[The Chosun Ilbo, June 5 2007] Int'l Press Club Slams Korea's New Media Rules

Criticism of the government's merger of press rooms and restriction of press access to government officials is spreading worldwide. The International Press Institute sent an open letter of protest to President Roh Moo-hyun on Friday, and on Monday the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) sent a similar letter to Roh signed by its chairman Gavin O’Reilly and World Editors Forum president George Brock. In the letter, WAN expresses concern on behalf of 18,000 media companies in 102 countries about the new rules' restriction of reporters' contact with public servants and warns of negative effects on news reporting.

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