Tuesday, January 08, 2008

[The Chosun Ilbo, December 27 2007] Cheong Wa Dae Won not a Single Media Lawsuit

During the five years of the current administration, Cheong Wa Dae has not won a single one of the 22 civil and criminal lawsuits it brought against the media.

The Chosun Ilbo's analysis of data submitted Wednesday by Cheong Wa Dae to the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee shows Cheong Wa Dae filed a total of 19 civil lawsuits against the press over the past five years. It lost five of them and withdrew nine. Four cases were settled in compulsory mediation and one is pending.

The presidential office also filed three criminal complaints against newspapers. In two cases, no charges were brought and in the third the newspaper was indicted but acquitted.

President Roh himself filed five lawsuits against the press and withdrew four. The fifth was settled in mediation. All five targeted the Chosun Ilbo. Newspapers critical of the government were often targeted in the suits: besides the Chosun Ilbo (eight), they included the Dong-A Ilbo (five) and the Munhwa Ilbo (one). There were none against TV networks.

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