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Sun, February 5, 2023 | 04:07
Naver
Human Rights Watch warns gov't on 'memogate'
국제 인권단체인 휴먼라이츠워치, 한국정부 언론 탄압 중지해야
Posted : 2014-12-15 17:44
Updated : 2014-12-16 08:16
Kim Jae-heun
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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
Tatsuya Kato, former Seoul bureau chief for the Sankei Shimbun, arrives at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap
By Kim Jae-heun

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."



국제 인권단체인 휴먼라이츠워치, 한국정부 언론 탄압 중지해야

국제 인권단체인 휴먼라이츠워치(Human Rights Watch)는 최근 한국 정부가 세계일보 기자 6명을 명예훼손죄로 고소하고, 일본 산케이신문 전 서울지국장인 가토 다쓰야를 기소한 것에 대해 언론의 자유를 탄압해서는 안 된다고 월요일 (15일) 밝혔다.

아시아 사무관인 필 로버트슨 (Phil Robertson)은 “한국 정부가 자신의 임무를 수행할 뿐인 기자들을 상대로 명예훼손죄를 적용하여 고소하는 행동을 중단하고, 명예훼손죄를 개선해야 한다”고 주장했다.

세계일보는 지난달 28일자 1면에 정윤회씨 국정개입 의혹을 보도했다. 이에 청와대 비서관 5명과 행정관 3명이 최근 명예훼손죄로 세계일보 발행인, 편집국장 그리고 취재기자 6명을 고소했다.

앞서 검찰은 세월호 참사 직후 박근혜 대통령의 7시간을 둘러싼 의혹을 보도한 가토 다쓰야 전 산케이신문 서울지국장을 기소했다. 현재 가토씨는 출국금지 상태이다.

휴먼라이츠워치는 한국에서 명예훼손죄는 해당 내용이 사실에 근거할지라도 공익에 반하면 벌금이나 처벌에 처할 수 있다고 비난했다.

로버트슨씨는 “명예훼손죄는 언론의 자유를 억압할 수 있고, 언론이 공직에 종사하는 사람들의 잘못된 행동를 비판하지 못하면 공익에 해가 된다”고 말했다.  
Emailjhkim@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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