SEOUL — South Korea’s culture minister resigned after being arrested on Saturday for allegedly creating a “blacklist” of nearly 10,000 artists who voiced criticism of impeached President Park Geun-Hye.
Cho Yoon-Sun, who is the first minister in active service to be arrested in South Korea, is accused of creating the vast catalogue to starve the artists of government subsidies and private investments and place them under state surveillance.
The list’s existence has sparked widespread anger, raising the specter of Seoul’s 1960-80s army-backed rule — including under dictator Park Chung-Hee, the impeached leader’s late father — when the news, arts and entertainment were heavily censored.
Shortly after her arrest, Cho tendered her resignation to Prime minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office said.
An earlier report by Yonhap news agency said Hwang had accepted Cho’s resignation but the spokesman said no decision had been made yet.
“The prime minister is now considering her offer to step down,” the spokesman told AFP.
The Seoul Central District Court had issued a warrant to arrest Cho on charges of abuse of authority and perjury following a request from prosecutors. — AFP
