[The Chosun Ilbo, August 7 2007] Without Press Rooms, Information is Delayed

[Column]
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At 10 a.m. the following day, the ministry held a press conference and announced the suspension of inspections of U.S. beef after the discovery of a vertebral column. By then the ministry had refused to answer reporters' requests to confirm the fact -- which the ministry had confirmed to itself -- for 14 hours. That's how long it took to deliver accurate information to the public.

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Despite public opposition, the government went ahead with its plan to merge the briefing rooms at government agencies and ban access to government officials. "Don't worry," it told us in the meantime, "we'll disclose as much information as possible." But in light of this latest situation, it seems clear that the government has decided to disclose only the information that it wants to reveal.