It has been confirmed that since inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak, the freedom of press in South Korea has greatly declined.

Reporters without Borders (Reporters sans frontieres, RSF) based in Paris announced the findings of its Press Freedom Index 2009, and South Korea placed 69th out of 157 nations investigated.

According to RSF’s Press Freedom Index 2009, South Korea’s ranking fell 22 places to 69th place from 47th place in 2008. In comparison to its rankings in 2007 (39th place) and 2006 (31th place) during the late President Roh Moo-hyun’s administration, it can be interpreted that under current Lee administration, infringements on freedom of press have increased drastically.

RSF has compiled press freedom rankings annually for eight years successively based on a survey and calculation of incidences of press freedom violations.

RSF issued a statement earlier this year citing the recent arrests of journalists, the indictment of MBC ‘PD notebook’ documentary program producers, and the arrest of Internet pundit ‘Minverva’ as examples of press violations that have recently occurred in South Korea and moved it from a country noted for news pluralism onto a list of ‘countries under surveillance.’

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