"Prosecutors' Press Corps Enjoying Unlimited Privileges, Please Disband" Cheong National Petition

"Most Government Departments Operate Openly... Only the Prosecution Has Privileges"

On the 26th, a petition urging the disbandment of the prosecution press corps was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. / Photo by Blue House National Petition Board

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A petition has appeared on the Blue House's public petition board calling for the disbandment of the prosecution press corps. The petitioner described the prosecution press corps as a "vicious circle" and claimed that "the prosecution press corps coexists by enjoying privileges behind the omnipotent prosecution."

On the 26th, a petition titled "Please disband the prosecution press corps, a vicious circle" was posted on the Blue House public petition board. In the post, the petitioner said, "After reading OhmyNews' article 'The prosecution press corps, a truly strange group,' the true nature of the prosecution and the prosecution press corps, which have been hiding behind it enjoying privileges, is revealed in detail," adding, "I had some idea, but I am surprised it is this bad."

The article mentioned by the petitioner was written by former KBS President Jung Yeonju and published on the 24th.

In the article, former President Jung criticized the legal press corps, saying, "It is sometimes called the 'last stronghold' of the press corps due to its strong privileges, exclusiveness, exclusivity, and authoritarianism," and added, "In an era when openness and transparency are emphasized in all organizations in the 21st century, it is truly strange and surreal that a sense of privilege and classism still exist."

The Taegeukgi flag flying in the wind in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, the petitioner pointed out, "Not only the Blue House and the National Assembly but also government ministries used to operate their press corps in a closed manner," and described it as "an environment where specific minority media such as the administration and JoongAng, Chosun, and Dong-A newspapers maintain a closed structure and coexist."

He continued, "The first person to try to break this was President Roh Moo-hyun. He eliminated discrimination against internet media, new media, and regional media, allowing the public to access news through various channels," and explained, "Currently, there are 500 reporters covering the Blue House, over 1,000 in the National Assembly, and most ministries operate their press corps openly, but the prosecution press corps is the only place that firmly maintains privileges."

He added, "To register with the prosecution press corps, one must overcome a strict threshold, such as obtaining permission from the existing press corps," and criticized, "If you are not registered with the press corps, you cannot use the press room, enter the briefing room, or receive press releases. In this closed environment, those enjoying privileges develop a clique culture based on a sense of superiority."

The petitioner also criticized the reporting practices within the prosecution press corps. He said, "The prosecution leaks information to reporters, saying 'this is only for you,' and reporters publish it as an 'exclusive' report," and claimed, "A single word leaked by the prosecution floods newspapers and news, quickly turning falsehoods into facts. It is outrageous that the prosecution officials who leak information are called 'editors-in-chief' among reporters."

He urged the Blue House and Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, saying, "Please prevent South Korea from being manipulated any longer by a single word or line from the omnipotent prosecution and the prosecution press corps that parasitizes it," and called for "disbanding the prosecution press corps, the vicious circle." The petition received over 36,000 endorsements by around 3:30 p.m. on the 27th, one day after it was posted.