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Mar. 30  2024
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Journalists Say Press Tax Probe in Korea "Not Unfair" And Backs Media Reform

Journalists Say Press Tax Probe in Korea "Not Unfair" And Backs Media Reform A MISSION of inquiry by the International Federation of Journalists to Korea has backed calls for reforms of Korean media, but has rejected claims that prosecution of some publishers on tax fraud charges threatens press freedom.

Source  :  International Federation of Journalist

By IFJ (ifg@ifj.org)

Journalists Say Press Tax Probe in Korea "Not Unfair" And Backs Media Reform
A MISSION of inquiry by the International Federation of Journalists to Korea has backed calls for reforms of Korean media, but has rejected claims that prosecution of some publishers on tax fraud charges threatens press freedom.

"While it would be a legitimate concern if there were clear evidence that the government has used tax laws to unfairly focus attention on media companies, we have not found such evidence," concluded the three-person delegation.

The IFJ, which held its world Congress in Seoul in June, says reforms to create more transparency, more editorial independence and more pluralism in the Korean press are urgently needed. But the reform movement has been overshadowed by investigation and prosecution of some of the country's leading publishers by the National Tax Service and the Korea Fair Trade Commission.

The IFJ has criticised the response of media owners over their tax difficulties. Some have claimed the tax inquiry is an attempt to muzzle the press. "Media owners undermine press freedom when they confuse their financial corporate interests with the right of freedom of expression," said the IFJ.

"The process of media reform should not be blown off course by the prosecutions launched against individual media companies," said the IFJ. The issues were now before the courts and should be settled according to Korean law. Further information: Korea Tax Troubles and Korea Press Reform

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