The controversy over Millennium Democratic Party presidential hopeful Roh Mu-hyun's controversial statements is reaching a climax. Despite his denials, a witness at the fateful meeting with reporters confirmed that Roh had said he would close the Donga Ilbo, to the amazement of the people. His comments that he would force a specific newspaper to become an employee owned one are unthinkable for a candidate in a free democracy.
Roh has continually denied his rival Rhee In-je's claims that he made these comments, but after a reporter who was present when he made them confirmed their veracity, he backpedaled saying he didn't mean to say them. He said that he had no such thoughts about closing the Donga Ilbo, or nationalizing newspapers, causing more confusion among the people. The entire issue needs to be clarified for the sake of the integrity and honor of both candidates.
What is important now is what views Roh has about the media. After the controversy surfaced he continued to stress he wanted to limit the ownership of newspapers. At the Incheon primary election he said gloomily that he had been pressured by newspapers to abandon this approach, but had refused to do so. However, the media involved called his bluff on this and demanded an apology. The idea of limiting newspaper ownership and calling for an editorial committee, originated in the Citizen's Solidarity for Media Reform and was contained in a bill to reform the Periodical Publication Registration Law, at its request, in November 2000. There was strong opposition to this from the media, academics and lawyers, who along with the government and ruling party argued it was unconstitutional. Therefore, on February 8, 27 Assemblymen presented the bill again with this clause deleted, though it allowed the editorial by committee to go forward.
Roh, however, is trying to revive the portion the lawmakers discarded making it part of his policy. He said "I hope after the presidential election when I become president this will not be an issue anymore. If a media company tries to kill me because of this issue, I will have to make it an issue even though I don't want to." This is a strange statement; if he believes limiting the ownership of a newspaper guarantees fair reporting, a wrong idea, he should pursue this independent of his personal interests.
Roh's claim on limiting ownership, where one shareholder is restricted to 30%, would mean at least four people would be required to start a newspaper; a ridiculous situation unseen anywhere in the world, which would lead to international mockery. There are regulations governing cross ownership in newspapers and broadcasting media, and monopolies, but none enforcing "group ownership."
The right to publish a newspaper freely is a central pillar of democracy guaranteed by the United Nations Charter of Human Rights and this country's Constitution with regard to freedom of the press. Roh should be aware that limiting this is a violation of the freedom of information and destroying basic democracy in the Republic of Korea. Everybody can have firm beliefs, but wrong ones embodied in leaders can bring about national disaster.
(Journalist and Professor at Sungkyungkwan University - April 8, 2002)
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