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but has been criticized for oppressing freedom of speech on the Internet. This image is from an advertisement for Korea Telecom’s Wi-Bro

Prosecutors investigating a campaign to boycott companies advertising in the nation’s three major newspapers have imposed an overseas travel ban on about 20 people suspected of leading the campaign.

On July 8, a team of prosecutors working with the Seoul Central District Court said that approximately 20 people who established an Internet site for the campaign and posted comments urging the companies to stop placing ads in the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and DongA Ilbo were banned from leaving the country. The prosecution plans to summon them soon.

Kim Su-nam, a high-ranking prosecutor, remarked that a travel ban could also be placed on other people involved in the campaign, depending upon the progress of the investigation.

“A few of the companies have actually suffered serious damage and netizens posted comments demanding that the companies stop advertising in the newspapers even after the prosecution’s investigation began. The travel ban was imposed according to normal investigative procedures,” an official who works on the prosecution’s investigative team said.

Prosecutors have been working to confirm the names of the people who used Internet portal sites related to the campaign. They are also investigating officials who work at the newspapers, and companies such as travel agencies, that are the targets of the boycott.

The prosecution says it is also conducting a review of similar cases in other countries, including the United States, to find precedents for punishing the people involved. Another official of the prosecution said, “There have been no such cases in Korea. In the U.S., boycotting newspapers is permitted but boycotting companies that advertise in the newspapers is not allowed.

Opposition to the travel ban is strong. People have posted comments protesting the travel ban on the Internet site of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. In addition, people both in and out of the prosecution are critical of the investigation, saying that the investigation is excessive and disregards a consumer’s right to choose what they purchase.

One lawyer pointed out that the investigation is being conducted in an unreasonable fashion, saying that there is no precedent for issuing punishment in similar cases nor has a lawsuit ever been filed in a situation such as this.

An official of the prosecution remarked that it is unreasonable for the prosecution to impose a travel ban on people for whom a fine would be expected at most.

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