Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition) : Daily News in English About Korea: "Symptoms of Terminal Spin Disease

Former prime minister Lee Hae-chan told a group of supporters of President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday the Roh administration is the most stable in terms of system. But the government and ruling party have failed in letting the people feel it.” He said it was mortifying to be the target of so much criticism due to insufficient PR.

The government has split the post of Cheong Wa Dae PR chief into two, the chief presidential public relations secretary and presidential spokesman, and promoted the information officers of administrative agencies from level 2 or 3 officers to level 1 directors. In several meetings with the directors, the president sought to motivate them by saying “public relations reform” is crucial to becoming a world-class country.

The administration has locked the press and civil servants into one-way government propaganda, to the point where the Government Information Agency urged all public officials to protest against, explain, and file suit countering any press articles critical of the government. It also made senior bureaucrats who are either interviewed by or contribute articles to conservative newspapers file written explanations.

That is not nearly all. The president and Cabinet mi.."