[The Chosun Ilbo, November 8 2007] Chung Vows to Change Press Policies

United New Democratic Party presidential candidate Chung Dong-young on Wednesday promised to change the government’s draconian new media policies if he is elected. He made the promise in a debate hosted by the Kwanhun Club, a senior journalists' association, when asked if he could promise to “pull the nails out of the doors” of press rooms at government agencies -- a reference to President Roh Moo-hyun’s vow to nail them shut.

Chung said he had been a broadcasting reporter himself. “Seeing reporters expelled from the pressroom and sitting on the floor of the Foreign Ministry, I felt insulted too. I will change the current government’s media policies,” he said. “The government has caused massive damage to the people due to its conflict with the media over the past five years. Except for the president, no government officials are elected, so the government needs to be monitored by the public and media.”