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PD Notebook producer Lee Chun-geun was released March 27, while scientists join the protest against the prosecution’s investigation.

Professors, medical experts, veterinarians and lawyers have joined hands in blasting the prosecution for detaining a former producer of the controversial MBC “PD Notebook” documentary program segment that questioned the government’s decision to resume U.S. beef imports last year.

Woo Hee-jong, a professor of veterinary medicine at Seoul National University, together with several mad cow disease experts, and medical and public health groups held a joint press conference on March 29 on the first floor of the MBC headquarters in central Seoul. “The heavy-handed investigation and detention of PD Notebook producers are an attempt to violate the people’s rights to information and to oppress the media and its efforts to unearth truth,” they said.

They went on to say, “The reason why (the South Korean government) is under pressure to offer the same terms on beef imports from Canada, where cases of mad cow disease continue to be found, as those given to the U.S., is due to the hastily reached agreement with Washington.” “Fortunately, it was the PD Notebook and the massive candlelight protest that both staved off unconditional imports of Canadian beef and resulted in a livestock (country of origin labeling) law revision.”

Prof. Woo said, “The government claims that the PD Notebook report intentionally distorted facts and offered exaggerations are contrary to the truth. Those who should receive investigation are no other than government officials who engaged in preposterous negotiations (with the U.S.) and disseminated unscientific facts to people.” Woo based his argument on both a recent move by the U.S. to ban the slaughter of ‘downer’ (disabled) cattle for food consumption, and the World Trade Organization’s inaction against Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong who have not relaxed their sanitary regulations on U.S. beef imports.

PD Notebook producer Lee Chun-geun, who had been on detained without a warrant on suspicions of libel, was released on March 27. He and his three fellow producers are staying inside the MBC headquarters. The broadcasting company’s union workers say that they are stepping up efforts to protect the producers after the prosecution declared that they aim to continue with arrests and plan to raid the MBC office to confiscate documents and original recordings related to the show. Producers in the MBC’s current affairs division said that they would continue their walkout until March 28 and decide future steps at an upcoming meeting to be held at 11 a.m. on March 30.

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