[Editorial] Not the Right Time to Wage War on the Media

The negative outlook on the media that President Roh Moo-hyun showed during a public debate on state affairs with government officials Saturday was not appropriate, as it created a tense relationship between those in power and the media. This is somewhat worrisome. During the debate, the president expressed his upset about and distrust of the media stronger than he has to date, saying in thinly veiled hostility, “I could not tolerate the arrogance of the media that overrides unfairly and investigates family members secretly.”

However, his remarks were not well timed because there is controversy over his personal secretary, Yang Kil-seung, having received lavish treatment. His remarks have the possibility of giving the impression that the president understands that the controversy concerning his close aide resulted from media coverage. If Mr. Yang had behaved as a proper public official, such media reports would not come about. Though the president said that he “doesn`t want to fire him because of he is afraid of follow-up reports, Mr. Yang should step down, with or without the follow-up reports.”

It seems that the government attributes the current state of affairs in the media as a mess, rather than criticizing itself. There are indications that the current political crisis is mainly due to the "taking-sides" leadership that the president and those in power have showed, along with their inability to manage state affairs.

It is the media`s duty to criticize the current state affairs and to press for improvement. However, Mr. Roh, seeing some media outlets exaggerating the current situation, declared a war on the arrogance of the media. This, in essence, is like putting the cart before the horse.

Roh`s remarks that a civil action could be brought against unfair reports and that there should be an agency in charge of it are difficult to accept. Of course, the media cannot be perfect and may be in need of certain reforms. If media reports are wrong, responses can be taken according to related laws. Yet if the state should call the shots it would be an infringement on the freedom of the press. Right after the president made his remarks about this, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism was reported to be preparing a system to prevent damage caused by the media. It is worried that the media environment could worsen.

Democracy is based on the premise that state power is subject to a continuous and close public inspection and for that to happen, the media is an indispensable device. If the president regards such a media as an object to defeat, it is difficult to expect the development of democracy. Mr. Roh should calmly reflect on whether he is responding emotionally, obsessed with a delusion of persecution. There are stacks of pending national issues more important than “the current war with the media.”