The Grand National Party's Choung Byoung-gug said that Jung was trying to justify President Roh Moo-hyun's war on the press sound logical by condemning the Korean press as a corrupt organization.

Another GNP lawmaker, Lee Won-chang, said to Jung, "As a former journalist yourself, how dare you sit here after damaging the reputation of reporters younger than you?"

Jung offered apologies, but said that his course of action was an issue he could not discuss.

The ruling party lawmaker Shim Jae-kwon criticized Jung for his excuse that a mistake had occurred in the article's translation process.

A United Liberal Democrat, Chung Jin-suk, expressed his regret that journalists were being condemned as "a clan that is treated to drinks and food and receive money." Chung said that Jung's contribution to the Wall Street Journal turned the Government Information Agency into a "government-damaging agency."

"During the past week," Chung said, "North Korean journalists - or spies - have raised their fists on South Korean soil and the Government Information Agency has condemned the local press. Both incidents have trampled on our nation's pride." (Hong Seok-jun, udo@chosun.com )