Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06SEOUL2183, MEDIA REFORM LAW DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06SEOUL2183.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06SEOUL2183 2006-06-30 09:21 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Seoul
VZCZCXYZ0019
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #2183/01 1810921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300921Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0884
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0952
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8766
INFO RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SEOUL 002183 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KS PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REFORM LAW DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL 
 
REF: A. 05 SEOUL 20 
 
     B. 04 SEOUL 05258 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
 
1 (SBU) On June 30, the Constitutional Court declared the 
government's controversial 2005 media reform package, which 
employed antitrust principles to regulate the newspaper 
market, mostly unconstitutional.  The ruling was a victory 
for the conservative media, who argued that the law was a 
politically-motivated attempt to stifle the administration's 
critics.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
THE MEDIA REFORM LAW 
-------------------- 
 
2.  (U) On January 1, 2005, the National Assembly passed a 
bitterly-contested media reform package ostensibly designed 
to increase diversity in the media market (Refs A, B).  The 
law, which has been in effect since July 2005, provided the 
Fair Trade Commission authority to impose restrictions on 
publishers if any one newspaper has more than 30 percent of 
the market or if three major newspapers have a combined 
market share of 60 percent or more.  The law also required 
press owners to report their circulation and advertising 
revenue to a Press Development Committee.  The law did not 
apply to broadcast or internet media. 
 
3. (SBU)  The government argued that the restrictions were 
necessary to open the media market to a variety of opinions. 
Justice Minister Chun Jung-bae, who in 2004 was a Member of 
the National Assembly, explained to us previously that the 
law would help ensure media competition and its intent was 
not to stifle the press. 
 
4.  (SBU) The conservative media, however, cried foul from 
the start.  The JoongAng Ilbo wrote in an October 15, 2004, 
editorial that the proposal "destroyed our hopes for the true 
advancement of journalism and democratic society."  Other 
editorials were equally alarmist.  Indeed, there has long 
been animosity between the Roh Administration and the 
conservative press -- in particular, the Chosun Ilbo, the 
JoongAng Ilbo, and the Dong-A Ilbo.  Together, the three 
newspapers control about 75 percent of the press market and 
have been, at times, harshly critical of the government. 
Many observers thought it was suspiciously convenient that 
the media reforms would most affect these three newspapers, 
while not touching the historically pro-administration 
broadcast and internet media.  However, some progressive 
media companies, such as Hankyoreh newspaper, welcomed the 
law as a necessary measure to break open the print media 
market. 
 
5.  (U) In February 2005, local newspapers, including the 
Chosun Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo, and former Grand National Party 
lawmaker Chung In-bong filed a petition objecting to the law 
in the Constitutional Court.  In essence, the plaintiffs 
argued that the law was an unjust use of government power and 
infringement on freedom of the press as guaranteed by the ROK 
Constitution. 
 
UNCONSTITUTIONAL RESTRICTION ON PRESS FREEDOM 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) The Constitutional Court on June 29 ruled that the 
media reform law was, in large part, unconstitutional and in 
violation of the ROK's Constitutional freedom of the press. 
The Court noted that ordinary businesses were considered to 
be monopolistic when they commanded more than 75 percent of 
the market.  The media law's differing treatment for 
newspapers constituted unfair discrimination.  The court said 
that popular newspapers should not be punished for attracting 
more readers.  The court also ruled that provisions of the 
law that compelled newspapers to publish corrections without 
a court order and prohibited an individual who owned more 
than half of one daily from owning more than half of another 
were also unconstitutional.  The court, however, ruled that 
the provision of the law that required newspapers to 
publicize information on their circulation, advertising 
revenue and other financial information was constitutional. 
 
7.  (SBU) Attorney for the newspapers and Professor of Media 
Law at Hong-ik University Bang Suk-ho told poloff on June 29 
that the ruling was significant to preserve freedom of the 
press in the ROK.  He said that the case was unique in that 
it forced progressive media and other groups to argue in 
favor of a restriction of civil rights, that is, the rights 
of the conservative media to a free press. 
 
8.  (SBU) Bang was not disturbed by the provision of the law 
that the court allowed to stand.  Because newspapers now had 
to release their circulation information, advertisers were 
able to discern how few people subscribe to Hankyoreh and 
some of the other liberal press.  As a result, the law 
appeared to have caused a shift in advertising revenue from 
the progressive media to the wider-reaching conservative 
press, he said. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
9.  (SBU) As reflected in our 2004 and 2005 Human Rights 
Reports, we have long had misgivings about the media reform 
law.  The notion of increasing diversity in the media market 
is a good one; however, there should be ways for the 
government to achieve this without muzzling the voices of its 
critics. 
VERSHBOW