[The Hankyoreh, January 25 2008] Task force will explore restoring shuttered press rooms

Lee Myung-bak’s transition team, journalists and media reps discuss press freedom

At a press conference on January 24, President-elect Lee Myung-bak’s transition team, journalists and representatives of media organizations agreed to form a task force to work on restoring press rooms that were shut down over the summer under a new media policy instituted by President Roh Moo-hyun.

Lee Kyung-sook, the transition team chairwoman, asked those attending the press conference to speak frankly about the outgoing administration’s media policies.

Korea Press Editors’ Association Chairman Byun Yong-sik said that he wanted to discuss the idea of restoring the press rooms and resolving the restrictions on reporters’ activities. He said, “Those who suppress the freedom of the press should know from past experience that they will pay a price for it.” He also said that the Press Arbitration Law was being used to harass members of the press.

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Press conference participants shared the view that the freedom of speech and the people’s right to know should be guaranteed and agreed to organize a task force to discuss the matter in detail.