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MBC reporters hold a press conference in front of the network’s building in Seoul’s Mapo district calling for an end to labor suppression

South Korea fell ten spots to a historic low in a yearly press freedom index ranking by the international watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (also called Reporters Sans Frontieres, RSF).

World Press Freedom Index rankings for 2016 released by the group on Apr. 20 showed South Korea in 70th place among 180 countries assessed. South Korea’s position has slid for three straight years now, dropping from 50th in 2013, 57th in 2014, and 60th in 2015.

Since the index was first calculated in 2002, South Korea reached a high of 31st during the Roh Moo-hyun presidency in 2006. Its previous low before this year came during the Lee Myung-bak presidency in 2009, when it sank to 69th.

“Relations have been very tense between the media and the authorities under President Park Geun-hye,” RSF noted.

“The government has displayed a growing inability to tolerate criticism and its meddling in the already polarized media threatens their independence,” it continued.

The group also observed that “a defamation law providing for sentences of up to seven years in prison is the main reason for self-censorship in the media.”

“The public debate about relations with North Korea, one of the main national issues, is hampered by a national security law under which any article or broadcast ‘favourable’ to North Korea is punishable by imprisonment. This is one of the main grounds for online censorship,” it added.

Finland ranked first for a sixth straight year as the country with the greatest press freedom guarantees. Many countries in Northern and Western Europe also ranked in the top ten, including the Netherlands in second, Norway in third, Denmark in fourth, Switzerland in seventh, Sweden in eighth, and Ireland in ninth. Other countries in the top ten were New Zealand in fifth, Costa Rica in sixth, and Jamaica in tenth.

North Korea ranked at the very bottom for a second straight year, placing 179th out of 180 countries. Other low-ranked countries included China in 176th, Syria in 177th, and Turkmenistan in 178th. Eritrea was dead last at 180th.

RSF assigns its rankings from an analysis of numerous indicators, including press independence, self-censorship, legal frameworks, and transparency.

“The global indicator and the regional indicators show that there has been a deep and disturbing decline in respect for media freedom throughout the world,” it noted.

In particular, the group voiced fears not only about rulers exhibiting paranoid hostility toward the press, but also oligarchs purchasing media outlets to increase the already heavy government pressure on them.

Other factors cited by the group as weakening press freedoms included extremist activities in Europe and the Balkan countries and the growing influence of ultra-conservative governments.

By Cho Il-joon, staff reporter

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