South Korean prosecutors are seeking an 18-month prison term for a Japanese journalist for allegedly defaming South Korean President Park Geun-hye by reporting rumors that she was absent for seven hours during a ferry disaster in April last year because she was with a man.

Prosecutors argued that Tatsuya Kato of Japan's Sankei Shimbun made no efforts to verify the rumors and thought them as untrue before publishing them in August 2014, an official from the Seoul Central District Court said Tuesday.

Kato's lawyer countered that it serves public interest to report the developments surrounding Park's whereabouts, according to the official, who didn't want to be named, citing office rules. He said a ruling was set for Nov. 26.

Prosecutors indicted Kato last October over his article about Park's whereabouts on the day the Sewol ferry sank and killed more than 300 passengers, mostly teenagers on a school trip. Park and her government were criticized for the botched rescue operation on the ferry, and South Korean media had questioned whether she was unaccounted for on the day of the disaster.

The indictment of Kato has raised questions about South Korea's press freedom, with critics accusing Park's conservative government of clamping down on journalists in an attempt to control her image.

Until the late 1980s, South Korea was ruled by a succession of military dictators, including Park's father, Park Chung-hee, who suppressed journalists and dissenters.

Kato's article repeated rumors in South Korean media and the financial industry about a relationship between Park and a former aide who was said to be married at the time. Park's office has denied that she was with the former aide, who also denied the rumors when he appeared in court as a witness in January. (k)(++++)

Popular

Is Indonesia really ready to embrace dual citizenship?

Tens of thousands seek better lives in Jakarta. But is the city losing its draw?

Elon Musk's Starlink granted licences to operate in Indonesia