hankyoreh

It looks like the prosecution has anointed itself the government’s problem solver. Each of the cases prosecutors are taking on and investigating just happen to be itches the government wants scratched. The libel investigation against the MBC program “The Producer’s Notebook” (pidi sucheop) is something that can be put to use in placing the blame for the beef situation on press coverage instead of on sloppy government negotiations. Its creation of a “task force on public confidence impeding criminals” to investigate the online boycott campaign against companies that advertise with the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and DongA Ilbo is an attack on online opinion, just like the investigation into “fabricated horror stories” about mad cow disease last month. The prosecution is already coercing the broadcasting companies with things like the summons of KBS President Jung Yun-joo. When it gets to this point, the prosecution is, in essence, openly assuming the vanguard in the Lee Myung-bak government’s omnidirectional offensive, one that seeks to seize control of the media and to manipulate public opinion.

It is unsightly to see the prosecution recklessly obedient to what the government says. Prosecutors formed their “Producer’s Notebook” investigation task force after President Lee said the “problem” is “serious,” and after ruling Grand National Party floor leader Hong Joon-pyo called for il beol baek gye, the “punishment of one as a lesson to a hundred.” The decision to go after people involved in the boycott campaign also came suddenly, right after the president said the strength of the Internet can also be a “poison.” Getting all restless at each and every utterance of the president and the ruling party, while still going on about the prosecution’s “independence” makes no sense. Furthermore, it is said that even within the prosecution there are doubts as to whether the law is being broken in these cases, whether people need to be prosecuted, and whether prosecution would be practically possible. It is only natural, given the situation, that you hear people wondering whether the prosecution has been called to defend the government because of threats and pressure. The prosecution was not given the power it has to perform that kind of role.

What is even more problematic is that investigations such as these do not stop at just being shameful for the prosecution. Take the knife of law enforcement and prosecution and apply it to the Internet in a way that goes far beyond the needed regulations, and there is no longer going to be a free exchange of public opinion. The investigation into “Producer’s Notebook” is unprecedented in the history of the global media, a case that fundamentally denies the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press. Even if there were inaccuracies in the Producer’s Notebook story, that is something that MBC or the media community should fix. Investigating and punishing news coverage for its subject content like this could mean that, soon, all news articles and programs might be targets of investigations. In other words, all-out suppression and manipulation of the news media. The prosecution must immediately stop this “contract investigation” that infringes on constitutional rights and shames its own name.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]