More dishonorable is that since Korea became the first OECD country to be monitored by the press institute, in 2001, the country has been unable to escape this disgraceful list.

Furthermore, a resolution denouncing President Roh Moo-hyun’s continuous efforts to suppress and threaten the major Korean newspapers was passed at the institute's 52nd annual general assembly, which took place three days ago in Austria.

These are objective facts. But the targets of the institute's criticism - certain government officials and politicians - are interpreting the resolution in a strange fashion. Perhaps they feel that the government is being "persecuted" by international media organizations.

Let us take Minister Lee Chang-dong, for example. At a culture and tourism committee meeting of the National Assembly, he said, “This is a national disgrace. I believe it reflects only the views of partial Korean press members. It should be considered positive that the president is making this an issue through a lawsuit, over which he has no control. This is not suppression.”

The Chief of the Korean Information Service, Cho Young-dong said, “We do not agree that our country oppresses the media. I believe the IPI’s decision is related to the government’s tax investigation on the media.”

The Millennium Democratic Party lawmaker Shim Jae-kwon said that the resolution was an “arrogant and impertinent statement that meddles with internal affairs,” and called for firm countermeasures.

First, we want to ask Minister Lee whether he thinks that what happens in a country with the 12th largest economy in the world can be kept secret from the outside world, especially in the age of the information society. Since the Roh administration took office, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC and other foreign media outlets have reported numerous times on the press-critical statements of the president and ministers, as well as on the many press-related disputes.

The press institute has 100 member countries and a history of about 50 years. It is difficult to imagine that such an organization would pass a resolution putting a country under surveillance based on complaints from a few media groups or individuals.

“We rely on an international network composed of journalists that are editors, media executives or those in leading positions,” a representative at the institute said. “We also evaluate facts, numbers and opinions through the Internet.”

At the IPI executive meeting Sept.13, 20 members from the United States, England, Germany, India and Thailand, among others, unanimously voted to put Korea on its watch list. One IPI executive, who met President Roh in the past, said, “I regret that President Roh has been unable to overcome his self-consciousness since he became president.”

But even with these disgraceful results, government officials and members of the ruling party’s culture and tourism committee are showing their nerves, describing the situation as "interference in internal affairs."

Of course, the press is not always "good." We acknowledge that there are many factors about it that should be criticized. Therefore, we agree to cut down on erroneous reports and make efforts to keep our reporting fair. But the government has sent a shower of disputes and the president himself filed a lawsuit of an immense scale against the press. In this situation, Minister Lee and ruling party member Chung Dong-chae echoed each other’s words, saying, “It (the situation of the press) is not bad compared to the U.S.” The spectacle is truly disgusting.

The writer is the assistant editor at the Chosun Ilbo's city desk. Sept. 19, 2003