IPI-WAN Investigates Korean Media State

International Press Institute (IPI) Director Johann Fritz, who had arrived in Korea yesterday to investigate the Korean media state, said, ``We will fight until the end to defend the freedom of the press.``

Along Roger Parkinson, honorary president of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) who arrived on 4th, director Fritz, who came to Korea as a member of the IPI special investigation team with US IPI board member Bruce Brugman and Europe IPI board member Nils Oy, visited the Seoul Detention Center and met imprisoned newspaper owners including former Donga Ilbo honorary president Kim Byung-Kwan, Chosun Ilbo president Bang Sang-Hoon, form president of the Kookmin Ilbo Cho Hee-Joon.

Director Fritz also encouraged the imprisoned newspaper owners by saying, ``Please endure your plight to the end.``

The IPI special investigation team is announcing their investigation result through a press conference after meeting representatives of the Government Information Agency and the Grand National Party today.

Lee Seung-Heon ddr@donga.com