Millennium Democratic Party presidential candidate Roh Mu-hyun repeated his attack on the Chosun Ilbo, Friday at a policy seminar with the Broadcasting Reporters Club. When asked if he would improve relations with the newspaper, Roh replied before doing so, it should promise not to fabricate, distort or exaggerate in its articles. In addition it should not run a single column article under a banner headline and only level criticism based on facts.
Roh continued that the newspaper owed him an enormous debt from the past, but if elected as president he would be generous and not claim this. He said the media was still issuing distorted stories, and there were rumors the Chosun Ilbo had created a dedicated team to adversely cover him.
The management of the Chosun Ilbo protested the comments to Roh's press aide Yoo Jong-pil and demanded either evidence, or an apology.
Earlier in April in an Incheon primary speech, Roh claimed the Chosun Ilbo pressured him to abandon his attempts to limiting owner's shares, but Yoo apologized, saying it the newspaper had done no such thing.
(Lee Ha-won, may2@chosun.com)
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