No Arrests against Owners-Staffs of Press Businesses

Korean Society of Newspaper and Broadcasting Editors (President Koh Hak-Yong) issued a statement related to the allegations of `Press Business Tax Evasion` on August 13, claiming, ``We urge the judicial authorities not to detain the owners or staffs of the press businesses.``

They pointed out, ``For the press business owners or staffs who are prosecuted, they can not be categorized for those who have no residents or are likely to remove any evidences needing detention. Even considering the government treatment standards are based on the laws and principles, the detention of the owners or staffs which Prosecution is known for is not reasonable.``

In addition, the statement said, ``Detention is regarded as a sort of punishment in our society, damaging the characters and honor of the relevant parties fatally. We agree on the point that `the detention prior to the guilty verdict by court is no more than murder of personal character`, which was contained in the publicized letter sent by International Press Institute (IPI) to President Kim Tae-Jung on August 8.``

Lee Seung-Heon ddr@donga.com