Controversy Brewing Government’s Plan to Launch Internet KookJung Shinmun

A great deal of controversy is arising as the government announced that it would launch the Internet KookJung Shinmun (Government Newspaper) on September 1, the day when the new briefing system becomes operative.

The aim of Internet KookJung Shinmun is to provide easier access to people seeking policy-related information. However, some are pointing out that the Internet newspaper will only be used to deflect criticism from the press.

▽ Is the Internet’s KookJung Shinmun an alternative medium? = According to the government, the Internet newspaper will supplement the new briefing system, effective September 1. The Government Information Agency’s Deputy-chief, Chung Soon-kyun, director of the Internet newspaper foundation, has said that ²The Government Information Agency is currently delivering news online through KookJung News (www.news.go.kr),² and that ²unlike in the past when unfiltered formal news materials were sent out to the public, Internet KookJung Shinmun aims to deliver news in a more accessible fashion through its articles in the future.² Chung has also said that ²together with article-like materials, clips of videos would also be provided,² and asked the citizens to ²expect the articles to be as entertaining as the articles of ‘Oh, My News’.²

In addition, modifications will be made to the Weekly KookJung Shinmun, the government’s weekly magazine with a circulation of more than 60,000. Through the magazine, the government plans to publish mainly articles that were popular on the Internet version and columns that propose new policy directions. News materials will be posted on the Internet as soon as they are announced, allowing the Internet newspaper to compete with other media sources through its promptness. The Government Information Agency has decided to send out e-mails that contain major Internet news to over 100,000 professionals, including civil servants, and members of the academia and the press. On top of this, the Internet newspaper will go beyond simply broadcasting news on the Internet by providing Ministers’ or Vice-Ministers’ explanations for articles that contain incorrect information and for critical columns, similar to the service currently provided by the Blue house Briefing.

However, concerns are mounting in some government departments that ²now government officials are burdened with writing articles on top of producing materials for publication,² and that ²there is a great possibility of a war of attrition with the press, should the government go beyond responding to incorrect information if it starts to criticize the media.²

▽ Response from experts and the Grand National Party = Professor Kim Woo Ryong of Hankook University of Foreign Studies has said that ²under the current situation where people’s support for the government is unusually low, the Internet KookJung Shinmun may become a means for government PR activities,² and pointed out that ²establishing another stated-owned medium, using a non-media professional workforce, other than Arirang TV and KTV, might be perceived as simply wasting taxpayers’ money.²

Professor Yoo Jae Chun of Hallym University said that ²the government’s intention to directly communicate with the citizens is not a bad idea,² but emphasized the fact that ²it would not be desirable if the Internet newspaper follows the Blue house Briefing, which only tends to give elucidations on critical press.²

Park Jin, spokesperson for the Grand National Party, commented, ²the scheme is to create a media that is directly controlled by the government, which is another way to dominate the press,² and urged the government to ²suspend all related plans, for it would lead to a distorted national management if the government appeals to the netizens without going through the process of the media’s checks and balances.²

Seung-Heon Young-Hae Choi Lee ddr@donga.com yhchoi65@donga.com