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The Grand National Party on Wednesday took aim at Culture Minister Lee Chang-dong for his rejection of the criticism of the government leveled this week by the International Press Institute. The opposition party said Lee had ignored international public opinion by calling the institute's resolution a "reflection of certain Korean media outlets," become a bundle of nerves. "His pride alone cannot help him elude this denunciation,¡± a GNP member said.
Lee Won-hyung, a policy-maker in the GNP, said at a meeting for high party officers, ¡°The IPI has unanimously targeted Korea for inspections for the past three years. I believe this is a warning that the international community is sending following the president¡¯s lawsuit against newspapers.¡±
Lee added that the resolution amounted to an international disgrace, and said that the government should not take it so lightly and should stop suppressing the press.
The Grand Nationals also said, in an editorial written by the deputy spokesperson Shim Yang-seop, ¡°That the IPI urged President Roh not to mobilize government organizations to oppress the press shows the reality of freedom of the press in this country. Minister Lee¡¯s statement is in line with Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Kim Doo-kwan's statements that made light of the National Assembly. It shows the true colors of the current administration that reigns over the people.¡±
The government¡¯s suppression of the media has been conducted through government organizations, affiliations and certain civil groups and the media, Shim continued. "The president, his staff and related ministers should take heed to the IPI¡¯s advice."
(Kwon Dae-yeol, dykwon@chosun.com )
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