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| Tatsuya Kato, former Seoul bureau chief for the Sankei Shimbun, arrives at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap |
The government should stop using criminal defamation laws to "silence the media," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, referring to actions taken against six Segye Ilbo reporters and Japanese journalist Tatsuya Kato.
"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," said the organization's Asia deputy director Phil Robertson.
Cheong Wa Dae officials have filed lawsuits against reporters and staff members at the Segye Ilbo, after the newspaper broke a story about a presidential document that was leaked to the media.
The memoranda reportedly said President Park Geun-hye's former aide Jeong Yun-hoe ― who holds no official government post ― meddled in state affairs y holding regular meetings with presidential secretaries.
Meanwhile, prosecutors indicted Kato, a former Seoul bureau chief for the Sankei Shimbun on Nov. 7, on a charge of defamation for reporting rumors about Park's whereabouts on April 16, the day the Sewol ferry sank. Kato is banned from leaving the country.
HRW pointed out that Korea's criminal defamation law focuses on whether what was said or written was in the public interest; and not whether it is true or not. A person can face jail time or fines even if the content of what was said is true.
HRW said the law was a roadblock to freedom of expression.
"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.
"Journalists in South Korea should not have to look over their shoulder for fear of government intimidation and possible criminal prosecution when they report on sensitive issues and topics."
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