Professor Oberdorfor of the Graduate School of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University said Wednesday that he has known about President Kim Dae-jung for some time and was full of respect for him so far, but noted that if he gets the chance to meet him, would advise him of an American political saying namely, ¡°Don¡¯t face people who wield a pen.¡±
As one of the most profound experts on Korean peninsular issues, he said in a seminar on the Bush administration¡¯s policy towards the North, co-hosted by the Korean Press Foundation and George Town University, that he feel confusion about the current situation between the government and the media.
Professor Oberdorfor added that a Princeton University professor, who stirred his initial interest in Asia, once said that reading the countries newspapers there is seeing what is happening in the country. He continued that if the contents of a nation¡¯s dailies was all positive, the country was far from one exhibiting freedom of speech, while if reports were negative, it was probably a nation where freedom of speech was paramount.
Oberdorfor noted that while the basic role of the press was not necessarily critical, it should at least raise questions, though he admitted that the government may have its own reason to take action including a tax investigation. He continued that considering the relations between the government and the media in the past, the current situation is much better, but he was is unhappy to see the current clashes.
According to David Steinberg, a professor at George Town University, the media industry in Korea has enjoyed its independence, but that relations between it and the government still have elements of individual power and self-centered censorship. He stated that in Korea, the government tries to take advantage of the media¡¯s power to bolster its own policy, pointing out the current administration¡¯s Sunshine Policy in improving inter Korean ties as an example.
(From Washington DC, Ju Yong-jung, midway@chosun.com)
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