Release of Journalist Could Make Vigil Unnecessary

A candlelight vigil scheduled tonight to pressure the Korean Government to release imprisoned journalist Richard Choi may not occur because the Los Angeles resident could be freed before the event begins, a Korean government spokesman said.

Choi, a talk show host based in Los Angeles, was arrested Dec. 19, four days after he reported rumors that Hyundai Motor Co. and a multimedia giant were about to merge. He was arrested under a Korean law prohibiting reports that could be financially damaging to a firm, but he will probably be released on bail today, Chang Kee Sung of the Korean Consulate in Los Angeles said Monday.

The vigil, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Radio Korea, 626 Kingsley Ave., is being organized by the Congress for Racial Equality and the group Creating a Civil Society in Los Angeles, which was established in 1996 to encourage unity between various ethnic groups.