Dong-A Ilbo files constitutional petition over broadcasting stocks

The Dong-A Ilbo filed a petition with the Constitutional Court of Korea concerning the forced transfer of Dong-A Broadcasting stocks on the orders of military government authorities in 1980, when a number of media outlets were forced to merge or exit the market.

The newspaper said the court should confirm that the then military government¡¯s takeover of Dong-A Broadcasting, done in accordance with the so-called press promotion plan on Nov. 12, 1980, violated the constitution. Despite Dong-A`s claim that it was deprived of its property rights under the press promotion plan, the National Assembly has not yet passed necessary laws to allow it to recover its assets and receive compensation for damages.

The Dong-A Ilbo claims the Supreme Court`s Feb. 16 ruling, in which it turned down an appeal for the return of Dong-A Broadcasting, was a violation of the constitution and that the ruling should be overturned.

In a written application, Kim Jong-Hoon, lawyer for the Dong-A Ilbo, said the military`s forced takeover of Dong-A Broadcasting in the course of the Dec. 12, 1979 revolt and May 18, 1980 insurrection was a violation of the constitution, which guarantees press freedom, freedom of corporate activities, and property and equality rights. He said the takeover also breached the physical freedom of executives of The Dong-A Ilbo.

Lee Soo-Hyung sooh@donga.com