Transition Committee Confirms Restoration of Press Access

Regarding President Roh Moo-hyun’s policy to restrict journalists’ access to government officials, the presidential transition committee on Thursday said, “As President-elect Lee promised during his campaign, we will make the necessary preparations to ensure the restoration of press rooms is immediately carried out once the new administration takes office.”

During a conference with media executives on Thursday, transition committee spokesman Lee Dong-gwan said, “We have yet to have policy measures. However, we will carefully prepare them and make sure restoration is achieved with inauguration of the new administration.

The transition committee has also decided to form a task force where working-level officials of the committee and media groups work to draw up alternative plans to improve the environment related to information-gathering and the culture of journalism.

During the conference, representatives of media groups, such as the Korea News Editors’ Association (KNEA) and the Journalists Association of Korea (JAOK), suggested restoration of the press rooms in ministries; withdrawal of measures that restrict various activities of journalists and isolation of select correspondents; the immediate scrapping of the system which requires journalists to receive a pass to enter government agencies; and promotion of the information disclosure system.

Representatives argued that if the merger and integration of ministries is made, each ministry should have one press room and that independent government agencies, such as the National Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, should have separate briefing and news transmission rooms.

“Although we agree with them from a general point of view, we should discuss whether it is appropriate to turn everything back to the original state,” said spokesman Lee. We will work hard to ensure we develop a mature media culture and an environment where journalists can gain the public’s confidence.”

During the conference, KNEA President Byeon Yong-sik said, “The freedom of the press, which is the lifeline of democracy, begins with the freedom to gather information. We hope the new government demonstrates that oppressing free media has its price.”

Kim Gyeong-ho, the president of the JAOK, also criticized the Roh administration’s policies to control the media, saying, “In the U.S., the constitution prohibits any law from infringing on the freedom of the press. However, under the prime minister’s directives, Korea has been backwards regarding the freedom of the press.”

swpark@donga.com