Grand National Party Spokesman Nam Kyong-pil said Thursday that February 8 marks the anniversary of the government's politically motivated tax probe into the media to stifle critical newspapers, and President Kim Dae-jung should make a public apology for this attempt to stifle press freedom. Nam called it a day of shame in the history of the Korean media.
He continued that the 142-day investigation with more than 1,000 officials, the imposition of back tax of W505.6 billion and the arrest of three newspaper owners was tantamount to a "mad storm." Nam said a Cheong Wa Dae reporter disclosed in October last year revealed that contrary to claims of it being a normal inspection, it was in fact a detailed planned attack by the government. He added that it was no wonder that former National Tax Service head Ahn Jong-nam, ex prosecutor general Shin Seung-nam and senior press secretary Park Joon-young had been dismissed in disgrace. Nam concluded that the entire investigation conducted by these three "dirty hands" should be nullified completely.
(Choi Byong-mook, bmchoi@chosun.com)
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