"Will Not Neglect Criticism and Oversight of Power" Commemorative Event for Reporters' Day Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The 17th Journalist Day commemorative ceremony was held on the 20th at the Korea Press Center. Journalist Day was established in 2006 to commemorate the day in 1980 when journalists nationwide simultaneously went on a production strike in protest against the media censorship imposed by the new military regime led by Chun Doo-hwan.

This year marked the first Journalist Day ceremony since journalists who were forcibly dismissed in 1980 were recognized as related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Attendees included Kim Dong-hoon, president of the Korea Journalists Association, former association presidents, Park Byeong-seok, Speaker of the National Assembly, Lee Bu-young, chairman of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Ko Seung-woo, co-representative of the 1980 Dismissed Journalists Association, Pyo Wan-soo, chairman of the Korea Press Foundation, Park Ki-byeong, president of the Korean Journalists Association, Kim Joo-eon, chairman of the News Agency Promotion Association, Nam Young-jin, chairman of KBS, and Lee Jin-soon, co-representative of the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media.

President Kim Dong-hoon said, "More than 1,000 journalists were dismissed by the new military regime and media owners due to the production strike on May 20, 1980," adding, "We will not neglect the media’s fundamental role of criticism and monitoring of power, and we will criticize any external forces attempting to infringe on press freedom without exception."

Kim Dong-hoon, President of the Korea Journalists Association

In his commemorative speech, National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok said, "The history of the Republic of Korea will record and remember the journalists who risked everything for press freedom during dark times," and added, "The media today is asking where it stands, and I believe it is time for all of us to humbly reflect on ourselves, find the way, and take action."

Yu Suk-yeol, co-representative of the 1980 Dismissed Journalists Association, said in his congratulatory speech, "I sincerely hope that junior journalists will practice the mission of the press based on more sincere self-reflection in the changed circumstances."

The ‘Spirit of the Journalist’ award was given to former Korea Journalists Association president Noh Hyang-gi. At the time of the 1980 production strike, Noh was a 10-year veteran reporter at Hankook Ilbo and served as vice president of the Journalists Association. He went into hiding to avoid arrest by the new military regime but surrendered after 42 days. He was taken to the Namyeong-dong Anti-Communist Investigation Office of the Security Headquarters, where he endured horrific torture by torturer Lee Geun-an and others. The aftereffects of the torture still afflict his body. Noh was released in May 1981 under a special pardon on Buddha’s Birthday after serving about a year in Seodaemun Detention Center and Daejeon Prison. He was reinstated in January 1989 and elected as the 29th president of the association in March of the same year.