[Editorial] Park Joon-Young Distorts the Truth

Head of Korean Information Service (KIS) Park Joon-Young clearly distorted the truth in one part of his statement on the newspaper tax investigation before the government inspection two days ago.

Responding to the government inspection through the KIS of the Committee on Culture and Tourism, Mr. Park gave the impression that Donga Ilbo proposed a compromise with the government. This is absurd. We want to know whether distorting the truth is the kind of media reform that this government has so strongly insisted on.

Mr. Park discussed a meeting on June 9 between then honorary president of Donga Ilbo, Kim Byong-Kwan and the then head of the National Tax Administration, Ahn Chung-Nahm as a case in point. There was, however, no discussion of the tax investigation in that meeting. In fact, Mr. Kim said, `There is no need to talk about the tax investigation. That is a problem that your side will deal with` and spoke about the government`s duty to protect free democracy and the compliance with the President`s government reform policy announcement. There was absolutely no request for compromise or cooperation. Moreover, Mr. Kim had previously disclosed the content of his conversation to a newspaper.

The continued insistence that this was a case of requesting compromise despite the facts can only be described as a continuing harassment of the newspaper since the tax investigation. This gives the impression to the people that the press criticizes the government in public but cuts deals with it behind their back, making the press out to be a hypocritical organization. Donga Ilbo`s reputation suffered a big blow. The government`s intention is very impure. What kind of brazen act is this?

This is actually not the first time that such a thing has happened. During the newspaper scandal, some members of the ruling party administration compulsively cornered the press, denouncing and criticizing it. There were many false accusations against the press then. In spite of this, the administration adamantly denied that they did not oppress or pressure the press. This is preposterous. As the newspaper controversy continues to get more complicated, public opinion becomes even more fragmented.

Next to the Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, Mr. Park is the leading government spokesperson. Of all people, he must be most truthful yet he distorts the truth. The government will have to give a compelling explanation and take appropriate measures. Since the statement has been reported to the newspapers, the incident can no longer be dismissed easily.

The most important duty of the press is to criticize power. A compromise between the press and the government is to give up the very calling of the press. We have never compromised with the government up to now and will never do so in the future.