Gov`t to publicize unfair trade by newspapers

After a two-year hiatus, publication by the government of unfair trade activities by newspaper companies will be revived in an attempt to eradicate the practice of offering excessive gifts to subscribers or forcing them to take out subscriptions.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced Wednesday that it would reestablish the policy, which was first created in January 1997 but abolished two years later under a government initiative to lift regulations seen as unnecessary.

The FTC plans to collect opinions on the issue from related government agencies, organizations and civic groups for one week beginning March 2 and draw up a proposal to be submitted to the Regulatory Reform Committee for approval by the end of March. FTC plans to hold talks with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Korea Newspapers Association, the Korea Advertisers Association and others.

Officials said the commission would outline unfair trade activities in detail in its notifications and apply the standard to daily and weekly newspapers. FTC originally planned to consider restoring the notification based on the results of its investigation of Seoul-based newspapers, which is to be completed by the end of March. It abruptly changed the plan at the direction of FTC chairman Lee Nam-Kee.

Choi Young-Hae moneychoi@donga.com