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The controversial sociologist Prof. Kang Jeong-koo faced questions from prosecutors over his pro-North Korean remarks on Friday. A scandal surrounding the Dongguk University academic¡¯s comments earlier led to the resignation of prosecutor-general Kim Jong-bin when Justice Minister Chun Jung-bae, in a rare exercise of his prerogative, ordered him not to arrest Kang.
The new Prosecutor-General Choung Sang-myoung has told a parliamentary confirmation hearing there are sufficient grounds for arresting Kang under the decades-old National Security Law. Choung assumed the post on Thursday. However, most observers say the academic is unlikely to be detained.
Prosecutors grilled Kang over articles for an online newspaper and a website affiliated with the North Korean Workers¡¯ Party in July. In the articles, Kang notoriously argued the Korean War was Pyongyang¡¯s attempt at unification. ¡°Prof. Kang will be interviewed about evidence found by the police and will return home today,¡± a prosecutor said.
Kang arrived at Seoul Central District Prosecutors¡¯ Office at 9:50 a.m. and headed for the interrogation room after telling reporters, ¡°I don¡¯t have much to say.¡± Prosecutors say they reviewed the case since being handed related documents by the police on Nov. 4. They said they would want to hear from Kang about charges both uncovered by police and arising from their own investigation.
But an arrest under the controversial security law is unlikely given the parlous state of relations between prosecutors and the government, which appears bent on pulling the law¡¯s teeth. Experts predict Kang will be indicted without arrest unless very substantial additional charges surface.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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