South Korean Government Criticized for Hampering Freedom of Expression

On Sunday, the Human Rights Watch released a statement that demanded the South Korean government repeal its laws that criminalize defamation.

In an article titled: “South Korea: Stop Using Criminal Defamation Laws,” the HRW cited two instances of the government’s suppression of the freedom of expression. Both of the instances occurred this past November.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of the HRW in Asia, commented on the actions of the South Korean government.

“No one should be imprisoned for the peaceful expression of their views. The South Korean government should stop bringing criminal defamation charges against journalists for simply doing their jobs, and pledge to reform laws to end criminalization of defamation,” he said.

According to international human rights laws, publications defaming an individual cannot be made, unless the reports are in the interests of the public.

“Criminal defamation laws have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and work against the public interest by deterring people from speaking out against misconduct by public officials,” said Robertson.

On November 28, six reporters and staff members of the Segye Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper, were accused of leaking a document from President Park Geun-hye’s office. The document allegedly held information stating that the President’s aides regularly supplied a former aide with government information, even though he no longer holding an official position in the government.

Additionally stated by the HRW, Japanese reporter Tatsuya Kato, of Sankei Shimbun, was put on trial on November 27 for publishing an article that questioned the whereabouts of President Park during the Sewol incident, in which 304 individuals died as a result of the ferry capsizing. The article published rumors that labeled the President as irresponsible. Kato was accused of defaming the President.

The case is heavily political, in part because of the notoriously controversial statements by the Sankei Shimbun in the past. The paper, deemed as a highly conservative Japanese newspaper, claims that the Korean women used as forced sex slaves by the Japanese military in WWII, were prostitutes.

South Korean officials claim that the statements made in Kato’s article are completely unfounded. Despite the general opposition in South Korea to the Sankei Shimbun’s views, some news sources in the nation criticize the President’s actions to silence the media.