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South Korean newspaper owner locks out 180 journalists South Korean newspaper owner locks out 180 journalists
(3 months later)
About 180 journalists have been locked out of their South Korean daily newspaper, Hankook Ilbo, by its proprietor, Chang Jae-ku, for almost two weeks.About 180 journalists have been locked out of their South Korean daily newspaper, Hankook Ilbo, by its proprietor, Chang Jae-ku, for almost two weeks.
The staff were blocked by security guards from entering their offices on 15 June after some of them had filed a complaint with the Seoul public prosecutor's office accusing Chang of "breach of trust" in his management of the paper.

According to the Korea Herald, force was used to eject two journalists who were already inside. Some staff members have been fired, including the editor-in-chief, Lee Young-sung.		The staff were blocked by security guards from entering their offices on 15 June after some of them had filed a complaint with the Seoul public prosecutor's office accusing Chang of "breach of trust" in his management of the paper.

According to the Korea Herald, force was used to eject two journalists who were already inside. Some staff members have been fired, including the editor-in-chief, Lee Young-sung.
Journalists responded to the lockout by staging a series of demonstrations outside the offices and formed a Hankook Ilbo union emergency committee, which issued a statement addressed to international media:Journalists responded to the lockout by staging a series of demonstrations outside the offices and formed a Hankook Ilbo union emergency committee, which issued a statement addressed to international media:
"This is not a simple dispute between a labour union and a company. It is the fight of 180 reporters and editorial writers who gathered with the united goal of punishing a corrupt company owner attempting to exploit the editorial office system for his own personal gains, and with the goal of restoring the legitimacy of Hankook Ilbo as an authentic newspaper.""This is not a simple dispute between a labour union and a company. It is the fight of 180 reporters and editorial writers who gathered with the united goal of punishing a corrupt company owner attempting to exploit the editorial office system for his own personal gains, and with the goal of restoring the legitimacy of Hankook Ilbo as an authentic newspaper."
The Paris-based press freedom watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, issued a strongly worded statement in support of the staff:The Paris-based press freedom watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, issued a strongly worded statement in support of the staff:
"We take no position on the origins and nature and of the dispute between Hankook Ilbo's employees and management, but we deplore the illegal methods used by the owner, which constitute a flagrant violation of the right of these journalists to report the news."We take no position on the origins and nature and of the dispute between Hankook Ilbo's employees and management, but we deplore the illegal methods used by the owner, which constitute a flagrant violation of the right of these journalists to report the news.
"Chang's direct interference in the composition of the newspaper's editorial staff, with the aim of protecting himself from potential legal repercussions, is also appalling."Chang's direct interference in the composition of the newspaper's editorial staff, with the aim of protecting himself from potential legal repercussions, is also appalling.
We urge the courts to order him to stop barring journalists from their workplace in order to end the dire consequences that this affair has had on the production and dissemination of news by Hankook Ilbo."We urge the courts to order him to stop barring journalists from their workplace in order to end the dire consequences that this affair has had on the production and dissemination of news by Hankook Ilbo."
Only half of the newspaper's current content consists of articles by journalists. The rest is taken from of news agency dispatches.Only half of the newspaper's current content consists of articles by journalists. The rest is taken from of news agency dispatches.
Sources: Korea Herald/Reporters Without Borders Picture: The HankyorehSources: Korea Herald/Reporters Without Borders Picture: The Hankyoreh
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