Ministry of Finance Refuses to Perform Legwork

The Ministry of Finance and Economy is hinting that it will not respond to the individual legwork of press companies regarding new facts to move in line with the plan of the government to control legwork.

Such changes are highly likely to threaten the people’s right to know and the freedom of press, since they mean the government intends to disable all individual fact-finding works by press companies until it releases its new policy.

On August 29, when a journalist of Dong-A Ilbo asked a department director of the Ministry of Finance and Economy about the progress of the ‘Measure the Rationalize Management of Public Enterprises Aiming to Minimize the Rise of Public Fairs’ included in the ‘Economic Administration in the Second Half of 2007’ report announced last month, the latter refused to give answers, saying, “I have to ask the public relations division first whether I can answer this question.”

When the journalist called the director a while later, the latter answered the question no better than reading aloud a released document, saying, “The public relations division confirmed that I can answer the issues that have already been announced in this manner alone.”

Concerning this, a staffer of the policy publicizing division of the Ministry of Finance and Economy said, “Based on the guidance distributed to the ministries by the Government Information Agency, we will no longer answer questions by newspaper or TV companies regarding new facts that have not already been announced. Should we give scoops to a certain company or provide all companies with information fairly by distributing press releases? Wouldn’t it be awkward if we gave information to a certain company only?”

Accordingly, criticism that legwork by journalists will be totally blocked by the Ministry of Finance and Economy on major economic policies regarding issues such as finance, taxation, real estate, the exchange rate, and South-North economic cooperation is increasing.

Another staff member of the same ministry explained, “Staffers in charge will be able to answer questions that concern minor issues, but questions about major issues that have larger influence on the national economy will only be answered after confirmation by the vice minister.”

But when staffers in charge or executives in or above the rank of office chief have to respond to the press after the confirmation of the vice minister, that is little different from the current situation.

higgledy@donga.com