrested by
police investigators at his house north of Seoul early Monday morning for
questioning about his role in the unionized media workers' strike.
The police requested an arrest warrant for Choi on Tuesday evening.
However, the Seoul Nambu District Court said there is no sufficient reason to
suspect that Choi would flee from a police probe, as he has a stable residence.
The court also noted that Choi is unlikely to attempt to destroy evidence related
to the charges, as police have already secured evidence and testimony from
relevant figures.
On being released from police custody after the court ruling, Choi vowed to
continue his struggle against the media reform bills.
Choi was also accused of breaking into the National Assembly building last
Wednesday morning, along with other union members, in a bid to protest against
the ruling Grand National Party's (GNP) drive to pass the media industry reform
bills.
The controversial revisions to the media laws were passed in a vote attended only
by GNP lawmakers Wednesday afternoon, as opposition lawmakers refused to
participate to protest the move.
The conservative ruling party claims the reform bills will promote competition in
the media industry, whereas the main opposition Democratic Party argues the
reform drive reflects a conservative push to control the media and will only
benefit the country's major conservative newspapers.