The Grand National Party released a summary Friday of a White Paper to be released at the end of April titled, "The Kim Dae-jung Regime's Supression of the Media - The Freedom of the Press is Eternal," to commemorate Newspapers Day on April 7. The following is an extract of the summary:
The Background of the Kim Dae-jung Government's Media Suppression
President Kim Dae-jung's so-called media reform had a hidden motive; to pave the way for North Korea's Kim Jong Il's visit to Seoul and win his party the next presidential election, by shutting down representation of the majority of the people's criticism of his "sunshine policy." President Kim completely controls 100% of broadcasting and continued to directly and indirectly threaten print media including the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo and Donga Ilbo, the so-called "Big 3."
He tried to destroy critical media through a tax investigation, in a clear abuse of power. International organizations such as IPI and WAN issued statements against the move, and the former put Korea on its Watch List.
The Test Run Aimed at the Big 3
In June 1999 the NTS carried out a tax probe of the Bogwang Group in which JoongAng Ilbo Chairman Hong Seok-hyun was a major shareholder and arrested him on charges of tax evasion. The Segye Ilbo also was subject to an intensive tax probe.
The investigations were an indirect attempt at media suppression, similar to the scenario outlined in the Media Control Document created by Moon Il-hyun. After the probes the Segye Ilbo changed its critical editorial policy and reporting to favor Kim Dae-jung. The probes were a dry run of the attempt to follow to control the Big 3.
The Astronomical Back Tax Imposed on Chosun and Donga
The National Tax Service began an investigation into the media exactly one month after President Kim mentioned reform in his 2001 New Year Address. After the largest probe into a single sector, mobilizing 1,000 officials for 142 days, W505.6 billion in back taxes were imposed. W254.1 was levied against the Big 3. The Fair Trade Commission also investigated the media and levied enormous fines.
Roh Mu-hyun the then minister of maritime affairs and fisheries blatantly called for a "war against the media." Ahn Jeong-nam, then NTS head was promoted to minister of construction and transportation, but had to resign over corruption allegations.
The Media Control Document
The plot of the government to control the media was exposed in several documents including, "The New Government's Media Policy Plan," exposed by the Naeil Shinmun in April 1998; Moon Il-hyun's Media Document, revealed by Representative Chung Hyung-keun in October 1999; the Media Control Document, reported by the Sisa Journal in February 2000; and recently documents found in the residence of Lee Su-dong, a former directors of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Foundation. The imposition of astronomical back tax using the NTS and the arrest of newspaper owners were carried exactly as outlined in Moon's document.
A book written by a reporter of the Hankyore Shinmun quoted a senior Cheong Wa Dae secretary in 1998 saying, "we will quickly destroy the JoongAng Ilbo and Segye Ilbo, and the Chosun Ilbo will face a similar destiny after a couple of months. We will use the NTS to investigate inheritance taxes to cripple them." This threat was realized as such.
The underhand plot of the Kim regime caused divisions in society by amplifying regional, ideological, professional and generational friction. This is an act against the Republic of Korea, weakening its democratic foundations and energy and as such is impeachable under the constitution.
See our list of related articles titled
"Press Under Siege."
