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SPEECHES & REMARKS
BRIEFINGS
(Unofficial translation)
Newspaper professionals and distinguished guests, I congratulate you on the 63rd Newspaper Day.
When I think of newspapers, the word “first” comes to my mind.
Early in the morning, picking up a newspaper that still gives off a whiff of ink is a way to catch up with the day’s news “first.”
Newspapers are also a “first” for democracy. Humanity wrested freedom of the press for the first time through England’s Glorious Revolution. The free press enabled the increasing growth of democracy, human rights, justice and peace.
In our history, newspapers signified coming to face with a new era. The first private newspaper “Dongnip Sinmun” (The Independent) published by Soh Jaipil advocated democracy, human rights and women’s rights for the “first” time in Korea 120 years ago. In addition, it was printed in Hangeul to enable more Koreans to read it.
The underground Joseon Dongnip Sinmun published its first edition on March 1, 1919, when the Independence Movement erupted, informing the public about the declaration of independence for the “first” time. Its second edition on March 3 reported that a provisional government would be established by convening a national conference and a president would be elected.
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, too, informed the public about the founding of the Provisional Government and the independence movement by publishing its news organ “Dongnip Sinmun” on August 21, 1919.
Members of the newspaper community and journalists,
A printed photograph and a line of an article reflecting the conscience of journalists changed the course of history in the past.
In 1936, the DongA Ilbo in one of its articles carried a photo of Sohn Kee-chung and Nam Seung-yong, the Berlin Olympics marathon gold and bronze medalists, with the Japanese flag on their chests expunged. Its report played a role in inspiring the determination to achieve independence and “can-do” confidence among the Korean people then suffering under Japanese colonial rule.
In 1960, a photo of high school student Kim Ju-yul’s body, which was taken and reported as a scoop by Busan Ilbo reporter Huh Jong, touched off the beginning of the April 19 Revolution.
On May 20, 1980, about 20,000 copies of a joint letter of resignation reflecting the conscience of Jeonnam Maeil Sinmun journalists were distributed to the public as a newspaper extra. It read “We saw it. We saw with our own eyes that people were being dragged like dogs and dying. However, even a single line could not be carried in the newspaper. Hereby, we lay down our brushes out of shame.”
Their brave behavior demonstrated during the period of dictatorship and censorship gave heartfelt consolation and encouragement to the citizens of Gwangju cut off from the outside world at that time.
The candlelight revolution, too, has been billed as the most peaceful and democratic revolution around the world through local papers' reporting.
All of this testifies to the strength of newspapers and their coverage.
Freedom of the press has never come easy. The path newspapers and newspaper professionals have taken has been rough, indeed.
They fought against Japanese imperialists who confiscated papers as well as suspended and closed down publications. They also struggled against dictatorships that recklessly censored by drawing red lines across articles under the pretext of guidelines for reporting. They resisted by leaving advertisement columns blank, and hundreds of journalists were fired at a time.
Even though some used their power to cover the eyes of the people and conceal the truth, our newspaper journalists never caved in.
The Korean people have cherished and trusted our newspapers as well. Even when newspapers were blocked from accurately conveying the truth by censorship from those in power, the people gleaned what really happened from short, single-column articles in the corner of a paper, not from the front-page lead stories. They even discovered the truth by reading between the lines in articles that could not be straightforward.
I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who have made painstaking efforts to uphold the proud history of our newspapers and hold fast to the conscience of newspaper professionals while standing on the side of truth and justice.
Newspaper professionals and journalists,
Now, there is no political authority that suppresses freedom of the press. No press organization fears an administration, either. Many dismissed journalists have returned to work. However, it seems that public confidence in the press is not bouncing back. For the sake of truth-based, impartial and balanced reporting, newspapers still face external and internal challenges that remain unchanged and must be surmounted.
The first challenge involves freedom of the press. Korea ranked 31st in 2006 on the Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index, which is recognized as the most reliable indicator. However, the ranking plunged to 69th in 2009 and 70th in 2016. Since the launch of my Administration, it has risen again to 63rd in 2017 and 43rd in 2018. However, besides political power, numerous factors that constrain the conscience of journalists and freedom of the press still linger, including the capital that controls media outlets and advertising; social prejudices; faction-driven logic that divides the people; and the race for breaking news.
The second challenge involves trust. We live in an era when everyone can generate news reports and broadcast with just a smartphone. The time of media outlets reporting and readers simply following is ending. The constantly evolving information and communication environment has not only raised the speed at which information circulates to an unprecedented level compared to the past but has also simultaneously become a means to quickly spread false information and fake news. This poses a serious challenge that undermines trust not only in newspapers and newspaper professionals but also among members of society.
The third challenge involves fairness. As eight out of 10 people in Korea access news through mobile devices, people are now more likely to read news by turning on a smartphone than unfolding a newspaper. Being the first to release reports and the one to receive more clicks have become crucial for newspaper companies. Some have pointed out how this has contributed to increasing sensational news or shallow coverage and generating incomplete news articles.
Declining rates for newspaper subscriptions and readership are an inevitable media environment, but public expectations for the role of traditional newspapers have not decreased. Although news is consumed online, people are reading news that newspaper companies have provided via the internet.
Many people talk about newspapers facing a crisis, but I see a unique role that only papers can fill. The freedom of conscience is the basis for freedom of the press. When each and every newspaper professional enjoys freedom of conscience as a journalist, newspapers will be able to fulfill their inherent mission.
Newspapers are respected when they represent the voices of the people. Their criticisms based on fair and diverse perspectives as well as agenda items set in consideration of the public good are the source of the strength that allows the Government to stay alert and focus exclusively on serving the people. Only then will the benefits for the people grow larger and the Republic of Korea become stronger.
If newspapers and newspaper professionals innovate themselves without forgetting the mission of the press, public trust and respect will also continue as before.
Newspaper professionals and distinguished guests from home and abroad,
Newspapers are a mirror for our society. They are a barometer for the strength of a people and a nation. Thus, there is no difference between the goals of the people and the Government and those of newspapers.
Our society will be transformed into a better community, if the conscience of newspaper journalists is expressed freely and newspapers represent the weak and marginalized. To this end, the Government must also join forces.
Newspapers in Korea, together with the people, have pushed their way through the shackles of history. With this in mind, I hope newspapers will always remain partners in jointly creating an innovative, inclusive Korea that is fairer, freer and more democratic and peaceful.
Thank you.
Newspaper professionals and distinguished guests, I congratulate you on the 63rd Newspaper Day.
When I think of newspapers, the word “first” comes to my mind.
Early in the morning, picking up a newspaper that still gives off a whiff of ink is a way to catch up with the day’s news “first.”
Newspapers are also a “first” for democracy. Humanity wrested freedom of the press for the first time through England’s Glorious Revolution. The free press enabled the increasing growth of democracy, human rights, justice and peace.
In our history, newspapers signified coming to face with a new era. The first private newspaper “Dongnip Sinmun” (The Independent) published by Soh Jaipil advocated democracy, human rights and women’s rights for the “first” time in Korea 120 years ago. In addition, it was printed in Hangeul to enable more Koreans to read it.
The underground Joseon Dongnip Sinmun published its first edition on March 1, 1919, when the Independence Movement erupted, informing the public about the declaration of independence for the “first” time. Its second edition on March 3 reported that a provisional government would be established by convening a national conference and a president would be elected.
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, too, informed the public about the founding of the Provisional Government and the independence movement by publishing its news organ “Dongnip Sinmun” on August 21, 1919.
Members of the newspaper community and journalists,
A printed photograph and a line of an article reflecting the conscience of journalists changed the course of history in the past.
In 1936, the DongA Ilbo in one of its articles carried a photo of Sohn Kee-chung and Nam Seung-yong, the Berlin Olympics marathon gold and bronze medalists, with the Japanese flag on their chests expunged. Its report played a role in inspiring the determination to achieve independence and “can-do” confidence among the Korean people then suffering under Japanese colonial rule.
In 1960, a photo of high school student Kim Ju-yul’s body, which was taken and reported as a scoop by Busan Ilbo reporter Huh Jong, touched off the beginning of the April 19 Revolution.
On May 20, 1980, about 20,000 copies of a joint letter of resignation reflecting the conscience of Jeonnam Maeil Sinmun journalists were distributed to the public as a newspaper extra. It read “We saw it. We saw with our own eyes that people were being dragged like dogs and dying. However, even a single line could not be carried in the newspaper. Hereby, we lay down our brushes out of shame.”
Their brave behavior demonstrated during the period of dictatorship and censorship gave heartfelt consolation and encouragement to the citizens of Gwangju cut off from the outside world at that time.
The candlelight revolution, too, has been billed as the most peaceful and democratic revolution around the world through local papers' reporting.
All of this testifies to the strength of newspapers and their coverage.
Freedom of the press has never come easy. The path newspapers and newspaper professionals have taken has been rough, indeed.
They fought against Japanese imperialists who confiscated papers as well as suspended and closed down publications. They also struggled against dictatorships that recklessly censored by drawing red lines across articles under the pretext of guidelines for reporting. They resisted by leaving advertisement columns blank, and hundreds of journalists were fired at a time.
Even though some used their power to cover the eyes of the people and conceal the truth, our newspaper journalists never caved in.
The Korean people have cherished and trusted our newspapers as well. Even when newspapers were blocked from accurately conveying the truth by censorship from those in power, the people gleaned what really happened from short, single-column articles in the corner of a paper, not from the front-page lead stories. They even discovered the truth by reading between the lines in articles that could not be straightforward.
I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who have made painstaking efforts to uphold the proud history of our newspapers and hold fast to the conscience of newspaper professionals while standing on the side of truth and justice.
Newspaper professionals and journalists,
Now, there is no political authority that suppresses freedom of the press. No press organization fears an administration, either. Many dismissed journalists have returned to work. However, it seems that public confidence in the press is not bouncing back. For the sake of truth-based, impartial and balanced reporting, newspapers still face external and internal challenges that remain unchanged and must be surmounted.
The first challenge involves freedom of the press. Korea ranked 31st in 2006 on the Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index, which is recognized as the most reliable indicator. However, the ranking plunged to 69th in 2009 and 70th in 2016. Since the launch of my Administration, it has risen again to 63rd in 2017 and 43rd in 2018. However, besides political power, numerous factors that constrain the conscience of journalists and freedom of the press still linger, including the capital that controls media outlets and advertising; social prejudices; faction-driven logic that divides the people; and the race for breaking news.
The second challenge involves trust. We live in an era when everyone can generate news reports and broadcast with just a smartphone. The time of media outlets reporting and readers simply following is ending. The constantly evolving information and communication environment has not only raised the speed at which information circulates to an unprecedented level compared to the past but has also simultaneously become a means to quickly spread false information and fake news. This poses a serious challenge that undermines trust not only in newspapers and newspaper professionals but also among members of society.
The third challenge involves fairness. As eight out of 10 people in Korea access news through mobile devices, people are now more likely to read news by turning on a smartphone than unfolding a newspaper. Being the first to release reports and the one to receive more clicks have become crucial for newspaper companies. Some have pointed out how this has contributed to increasing sensational news or shallow coverage and generating incomplete news articles.
Declining rates for newspaper subscriptions and readership are an inevitable media environment, but public expectations for the role of traditional newspapers have not decreased. Although news is consumed online, people are reading news that newspaper companies have provided via the internet.
Many people talk about newspapers facing a crisis, but I see a unique role that only papers can fill. The freedom of conscience is the basis for freedom of the press. When each and every newspaper professional enjoys freedom of conscience as a journalist, newspapers will be able to fulfill their inherent mission.
Newspapers are respected when they represent the voices of the people. Their criticisms based on fair and diverse perspectives as well as agenda items set in consideration of the public good are the source of the strength that allows the Government to stay alert and focus exclusively on serving the people. Only then will the benefits for the people grow larger and the Republic of Korea become stronger.
If newspapers and newspaper professionals innovate themselves without forgetting the mission of the press, public trust and respect will also continue as before.
Newspaper professionals and distinguished guests from home and abroad,
Newspapers are a mirror for our society. They are a barometer for the strength of a people and a nation. Thus, there is no difference between the goals of the people and the Government and those of newspapers.
Our society will be transformed into a better community, if the conscience of newspaper journalists is expressed freely and newspapers represent the weak and marginalized. To this end, the Government must also join forces.
Newspapers in Korea, together with the people, have pushed their way through the shackles of history. With this in mind, I hope newspapers will always remain partners in jointly creating an innovative, inclusive Korea that is fairer, freer and more democratic and peaceful.
Thank you.
