Journalists caught on suspicion of bugging police meeting

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- Two reporters from a local news agency were taken into
custody on suspicion of attempting to eavesdrop on a meeting convened by the
national police chief, investigators said Friday.
According to the police, the journalists from Asia News Agency, identified only
by their surnames Jang and Noh, installed a small recorder at a restaurant in
Suwon, some 46 kilometers south of Seoul, where National Police Agency
Commissioner Kang Hee-rak was hosting a dinner with senior police officers after
visiting local police stations.
Kang has recently come under public criticism for his agency's handling of street
rallies mourning the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, including nearly 10
days of blockade of the plaza in front of Seoul's City Hall that was lifted
Thursday. The journalists were apparently hoping glean information from Kang on
the issue and his policy on dealing with protesters.
Investigators said they searched the room and found the recorder after being told
by restaurant workers that someone had come into the room before the dinner.
"We will give our response on the issue soon," an official from Asia News Agency
told Yonhap, refusing to comment further.
brk@yna.co.kr
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