Japanese Journalist Acquitted Of Allegedly Defaming South Korean President; Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Welcomes Seoul Court’s Ruling

A Japanese journalist was acquitted Thursday of allegedly defaming South Korean Park Geun Hye last year. The Associated Press reported on the same day that Tatsuya Kato of Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper allegedly reported that the South Korean president was spending time with a man amid a horrifying ferry disaster happened last year.

Reports have revealed that the ferry disaster killed over 300 of its passengers, with most of them are teenagers.

Meanwhile, Kato was acquitted by the Seoul Central District after he was accused by the prosecutors in 2014.

"The court declares the accused was not guilty of defaming Park in the capacity of the president as she is a public figure and her activities are the subject of public attention," the court said in the verdict, adding that freedom of the press "must be respected to the full" for the progress of democracy.

The Japanese journalist called the ruling as a "due verdict." Kato is also bullish that the prosecutors will not appeal.

On the other hand, Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch said in a dispatch that the criminal defamation law of South Korea should be abolished for the reason that it "stifles a free press, has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and works against the public interest by gagging critics and whistle blowers."

A judge also said that the manner of the Japanese journalist "was in the realm of freedom of the press."

"It is difficult to conclude that the defendant intended to defame the president or libel her as a public figure," said Judge Lee Dong Geun, as noted by DW Friday.

On the other hand, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed the ruling of South Korea's court, adding that the acquittal will bring positive effect on South Korea-Japan ties.

"I appreciate the not-guilty ruling. I expect that it will have a positive effect on the Japan-South Korean relationship," Abe said.