<16> Stifling Press, Expanding Government Information Agency

“Government Information Agency Swelling Up”

Tax Wasted with Unnecessary Increase of Personnel-

In May 1999, the Kim Dae-jung administration launched the current governmental agency for public relations. The Bureau of Public Information, which was criticized as a “trumpeter for the government” and abolished, was thus resurrected in the name of establishing a public information system for government.

Once the Participatory Government of President Roh Moo-hyun implemented its plan for press control, the Government Information Agency arose as a core power with its untouchable influence on governmental ministries and offices.

The agency was expanded in accordance with a total of eight presidential decrees—two in 2004, three in 2005, one in 2006, and two in 2007—under the participatory government.

According to the “Report on the Government Information Agency’s Personnel Increase,” which was submitted by the Agency to Grand National Party lawmaker Jeong Byeong-guk, the number of agency staff members has increased 30 percent from 277 at the beginning of the Roh administration to 364 as of today.

The increase includes 36 grade-5 or higher officials (one senior executive, one grade-3, two grade-3•4, six grade-4, four grade-4•5, and 22 grade-5).

Rep. Jeong said, “The agency is wasting tax money by creating unnecessary high-level positions even when it’s already difficult for each ministry to make an opening for its director position.” As the participatory government is making an “all-in” investment in its publicity by increasing the agency’s budget and personnel without public support, it is questionable whether the investment is truly for the sake of the public.

Rewarding with Internal Promotion-

The Government Information Agency has filled a considerable number of the newly-created positions with internal promotions, which have been criticized as “rewards” for serving the current administration.

The agency has promoted its own people through a formal open employment exam in order to advance those with privileged government positions.

On August 21, 2007, the agency announced its plan to have an open employment exam for 16 positions.

According to the report submitted to Jeong, seven of the 10 new employees in the four areas—press support, overseas publicity, policy presentation, and government information briefing – were internally promoted. Six new employees in the computer and technical service areas were external, but these positions required certifications and experience.

Six of the seven internally promoted had applied for positions one grade higher than their previous positions.

Thus, it was criticized that more than 100 external applicants were merely foils for the internal promotion. The agency responded, “A committee including external members selected experts in the areas through appropriate procedures.”

Other Governmental Bodies Also Expanding Public Relations Function-

Other governmental bodies were also bitten by the “publicity” bug under the participatory government.

As for the general increase of personnel in the area of public relations, the participatory government is arguing that it is to “serve the people’s right to know by dealing with both policy and publicity.”

According to the National Assembly Budget Office, the number of public relations staff in 40 government bodies, including the Government Information Agency, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, increased 22.1 percent from 625 at the end of 2004 to 763 at the end of 2006. This is 18 times higher than the general increase rate (1.2 percent).

Each office’s budget for public relations saw a sharp increase from 52 billion won in 2004 to 89.9 billion won in 2006. The rate of increase (72.9 percent) is eight times higher than the general one (8.7 percent).

Overseas Publicity Neglected-

Field journalists do not agree to the government’s argument for the public’s right to know. As more briefings are made, they often have no “substance,” being silent on sensitive issues. In addition, a “bottleneck” effect is being caused as journalists cannot contact those in charge directly.

An official working at a central ministry said, “It is often a waste of time and energy to pass through the publicity office instead of explaining directly to the journalists.”

More focused on promoting the current administration, the agency has reduced the budget for overseas publicity while increasing the budget for domestic publicity, including the “Advanced Media Support System,” which has been under attack for possibly being used as a tool for press control.

Hansung University Public Administration professor Lee Chang-won said, “It is not effective at all for the government to lead the publicity of national policies in the name of ‘government information’ in the age of diversity.”

It is pointed out that those working in the area of public relations cannot help but agree with the government’s repressive policies in order to justify the reason for their existence.

[Expanded “Publicity Line” Becoming “Noise Line”?]

The Government Information Agency’s function has been expanded under the Roh administration. The agency is even putting up propaganda-like posts on its website “Government Information Briefing” to attack the press and the opposition party critical of the current administration. In addition, the agency is indirectly intervening in ministries and offices through the “evaluation of policy publicity.” Those in central government offices point out that the agency’s actual influence is almost as powerful as Cheong Wa Dae’s.

Intervening in Ministries Indirectly

“Superpower” Publicity Line-

The Government Information Agency’s core power has arisen as the current administration’s power elite in its intimate relationship with the Office of Secretary to the President for Public Information.

Despite several “mistakes,” those in the core power have maintained their positions through a “revolving door”-style personnel reshufflings based on their loyalty to President Roh.

Lee Baek-man, former senior presidential secretary for public information and former journalist for Hankook Ilbo, became vice minister of the agency. It is said that his column, “Goat Horns Can’t Become Deer Horns,” which was posted on the Government Information Briefing website in November 2005, was decisive in Cheong Wa Dae’s selection.

Lee compared former President Park Jung-hee to a high school principal and President Roh to a university president. He also likened Park to a high-efficiency vehicle and Roh to a brand new airplane.

Government Information Agency Vice-Minister Ahn Yeong-bae, former Media Today editing office director, once worked at the Office of Senior Secretary to the President for Public Information.

When Cheong Wa Dae first broached its plan for advancing the Advanced Media Support System in July of last year, Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Lee Byeong-wan and Lee Baek-man were forming the publicity line.

It is pointed out that Ahn has led the government’s “hate practice” against the press as he assumed charge of the plan as vice-minister of the agency.

A Succession of Mistakes-

The current publicity line with its armband of power has also made a series of mistakes in the process of wielding its strength.

Lee Baek-man caused a scandal when he recommended his friend to the former vice minister of Culture and Tourism for the position of vice president of Arirang TV in August of last year. However, he perplexed lawmakers at a National Assembly Culture and Tourism Committee meeting by arguing, “Who will take responsibility for Arirang TV’s possible bankruptcy in the current presidential system?”

Still in Favor after Mistakes

Lee finally fell from his ride after making a mistake by saying, “People will regret if they buy houses now.” His “overzealous loyalty” is said to have caused a disastrous slip of the tongue. Expressing his intention to withdraw from his position, he said, “I am honored to have served President Roh. I am convinced that his achievements will be historically recognized.”

There was a scandal surrounding a sexual parody of former Grand National Party leader Park Geun-hye in July 2004. Ahn, who was in charge at that time, was forced to resign from his position but returned as secretary for domestic public information one month later and subsequently moved on to become vice minister of the Government Information Agency.