Arrest warrant sought for mysterious South Korean blogger

Seoul: Prosecutors sought a formal arrest warrant on Friday for a mysterious South Korean blogger known as "Minerva", whose purported predictions on the global economy have caused a sensation.

The 30-year-old man, identified only by his surname Park, was accused of spreading false information on an internet discussion site last month that the government ordered major financial institutions and trade businesses not to purchase dollars.

Park was detained on Wednesday and has admitted to the allegations, said prosecution spokesman Oh Se-ib.

An arrest warrant is being sought, said an official with the prosecution's investigation team, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing department policy.

In about 100 postings on a popular website last year, Park criticised the government's handling of the economy and made predictions, largely negative, on the future.

His writings were sprinkled with jargon that convinced some readers he was an economic expert.