[Hankyoreh, October 13 2008] President’s radio addresses stir controversy

Stations are to broadcast the addresses without editing, raising criticism that this will infringe on their production autonomy

President Lee Myung-bak is set to begin regular radio addresses starting the morning of October 13. The broadcasts are already being criticized for being an “infringement on production autonomy” because stations will broadcast the addresses as delivered to them after being produced by the Blue House and without any editing.

The first address runs 8 minutes 30 seconds and discusses the financial crisis. It was recorded October 12 in the secretaries’ building on the Blue House grounds with the Blue House “public relations planning officer,” Park Hyung-joon, and other advisers in attendance.