IFJ condemns political interference in management of major broadcast media, government action against critical television programme
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: The International Federation of Journalists today condemned changes being made in the management of major broadcast media in Korea which amount to political interference. According to the IFJ local affiliate, the Korean Association of Journalists (JAK), the government of Lee Myung Bak, which took over in […]
Harassment campaign targets three main newspapers, seeks to influence editorial policies
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI letter to South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak: H.E. President Lee Myung-Bak President of the Republic of Korea Office of the President 1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu Seoul, Republic of Korea Vienna, 26 June 2008 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading […]
IPI welcomes president’s commitment to improved media environment
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI press release: IPI Welcomes South Korean President’s Commitment to Improved Media Environment Vienna, 30 April 2008 – The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, welcomes President Lee Myung-bak’s recently-voiced promise to embrace a “press-friendly policy”, and […]
Freedom of the Press 2007: South Korea
Freedom of the Press 2007: South Korea
New press passes limit journalists’ free access to government buildings, says IPI
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 19 November 2007 IPI letter to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun: His Excellency Roh Moo-hyun President of the Republic of Korea Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) Seoul, Republic of Korea Fax: +822 770 2209 / 770 2549 Vienna, 19 November 2007 Your Excellency, The Executive Board of the International […]
Government cuts Internet connections in press rooms to force reporters into new briefing centres; IPI board member protests press freedom restrictions
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI press release: IPI Board Member Stages Protest Against Press Freedom Restrictions in South Korea Vienna, 23 October 2007 – The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, expresses its support for the silent protest staged by its […]
IPI worried that government’s media measures seriously damage press freedom
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI letter to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun: His Excellency Roh Moo-hyun President of the Republic of Korea Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) Seoul, Republic of Korea Fax: +822 770 2209 / 770 2549 Vienna, 27 August 2007 Your Excellency, Since the International Press Institute’s (IPI) letter to Your […]
Closure of press rooms “an explicit attempt to restrict journalists’ access to important government sources”, says IFJ
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Korean government to close press rooms The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the Korean government’s plans to restrict journalists’ access to information by closing all but three of their press rooms in government offices. IFJ affiliate the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) has refused […]
Proposed “media support” measures will restrict free flow of information, says IPI
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 25 June 2007 IPI letter to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun: His Excellency Roh Moo-hyun President of the Republic of Korea Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) Seoul Republic of Korea Fax: +822 770 2209 / 770 2549 Vienna, 25 June 2007 Your Excellency, First of all I would like […]
Allow media greater access to public institutions, demands IPI
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 30 May 2007 IPI press release: Vienna, 30 May 2007 IPI Demands that South Korean Government Uphold Good Governance and Accountability by Granting Media Greater Access to Public Institutions According to information provided to the International Press Institute (IPI), the South Korean government is seeking to limit the media’s […]
Riot police club journalists covering protest
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has written to Korean police chief Gen. Lee Taek-Soon to call for an investigation into the use of violence by riot police against 10 journalists covering a protest in Seoul on 10 March 2007 and the punishment of those responsible. “This incident highlights how difficult it is for the press […]
Magazine editor fired and 16 other journalists disciplined in self-censorship conflict
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ concerned by self-censorship and unfair treatment of journalists in Korea The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed by reports of self-censorship and heavy handed treatment of journalists at Sisa Journal, a major weekly magazine in Korea. According to the Journalists Association of Korea, over […]
State-owned news agency seeks to close news market and monopolise information distribution
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 1 December 2006 letter by WAN and others to South Korean minister of culture and tourism Myung-Gon Kim: H.E. Myung-Gon Kim Minister of Culture and Tourism 82-1 Sejongno, Jongno-gu Seoul 110-703 Korea Email: minister@mct.go.kr 1 December 2006 Dear Minister, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of […]
Supreme Court rules that some articles of newspaper law are unconstitutional
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has welcomed a South Korean Supreme Court decision which ruled as unconstitutional some articles of the law on the press and on media arbitration. “We expressed our fears after the adoption of this controversial law. We are reassured by the Supreme Court decision which is based on the crucial […]
Probe into secret service phone tapping scandal clears everyone except journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called on South Korean Justice Minister Chun Jung-Bae to seek a revision to the conclusions of a public prosecutor’s investigation into telephone tapping by the South Korean secret services a decade ago “insofar as the prosecutor’s decisions violate the freedom of the press that is guaranteed by the constitution.” […]
US-based Chinese TV station expelled from APEC forum
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced dismay at the expulsion of a New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) crew from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the South Korean city of Pusan on 15 November 2005. Forum organisers accused the two-member crew, led by Seoul-based NTDTV correspondent Chang Sik Lee, of “violating coverage […]