South Korea’s “three strikes” copyright law being challenged
South Korea’s Human Rights Commission has recommended that a “three strikes” law on copyright infringement be re-examined, given its unclear benefits, and its potential to violate the right to receive and impart information.
South Korea’s “three strikes” copyright law being challenged
South Korea’s Human Rights Commission has recommended that a “three strikes” law on copyright infringement be re-examined, given its unclear benefits, and its potential to violate the right to receive and impart information.
Reports of intimidation and editorial interference in public broadcaster
Employees at MBCTV, and their unions, are concerned by government controls on state media and their diminished independence due to strong ties between high-ranking government officers and media company managements.
Asia-Pacific media unions demand resolution of Korea press freedom crisis
Five IFEX members and numerous other organisations are gravely concerned for journalists who have been fired and subjected to punitive disciplinary measures due to their courageous struggle for media independence.
Sign a petition to help save the Mediact media center
AMARC is concerned over the Korean Film Council’s decision to dismantle the Mediact media center and force its staff to resign as of 1 February 2010.
Trial of MBC producers on defamation charges is an “act of revenge”, says RSF
RSF calls for the immediate withdrawal of defamation charges against four producers and one writer.
CPJ concerned by pressure on media
In a letter to the president of South Korea, CPJ calls attention to his administration’s increasing pressure on the country’s media and the arrests of four staff members of the country’s second largest broadcaster, deeming it an attempt to stifle independent reporting critical of government policies. (CPJ/IFEX) May 7, 2009 President Lee Myung-bak Cheong Wa […]
Court acquits blogger known as “Minerva”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders welcomes blogger Park Dae-sung’s acquittal by the Seoul central district court on 20 April 2009 on charges of affecting “foreign exchange markets” and undermining “the nation’s credibility” by posting false information online. Prosecutors had requested an 18-month prison sentence for Park, who is better known by his blog name of […]
Journalists’ union leader released as deal reached at troubled TV news station
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is relieved to learn that an agreement has been reached that should end a year-long dispute between the management and journalists’ union at TV news station YTN. As a result of the deal, the head of the journalists’ union, Jong-Myun Roh, was released from detention on 2 April 2009 and […]
Journalists’ union chairman Jong-Myun Roh held without charge; three union members released
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: South Korean Authorities Must Release Journalists’ Leader, Says IFJ The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on authorities in South Korea to immediately release YTN union chairman Jong-Myun Roh, who has been detained for 10 days since being arrested ahead of strike action at the broadcaster. […]
Journalist Chun Kaun Lee arrested, detained following government complaint
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate release of Chun Keun Lee, a journalist employed by public TV station MBC, who was arrested on the evening of 25 March 2009 in Seoul on the orders of the prosecutor’s office. When a Reporters Without Borders representative met Lee earlier on 25 March, he said […]
Four state television journalists held in Seoul police station
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate release of four journalists and union activists employed by state-owned television news channel YTN. The press freedom organisation has spoken to one of them in the Seoul police station where they have been held since their arrest on 22 March 2009 for staging a peaceful sit-in […]
Blogger Park Dae-sung arrested for posting financial predictions
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: South Korean blogger arrested for posting financial predictions New York, January 29, 2009 – A South Korean blogger in custody since January 7, charged with spreading false information online, should be set free, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Park Dae-sung, described in international news […]
SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: South Korea
SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: South Korea
Government interference at TV station leads to firings, suspensions of employees
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 October 2008 IFJ media release: IFJ Says Korean Government Must End Interference at Broadcaster YTN The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today strongly condemned the latest efforts by the Korean government to control YTN, a 24-hour television channel, in a move that has led to the firing of […]
Government orders documentary filmmaker home from Iraq; CPJ condemns “onerous” travel restrictions on journalists
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: South Korean journalist ordered home from Iraq Hong Kong, August 15, 2008 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned that the government of South Korea ordered home documentary filmmaker Kim Young Me from Iraq, where she was on assignment. Kim returned to Seoul on […]