[The Hankyoreh, June 28 2008] [Editorial] The prosecution’s role as the government’s strong arm

It looks like the prosecution has anointed itself the government’s problem solver. Each of the cases prosecutors are taking on and investigating just happen to be itches the government wants scratched. The libel investigation against the MBC program “The Producer’s Notebook” (pidi sucheop) is something that can be put to use in placing the blame for the beef situation on press coverage instead of on sloppy government negotiations. Its creation of a “task force on public confidence impeding criminals” to investigate the online boycott campaign against companies that advertise with the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and DongA Ilbo is an attack on online opinion, just like the investigation into “fabricated horror stories” about mad cow disease last month. The prosecution is already coercing the broadcasting companies with things like the summons of KBS President Jung Yun-joo. When it gets to this point, the prosecution is, in essence, openly assuming the vanguard in the Lee Myung-bak government’s omnidirectional offensive, one that seeks to seize control of the media and to manipulate public opinion.