Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Policeman given boot for criticizing Roh, Uri
An arrest warrant and dismissal was issued for a 47-year-old police sergeant who posted a Web message two months ago criticizing the governing party and President Roh Moo-hyun. The public responded angrily to the news, saying the punishment infringed upon freedom of expression. "How can a person be fired for posting anonymous anti-government messages?" asked one Internet poster.
JoongAng Daily (November 16, 2004)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200411/16/200411162231163379900090309031.html

[itaewonguy]

well this is korea..
doesnt surprise me one bit...

[Wangja]

Is that so different from the CIA guy who anonymously published a book criticising Bush et al?

[Ya-ta Boy]

I thought the same thing when I first read that article. Then I read this in today's New York Times:

Bound but Gagged
By SHIRIN EBADI

Tehran — When I received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, Iranians and Muslims around the world hoped that the prevailing and unfair image of Muslims as terrorists would be discarded. We believed that the prize would encourage a positive, forward-looking understanding of Islam. We hoped that our belief in an interpretation of Islam that is in harmony with democracy, equality, religious freedom and freedom of speech would reach a wider audience, particularly in the West.

For many years now, I have wanted to write my memoir - a book that would help correct Western stereotypes of Islam, especially the image of Muslim women as docile, forlorn creatures. Sixty-three percent of Iran's university students and 43 percent of its salaried workers are women. I have wanted to tell the story of how women in Islamic countries, even one run by a theocratic regime as in Iran, can be active politically and professionally. It is my impression, based on the conversations I have had during my travels in the United States and Europe, that such a book would be a welcome addition to the debate about Islam and the West.

So I was surprised and angered when I learned that regulations in the United States make it nearly impossible for me to write a book for Americans. Despite federal laws that say that American trade embargoes may not restrict the free flow of information, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control continues to regulate the import of books from Iran, Cuba and other countries. In order to skirt the laws protecting the flow of information, the government prohibits publishing "materials not fully created and in existence." Therefore, I could publish my memoir in the United States, but it would be illegal for an American literary agent, publisher, editor or translator to help me.

***
The article goes on to say she has filed suit to challenge the ban. Good for her! I'm just sorry she has a need to go to court. That shouldn't have to happen.

While a case could be made for keeping out hate literature, there is no excuse at all for keeping out everything from any country. That's an infringement on our right to information.

What happened to the policeman and to Ms. Ebadi is deplorable.

I guess this just serves to show that the battle for rights is constant and never-ending.

[Teufelswacht]

Wangja: To answer your question - Yes it is very different. All employees of the CIA sign legally binding agreements, that come with both criminal and civil penalties if violated, that gives the Agency first look at any materials written by an employee, whether they be books or magazine contributions, before publication. This is to ensure that no classified material is inadvertently leaked. The anonymous author from the CIA violated this agreement and violated numerous national security regulations in the process - regardless of the politics involved. Why do you think he desired to be ANONYMOUS?

The other situation involves some Korean beat cop who posted his personal views on some web page.

Objectively speaking, there is a HUGE difference between the two.

[Wangja]

All government employess the world over sign similar agreements. And I imagine that policmen in Korea are no exception.

Now, were it a memeber of the opposition who was fired becuase he criticised the government, that would be worrying, in whatever country it occurred.

I see no problem here.

[Real Reality]

Police Break Up Public Servant Union Voting
When the unauthorized Korean Government Employees' Union (KGEU) began voting Tuesday on whether to stage a general strike, civil servants clashed with police and voting was aborted in half of the KGEU branches....police will arrest the voters of those branches through identifying IP addresses. The KGEU said the government was physically violating and suppressing public officials' basic rights, which were guaranteed in the Constitution. Even if the government hampers the group's voting, it would stage the walkout on Nov. 15 as scheduled, the KGEU said.
by Moon Gap-sik, Chosun Ilbo (November 9, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200411/200411090021.html

Illegal Residents Engaging in Anti-Korean Activities to Be Deported
The justice ministry shall regard the following as anti-Korean activities: denying the Korean system (i.e. government) or policies, or stressing the negative aspects of Korea; terrorism conspiracies or threats; leading or inciting demonstrations against national policies; and criticizing government measures while making political claims, and propagating those claims.
by Ho Gyeong-eop, Chosun Ilbo (October 3, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200410/200410030003.html

[fidel]

[Real Reality]

fidel,
What? Do posters ever stress the negative aspects of Korea?

Korea is wonderful.

[Teufelswacht]

Wangja: The agreements signed by the CIA deal with the release of classified material potentially impacting national security, and/or compromising intelligence sources. What you are referring to are nondisclosure agreements that SOME goverment employees in SOME governments will sign when employed in SOME positions of trust and responsibility. They are similar to ones used by corporations to protect proprietary work products. The CIA agreement is totally different and I respectfully disagree that some street cop from Korea signs the same type of agreement that a member of the intelligence community signs.

Isn't the job of the opposition to criticise the government? If opposition party members are arrested for criticizing the government, where is the opposition? I agree that this would be a major problem.

I find this situation worrying from an objective viewpoint because it is in the same vein as trying to pass laws to control the circulation of newspapers who criticize the government (Chosun, JoongAn and Dong-A), and shutting down access to blogs and whole domains because they might somehow, some way, maybe, provide access to a video the government doesn't want the public to view, as was the case of the online video of the Korean who was murdered in Iraq. Never mind deporting foreigners for vaguely defined "anti-Korean activities."

I agree that some members of the government, such as military and police should refrain from making political statements in public, while in uniform, and intimating that there statements reflect the beliefs of members of their organization. They have to maintain an official outward appearance of objectivity. In this case, as cited in the media, the reaction of the Korean government is not warranted. The present government in Korea seems to be overly sensitive to criticism resulting in knee-jerk reactions as the case at hand demonstrates, I believe.

This, in my opinion, is just another step along the slippery slope Korea is treading towards restricting their hard won right to free expression.

Teufelswacht

[Wangja]

Teufelswacht, a good post. I'd like to come back to it later when I have time if that's OK. We're not far apart really.

[Real Reality]

The Seoul Central District Court rejected a detention warrant for a 47-year-old police sergeant who posted a Web message two months ago harshly criticizing the governing Uri Party and President Roh Moo-hyun.
"The court saw that the message the man posted was not detailed...."In addition, the man was drunk and was having a hard time looking after his son, who was suffering from a rare disease."
JoongAng Daily (November 19, 2004)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200411/18/200411182255334609900090309031.html