Prosecutors reviewing YouTuber's Ken Rhee alleged violation of passport law

Ken Rhee, second from left, in Ukraine in an Instagram post that Rhee posted in May [INSTAGRAM SCREEN CAPTURE]

The prosecution is reviewing the case of YouTuber and former special forces officer Ken Rhee who illegally traveled to Ukraine to join volunteer troops fighting against the Russian invasion in March.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Wednesday, its International Criminal Investigation Unit passed on Rhee's case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Tuesday with charges of violating the passport law.

Rhee had visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for questioning on June 10, during which he reportedly admitted to most of the charges including entering Ukraine and violating the passport law. He has not been detained by the police.

Rhee returned to Korea in May, citing torn ligaments in his knee. It had been three months since he left Korea to fight in Ukraine.

Upon arrival at the airport, a police investigator was dispatched to check Rhee’s injuries and measures were taken immediately to prevent him from leaving the country.

Rhee is a former Korean Navy special forces officer who went to Ukraine in March to fight Russia. He was once one of the most sought-after TV personalities after his appearance on the YouTube reality series “Fake Men.” However, his popularity didn't last long after he faced accusations of sexual harassment in 2020.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]