GIA Chief Defends Secrecy Over Press Room Bombshell GNP Chairman Vows to Fight Press Restrictions Treating the Press Like the Enemy War on the Press Will Sour Roh’s Last Days in Office What Really Matters Is the President, by Kang Chun-suk Roh Comes Out Fighting Over Press Room Merger Draconian New Press Rules Spark First Confrontations Why Roh Is Throwing the Book at the Press Uri Suspicious of Motives for Press Room Merger No Progress for the Progressives Media Experts Reject New Press Rules: Poll The Right to Know What He Wants Us to Know Seven More Months, by Kim Dae-joong Ex-Election Commissioners Say Roh Violated Law Gov't Efforts to Limit Media Access Continue Gov’t Ups the Ante in Press Crackdown Journalists, Readers Sue Over Pressroom Merger

The new rules will require journalists to get electronic passes for access to government offices or scheduled briefings, or to interview government officials. “If a public servant is interviewed, they must report to their superiors how and why they were interviewed,” the letter said. It added this will greatly reduce the number of sources willing to speak with journalists and thus infringe the people’s right to know. "We respectfully call on you to withdraw the new regulations and to take all necessary steps to fully support the media's role in carrying out its recognized duty to hold the government to account."

(englishnews@chosun.com )