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International Journalismby going to a variety of sources to try toget an accurate story. At times thesemisunderstandings result in lawsuitsfiled by government officials who insistthat reporters acted irresponsibly. UnderPresident Roh, governmental bodieshave made 117 legal claims againstthe press, a significantly higher rate oflawsuits than with any preceding administrations.Media Regulation vs. MediaReformDetermining what the actual dutiesshould be on each side of this relationshipis very difficult and, because theboundaries are not clear, the… when Koreans hear the words‘media regulation,’ they arereminded of when the militaryruled, and the media were tightlycontrolled.major newspapers in Korearegard many of PresidentRoh’s orders regarding thepress as attempts to regulatethe media. And whenKoreans hear the words “mediaregulation,” they are remindedof when the militaryruled, and the media weretightly controlled. Only“good news,” filtered by governmentofficials, could be delivered to the readers.Back then, if reporters wrote unfavorablestories, those in the governmentopenly pushed newsorganizations to fire those reporters. Ifthey were not fired, reporters werekept out of government buildings. Suchrestrictions hampered freedom of thepress and stopped the growth of democracy.Now in Korea, an understanding ofthe need for media reform is developingamong the people. Those who arecritical of the press focus on the “majors”and claim they have not been onthe side of the people. (It was notsurprising when the first newspaperPresident Roh visited was a “minor”paper.) But when polled, the peopleinsist they do not want media reform tocome from government, fearing thatwill damage democracy. Similarly, othernewspapers are also highly critical ofthe “majors,” saying that they act unfairlyin their business practices, suchas giving away bicycles to lure newsubscribers. This leads to tensionamong those who work at these variousnewspapers.But the news media President Roh ismost closely associated with is theInternet, which was responsible for hiselection, as his campaign was praisedon Web sites while it was ignored orcriticized by major newspapers. As soonas he became president, Roh allowedthe Internet news media to enter theBlue House and cover his executivebranch for news stories. He also gaveexclusive interviews to reporters forInternet news sites.The role and position of the Internetnews media arouses a lot of controversyin Korea, as it does in other countries.While this method of transmittingnews is still developing—as itsaccess to readers, the depth of its newsreporting, its reliability and other issuesare being sorted out—those in theInternet news media believe theyshould have the same access to governmentofficials and information as theexisting press do.Reform of the news media is difficultto accomplish. And when most peopletalk about media reform, the “majors”are the target of their criticism; somesuggest that the Internet news mediashould replace them. Reporters, as agroup, also advocate media reform butlittle agreement can be found on themethod or goals, and their debatesbecome divisive as groups of reportersargue with one another.After a visit to Korea in October2002, Professor Leonard R. Sussmanfrom the Freedom House, an acknowledgedauthority on the press in Korea,recommended that a special commissioncomposed of prominent, publicspiritedcitizens, drawn from relevantsectors—journalism, academia, finance,religion and commerce—shouldexamine the strengths as well as thecomplaints about the news media, pastand present. The commission shouldhold open hearings and insist on widecoverage and, after much study, itshould provide recommendations formedia reform.Such a course could avoid reform ofthe news media by the government.Instead, public pressure would compelnongovernmental entities to findsolutions for problems that have pittedlarge segments of the public againstmajor journalistic outlets. This approachcould possibly avoid vindictiveness,as the criminalization of past actionswould be ruled out. Civil chargesmight be appropriate, if conductedstrictly under the rule of law. Iflarge claims for back paymentare sustained by the commission,fair arrangements forlong-term payouts should beconsidered rather than demandingpayments that wouldseverely cripple or bankrupt anews institution.It is not obvious that a specialcommission of this kindwould succeed. Never before has sucha commission existed in Korea, andPresident Roh has not made such acommission a priority when he talksabout reforming the media. And somedoubt that any resolutions that mightcome out of it could be made mandatoryon the news organizations.Now it is unclear what will happento this idea, proposed by ProfessorSussman. What members of the pressand government officials must realizeis they both exist to serve the people.Tensions will always exist between journalistsand government officials. Thatis not going to change. But if servingthe people can become the basis forbuilding trust, then both the press anddemocracy will have a better opportunityto thrive in a system of balance andcooperation. ■Kwangchool Lee, a 2000 NiemanFellow, is bureau chief of the KoreanBroadcasting System in Washington,D.C.kclee@kbs.co.krNieman Reports / Winter 2003 95