AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Guideline to limit media coverage

AsiaMedia :: KOREA: Guideline to limit media coverage:

The Government Information Agency to reveal plans to penalize journalists who do not follow the 'news embargo'

The Korea Times
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
By Kim Yon-se

The Roh Moo-hyun administration is moving to take disciplinary measures against journalists and their companies that do not abide by the 'news embargo' set by government offices.
The Government Information Agency (GIA) Tuesday unveiled a plan to implement it as early as next month.

Journalists who violated the embargo will be banned from interviewing public officials for a certain period. The government will also stop offering press releases to their companies.
Furthermore, journalists who fail to participate in at least one of five news briefings a week, hosted by a ministry, will be banned from visiting the government office.
After the plan was unveiled, criticism from the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) and scholars followed.

'The Roh Moo-hyun administration should drop its policy to control the media under his haughty and arbitrary attitude,' the GNP said in a statement."