Posted February. 17, 2001 19:26,
The government will make public any unfair trade practices by media organizations found in the course of an ongoing investigation into newspapers and broadcasting firms.
This fact was revealed by Lee Nam-Kee, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), in his testimony before the National Assembly Political Affairs Committee.
Lee said, "After a thorough review, the FTC will continue to announce the results of its investigation into any and all unfair practices that took place over the past 20 years.¡¯¡¯
As for allegations of outside pressure on the FTC to conduct the investigation of local media outlets, Lee gave a flat denial, saying, "The FTC was never interfered with by any agency before or after the investigation.¡¯¡¯
"We are now looking into suspected unfair practices on the basis of complaints filed with us and according to objective standards. We typically conduct probes of this sort at intervals of two to three years,¡¯¡¯ he told the parliamentary panel. Plans for the latest investigation were finalized on Feb. 7.
"We have been preparing for the investigation in accordance with the government¡¯s `Comprehensive Measures to Improve the Market¡¯ since the fourth quarter of last year,¡¯¡¯ Lee said.
"We have been made aware through news reports of the results of the National Tax Service (NTS)¡¯s investigation of media organizations. In some cases, the FTC and NIS happened to be conducting investigations of certain outlets simultaneously. In terms of the convenience of those subject to the investigations, it is actually better for them to be investigated at the same time,¡¯¡¯ he said.
Yonhap