Government Information Agency Mandated to Check Government Ads

A bill mandating the Government Information Agency (GIA) to conduct preliminary reviews on advertisements of policies by various departments has been signed into law, signaling the increased influence of the agency.

In a state council meeting, presided over by President Roh Moo-hyun, in Cheong Wa Dae, government officials agreed on government information management regulations which stated the GIA’s official role and scope of power.

As a result, GIA was elevated to “presidential agency” level from its previous standing where its power and role had been classified as a “government directory,” or a set of internal rules for administrative organizations, since 1999.

The legislation mandates a stipulation that the head of GIA can ask institutions to cooperate on the schedule and choice of medium if an individual institution is to release advertisements about their key policies. Under the bill, a policy advertisement management commission will be introduced, with the vice-chief of the agency at the helm.

This has raised criticism that the agency is trying to step up its control on advertisements critical of the government’s policies.

In addition, the bill mandates the launch of an “article monitoring system,” under which government agencies will monitor and analyze media reports, and brief the GIA head with their findings.

Moreover, the GIA head will be given power to devise and implement pan-governmental advertisements, and chair the newly created Government Information Strategic Conference to discuss means of cooperation among central administrative agencies.

leon@donga.com