(RSF/IFEX) – On 1 October 1998, RSF protested the sentencing of two Korean journalists. According to RSF, on 23 September, Son Chung-Mu, publisher of the biweekly “Inside the World”, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for “violation of the election code” and “defamation” for having written several articles on the Korean president’s private life during […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 1 October 1998, RSF protested the sentencing of two Korean
journalists. According to RSF, on 23 September, Son Chung-Mu, publisher of
the biweekly “Inside the World”, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment
for “violation of the election code” and “defamation” for having written
several articles on the Korean president’s private life during the December
1997 presidential election campaign. He was acquitted of a charge of
violation of the state security law. Song Chung-Mu was arrested on 1 June at
his home by agents of the Seoul Public Prosecutor’s office. A civil court
has already sentenced him to pay 100,000 US dollars in compensation.
**Update IFEX alerts of 9 and 8 July, and 3 June 1998**
Ham Yun-Shik, publisher of “One Way”, was arrested on 20 February. He was
charged with “defamation” and sentenced, on 2 July, to a one-year prison
term. He had written eight issues of a journal which revealed some political
and social problems.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 19 of which states that
“everyone has the right to receive and impart information”
noting that sentencing a journalist to prison for a press offense is in
total opposition to international standards regarding press freedom
Chung-Mu and Ham Yun-Shik
Appeals To
Mr Kim Dae Jung
President
The Blue House
1 Sejong-no, Chongno-gu
Republic of Korea
Fax: +822 770 0253
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
