05/10(Fri) 17:32

IPI Maintains Korea on Watch List

The International Press Institute opened its 51st Congress, Friday at the Ljubljana Hotel in the Slovenian capital attended by 450 journalists from 50 countries, and its President Hugo Vitler and Vice-president Bang Sang-hoon. The congress, running until May 12 will address issues in the Middle East and adopt a resolution condemning press suppression disguised as legal activities.

On Thursday the IPI's board of directors decided unanimously to keep Korea, Russia, Venezuela, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on its press Watch List. The board noted that it was watching whether 23 Korean media companies, which had enormous back taxes levied, can keep their independent editorial policies.

In addition, the board decided to allow Bang Sang-hoon, whose tenure is almost up, to retain his position as long as the Chosun Ilbo is under government pressure.

The Korean delegation at the congress is comprised of Bang; Kim Hak-joon, president of the Donga Ilbo; Lee Jae-hoon from the JoongAng Ilbo; Chang Dae-hwan of the Maeil Economic Daily; Kim Jeong-kook of the Munhwa Ilbo; YTN's Baek In-ho; Ahn Hyong-soon from the Kangwon Domin Ilbo; Kim Dae-song of the Cheju Ilbo; Park Ki-jong, president of the Korea Media Foundation; and Hyun So-hwan, former president of the Yonhap News Agency.

(Choi Wu, wschoi@chosun.com)

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