[USFK Forums] Groups call for journalist to be fired over remarks [JoongAng]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 (A funny, crazy guy. Isn't he?)

Groups call for journalist to be fired over remarks

The JoongAng Daily, Tuesday, April 4, 2006

April 04, 2006 ㅡ Civic groups aiding North Korean defectors are calling for the resignation of Chung Il-yong, 45, head of the Journalists Association of Korea, for suggesting on a television program that abducted South Koreans have voluntarily gone over to the North.

In a joint announcement yesterday the civic groups criticized Mr. Chung, saying his remarks were insensitive to abducted South Koreans and their family members.

The civic groups are expected to present a formal protest on Thursday to the association.

On Saturday, as a guest in a program aired on the Korean Broadcasting System, Mr. Chung said it was a fact that some South Koreans voluntarily went to the North and that in a recent reunion of separated family members, many belonged in that category.

He also said that without convincing proof it was impossible to determine whether a person had been abducted. Mr. Chung has made similar remarks on other occasions.

Mr. Chung also received flak from the civic groups for not mentioning that North Korean authorities censored the media coverage of the reunion that took place at the end of March.

In protest, members of South Korea’s press pool covering the separated family reunions at Mount Kumgang packed up and left the North ahead of schedule, scrapping plans to cover the rest of the reunion.

The pool reporters blamed the North’s reporting restrictions for their boycott.
They complained that Pyongyang clamped down on South Korean reporters for using the term “abductee” in their report.

An official from the journalists’ association said yesterday that there were many in the organization whose views differed from Mr. Chung’s and had asked him not to use the association’s name when making public statements on the issue.
Mr. Chung became president of the association in December 2005.


by Lee Young-jong


(End)

[BIGD]

I THINK THERE ARE TOO MANY KOREANS WHO ARE BORED AND UNEMPLOYED!!! THEY WILL PROTEST AND GO TO THE STREETS OVER THE MOST INSIGNIFICANT THINGS... GOD FORBID THAT ANYONE HAS AN ORIGINAL IDEA OR WANTS TO EXPRESS A THOUGHT

[C. Y. Lee]

Dear Readers: The first reply from Kunsan deserves a comment. I would recommend him to read the article once again in a discreet manner, especially the last paragraph. I am very much disappointed with what I have read, his saying “THE MOST INSIGNICANT THINGS….” They are talking about serious matters involving North Korean abductions. I would be happy if he would refrain from saying what was underlined. Sincerely, C. Y. Lee on April 4, 2006

[BIGD]

DEAR MR. YEE; IF YOU DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO POST THEIR OPINIONS REGARDING YOUR ARTICLES, PLEASE DON'T POST THEM!!!! THATS WHAT THIS FORUM IS ALL ABOUT... THANK YOU

[mike]

I have noticed that America and Canada are the last free presses in the world. Europe has too many laws on the books. You can not criticize Jews, Muslims, or talk about how the Holocaust never happend. Only an idiot would say the Holocaust never happened, but should we throw people in jail for printing that in the press?

The same goes for Asia. Obviously you don't have the freedom of Press in China. I would say Japan and Korea have the most open presses, but even in those countries you have to be careful what you say.