02/24(Sun) 16:35

Government Refutes IPI Report

Shim Joong-shik, head of the Government Information Service sent a rebuttal letter to the International Press Institute, Sunday, saying its World Press Freedom Review 2001 was incorrect in its comments on Korea and damaged the honor of a democratically elected government. Shim said the report that the administration launched a politically motivated tax investigation into critical media did not reflect the true situation in Korea. He continued that the probe was a normal one conducted according to the law and was not retaliation for criticism or to suppress the freedom of the press.

(Cho Hee-cheon, hccho@chosun.com)

See our list of related articles titled "Press Under Siege."