Constitutional Petition Brought up on Newspaper Notification

The `Constitution Law Advocate` (CLA President, Chung Ki Seung) submitted a petition to the Constitutional court for the Korea Fair Trade Commission on August 29, arguing that `newspaper notification` violates the principles of freedom and originality, and basic property rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

In the petition submitted on behalf of the newspaper subscriber Kim and head of newspaper branch office Yoon, the CLA asserted, ``The newspaper notification interferes with competition between papers and violates the parent law (Fair Trade Law) established to guarantee consumer satisfaction by promoting competition.``

The CLA stated further, ``The newspaper notification forcing branch offices to use no more than 20 percent of the paper supply cost for premium production obstructs newspapers` price competition in a free market economy and violates the rightful use of their property.``

CLA director Im Kwang Kyu said, ``Newspaper notification is the government meddling in the free decision-making process of the newspaper enterprise. It makes one to be suspicious whether the government is trying to manipulate the public sphere formed by views called `political influence` and public opinion, or if the power holders are trying to use it according to their own purposes.``

Shin Suk-Ho kyle@donga.com