IPI Unanimously Decided to Place SK on the `Watch List` of Press Suppressing and Restricting Nations

John Fritz the secretary general of the International Press Institute (IPI) who are in Korea to investigate the Korean Press situation and Roger Parkinson the chairperson of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) held a news conference at Chosun Westin Hotel in Sogong-dong, yesterday, and revealed their decision that ``the IPI unanimously decided to place South Korea on the `watch list` of nations moving toward suppressing or restricting press freedom.``

Mr. Fritz also stated that ``the IPI will examine the situation of the Korean press freedom twice a year and will decide whether to stay South Korea on the list. South Korea is the first country that is placed on the list among the member nations of OECD.``

The nations on the watch list of the IPI include Russia, Sri Lanka, and Venezuela in addition to South Korea.

The special investigation team of the IPI Nordic Committee composed of the 140 members from the 5 North European Countries, including Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland, also expressed its support for including ``South Korea in the watch list of the nations of suppressing and restricting press freedom to closely watch over the Korean press situation.``

The Nordic Committee expressed its special worries about the arrest of the three press owners without bail before trials.

Lee Seung-Heon ddr@donga.com