Police Change Pressroom Tune After Election

Senior police officers who did their best to block news coverage by shutting down press rooms right before the presidential election, changed their attitude completely, drawing criticism from within and without police organization that they are brazen and shameless people.

Some insiders say that the move shows how good the police are at currying favor with those in power.

On December 21, two days after the presidential election, Lee Taek-soon, the Commissioner of the National Police Agency (NPA), through police PR officer Lee Dong-sun, proposed a year-end party for NPA correspondents.

Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Eo Cheong-su, who boycotted a meeting with journalists from December 12, suddenly proposed a luncheon meeting with correspondents on December 24.

Regarding this, a police official said, “He must have had good intentions when he proposed the luncheon.”

However, their proposals were declined by the journalists.

In step with leadership’s changes, on December 27, the NPA issued entry cards to correspondents from 16 different media outlets. They were driven out from their pressroom on the second floor of NPA building in Migeun-dong and were sending manuscripts and doing their work in the lobby.

On December 14, the NPA installed a glass door and security check in front of a staircase and elevator on the first floor. It gave five keys to the journalists and made them share the keys.

The journalists requested more entry cards for better coverage, but their request fell on deaf ears.

Regarding the reasons to give out cards for all the reporters, Jeong cheol-su, NPA PR officer, said, “We thought 5 cards would be enough for them to get in. We did not want misunderstandings, so we gave out cards for each one of them.”

Earlier on December 26, the NPA dropped its request for corrections against 14 press companies, including the Dong-A Ilbo, with the Press Arbitration Commission.

When it filed for corrections, the police claimed, “Instead of the old press room used by 17 media outlets only, we made briefing rooms and open manuscript transmission rooms on the first floor of the NPA north wing. The media incorrectly reported that the NPA is blocking media coverage and limiting the people’s right to know.”

With respect to the sudden decision, Jung said, “Because of the reports that NPA filed corrections with the Press Arbitration Commission, the public came to know the reason why we did that. We dropped the case because we thought that PAC decision will do us no good.”

Regarding the sudden change of heart by the NPA, one senior police official said, “Ranking police officials who shut down the press room, are struggling to get on Lee Myung-bak’s side, who pledged the reinstatement of pressrooms. People must think the NPA is really shallow. I am ashamed.”

surono@donga.com egija@donga.com