Transition team member’s attempt to gather information on the media uncovered

Posted on : 2008-01-14 14:46 KST Modified on : 2008-01-14 14:46 KST

Culture Ministry was ordered to compile list of personal and ideological information on members of the media

President-elect Lee Myung-bak’s transition team is under fire as one of its members was found to have ordered a government ministry to compile a list of executives of daily news outlets detailing their personal information and ideological leanings.

The transition team member, known only by his surname, Park, reportedly sent an email on Wednesday to the Culture Ministry asking that it gather a variety of information on media executives and send a report on their findings to the transition team. The following day, the ministry was found to have sent an official letter to the Korea Press Foundation. In it, the ministry requested the compilation of a list of personal information and other data on presidents, chief editors, and the staff of the political and cultural desks of nearly all news media companies. The ministry’s letter also ordered that information on the directors of organizations related to the media, executives of organizations under the Culture Ministry, executives of broadcasting firms and advertisers be compiled. The information required consisted of eight categories, including name, place of birth, academic background, career and ideological leaning, sources said.

An executive from an organization related to the media who received the official letter, said, “The memorandum reminded me of some kind of political ploy aimed at inspecting the media by requesting such information as the ideological leanings of executives and their activities.” He added, “I feel like (the transition team) was trying to keep in check not just individual dailies, but also media policymakers such as the Korea Press Foundation and the Korea Commission for the Press.”

Responding to the mounting controversy, the transition team said that it had fired the person who sent the memorandum and ordered the culture minister to hold anyone involved to account. They added that the list in question had immediately been destroyed.

Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the transition team, expressed regret over the incident. Before a policy coordination meeting yesterday, President-elect Lee told his transition team members, “Such a thing will not be tolerated in the incoming administration.” He called the incident “a fly in the ointment.”

Rival parties were quick to denounce the incoming administration. Woo Sang-ho, a spokesman for the United New Democratic Party, urged the president-elect to get to the bottom of the scandal by using all possible means. A media union also issued a statement calling for a through investigation.

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

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