[Initial Timing] Embargo

Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Hong Nam-ki is passing by Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, while attending the '2021 Second Half Economic Policy Direction Party-Government Meeting' held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] In the realm of reporting, an "embargo" is a kind of agreement that specifies the timing for releasing an article. Typically, when it comes to government policies that require more accurate understanding, in-depth analysis, or additional consultations, related reports are halted until a specific date and time. The more complex the content or the closer it is to public welfare, the more the priority is placed on "accurate information" over the reader's "right to know" and the media's "right to report."

The recent reports on disaster relief funds that the government plans to provide to the public through the second supplementary budget (supplementary budget) are a representative example of an embargo situation. If you look closely at the articles, you can see that discussions between the ruling party and the government were reported in real time but did not progress beyond a certain point. This is because the government requested a news embargo, and the media accepted it. Although the ruling party and the government decided on the total supplementary budget amount (33 trillion won) and the target recipients (the bottom 80% income bracket), since it was a matter approved by the Cabinet and more discussion was needed on specific criteria for determining eligibility and application methods, both sides agreed not to disclose any information until the embargo period ended.

So, does this article break the agreed embargo? No. This is because multiple ruling party lawmakers had already mentioned it publicly the day before (the 29th). Park Wan-joo, the Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press briefing and disclosed the supplementary budget amount (33 trillion won), the disaster relief fund recipients (bottom 80% income bracket), and the amount per person (250,000 to 300,000 won). On the same day, Jeon Jae-soo, also from the same party, revealed the small business damage support fund (up to 9 million won) on a radio program. Since the criteria for distinguishing the "bottom 80%" and how to address inequalities between workplace subscribers and regional subscribers had not been finalized, public opinion was already buzzing. Not only was there no complete preparation to answer individual questions like "Will I be eligible?" but also complaints about the recipients within the party surfaced, with suggestions that the content might be adjusted during the National Assembly's supplementary budget review process.

Considering that the embargo for this supplementary budget was established through discussions between the ruling party and the government and accepted by the media, the penalties for breaking the embargo are as follows. Regardless of who breaks the embargo, the government, as a kind of administrator, bears all public criticism and complaints arising from the confusion. If the party breaking the embargo is a media outlet, it will be excluded from the press corps for a certain period and will not receive press releases or announcements from related ministries, and access to the press room and participation in events will be prohibited. The only entity that bears no responsibility for breaking the embargo is the National Assembly.

President Moon Jae-in, who had likely already been briefed on the general content, did not mention the matter at all during the expanded economic ministers' meeting he presided over at the Blue House on the 28th. This shows respect for the official procedure that the supplementary budget approved by the Cabinet is the official plan and respect for the embargo agreed upon by the government and the media. Regarding the confusion caused by the embargo breach on the 29th, lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo apologized to the press corps, saying, "I'm sorry. It was a mistake." During the previous supplementary budget process, the then Blue House political secretary had also prematurely disclosed the budget figures and explained, "I forgot. It was a mistake," evoking a sense of d?j? vu. If the ruling party and government intended to quickly claim the incomplete, tentatively agreed results as their own achievement to win public favor, that would indeed be a mistake and a misjudgment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.