Shin Jang-sik: "There Was No Coercion Against the Media... So Why Did I Quit Broadcasting?"

Regarding the presidential office's stance that it has "never exerted any coercion or pressure on media personnel," Shin Jang-sik, spokesperson for the Party for National Innovation, expressed confusion. The Party for National Innovation demanded the dismissal of Hwang Sang-moo, the presidential office's senior secretary for civil society.

Jokook, leader of the Jokook Innovation Party (right), poses on the 25th of last month as he announces lawyer Sin Jang-sik as the first recruit.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In a commentary on the 18th, Spokesperson Shin introduced the presidential office's position on Senior Secretary Hwang's mention of a 'kitchen knife terror' and said, "Although my radio program consistently ranked number one in overall listenership, I was ultimately forced to leave the microphone due to the vile pressure from the Korea Communications Standards Commission and the Election Broadcasting Deliberation Commission. I am truly baffled by this statement," and retorted, "Why do you think I am here now?"

Previously, he operated MBC Radio's 'Shin Jang-sik's News High Kick.' After receiving legal sanctions from the Election Broadcasting Deliberation Commission due to panel bias controversies, he quit the program, stating, "I decided to step down because I could not impose further burden on MBC."

On the same day, the presidential office issued a statement regarding the controversy over Senior Secretary Hwang's remarks, saying, "Our government has never, like past administrations, used intelligence agencies to spy on journalists or the National Tax Service to conduct tax audits on media companies, nor do we have the intention or system to do so. The presidential office has never exerted any coercion or pressure on media personnel regarding specific issues, nor will it do so. Thorough respect for press freedom and the responsibility of media organizations is the governing philosophy of our administration."

In response, Spokesperson Shin criticized, "Is the presidential office's standard that of a modern democratic country, or that of a dictator or military government?" He then referenced the Swedish Institute for Democracy and Diversity, which noted that South Korea is moving from democratization toward dictatorship, and added, "The presidential office should try telling that institute about the 'kitchen knife' remark as a joke."