Excessive Belittling of the Press?

Chang Dae-whan, president of the Korean Association of Newspapers, and Byun Yong-sik, president of the Korean Newspaper Editors Association, strongly criticized the current government’s media policies such as the government’s habit of reproaching newspapers, the newspaper law, and the revised bill of the youth protection law at a ceremony celebrating the 51st newspaper day, which was held at the Korea press center in Taepyung-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul on April 6.

President Chang said in a speech, “Our country’s newspaper journalism industry is recently being hurt by distorted perceptions on speech, and harsh words which disparage and denunciate free speech are going overboard. The newspaper law made it an obligation to submit management data under the pretext of supporting newspapers, and that could compromise newspaper management autonomy.”

He pointed to the revised bill of the youth protection law, which labels newspaper novels and cartoons as potentially harmful media materials for youth, and called it a new form of the censorship for the sake of youth. The newspaper law is public regulation in terms of management, and the youth protection law is public regulation on content.

President Byun criticized the policy, saying during his opening speech that policies are putting pressure on newspaper sales, advertising, and management by making newspapers become the subject of tax investigations and fair trade investigations. On top of that, the Fair Trade Commission is criticizing the press.

He also said, “The president and his aides have not only sued newspaper articles, but also openly denounced journalists who criticize them and continuously made remarks to discredited them. But I believe that this is a crisis and an opportunity at the same time for the press because readers realize the value of newspapers when those in power bully newspapers more and more.”

zozo@donga.com