[Column] Media Bias of Gwangju Nam-gu Council

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] After a public verbal exchange between an MBC reporter and a presidential office secretary, the Yoon Seok-yeol style of communication, known as doorstepping (informal morning press conferences), has disappeared.

The sudden suspension of these briefings, which symbolized the Yongsan era after dismantling the Blue House, often referred to as a royal palace, has drawn considerable criticism as an "excessively emotional response by the presidential office."

This incident recalls the 'closure of the press room' at the Nam-gu Council of Gwangju Metropolitan City a few years ago, caused by the 'power abuse' of an internet media outlet.

Two to three reporters habitually smoked cigarettes in the press room, emitted the smell of alcohol, and even made female staff run coffee errands, displaying disgraceful behavior.

Following this incident (late 2015 to early 2016), the press room nameplate was removed.

The official reason was a lack of office space, but multiple political insiders interpreted it as a closure due to the repercussions of reporter misconduct.

Other measures, such as restricting access to specific reporters, could have been possible. This is akin to ordering all clothing companies nationwide to stop producing trench coats to prevent 'burari men'?an absurd solution.

Nam-gu Council is the only one among the five basic councils in the Gwangju area without a press room.

Maintaining the policy of closing the press room to this day raises the question of whether there is a hidden intention to escape media scrutiny by using past incidents as a pretext.

One council member explained, "I agree with the purpose of establishing a press room, but currently, there is no suitable alternative due to lack of space."

Nam-gu Council created an executive waiting room after removing the press room, so it is true that there is no idle space.

However, since Nam-gu Office (7th-8th floors) and Nam-gu Council (9th floor) are in the same building, the necessity of an 'executive waiting room' is questionable.

Dong-gu and Dong-gu Council are located in different buildings but did not set up a separate executive waiting room in the council.

A Dong-gu Council official stated, "Since the executive branch is right next door, there is no inconvenience even without a waiting room."

Someone even suggested that if Nam-gu Council lacks a press room, reporters could use the Nam-gu Office press room a few floors down, but this advice is made without understanding the situation.

This is because it implies that political reporters covering Nam-gu Council should encroach on the social reporters' territory covering Nam-gu Office.

Above all, a press room exists not merely for the convenience of submitting articles.

Seeing a police car nearby itself has a crime prevention effect. A press room located close to the council offers many advantages, including ease of monitoring power.

Although a member of the 9th Nam-gu Council, led by a chairman from a media background, has initiated efforts to 'revive the press room,' no significant news has followed.

Even without awkwardly mentioning the practice of 'selective communication' by holding meetings inviting only reporters from specific media outlets, it is hoped that a press room, which may be established in the future, will serve as a 'democratic communication channel.'