한국 언론중재제도 40년의 도전과 성과 - 국회 법률안을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This study explores the press arbitration system’s achievements in Korea by analyzing press arbitration system bills submitted to the National Assembly. The press arbitration system’s history was divided into four periods, starting from the moment the system took root in Korean society during its introduction when legislators judged the system positively. However, none of the bills submitted to the National Assembly in the 1980s showed that the press arbitration system should be abolished. The Basic Act on Press, which first introduced the press arbitration system, was abolished in 1987 and was replaced by the Newspaper Act and the Broadcasting Act. In addition, the Right to Require Relevant Press Organization to Make Future Reports was newly established, and the number of Press Arbitration Commissions increased. In 2005, the National Assembly enacted the Act on Press Arbitration and Remedies, etc., for Damage caused by Press Reports, which stipulates that the Press Arbitration Commission should also handle damages, including relief for damages caused by Internet news reports. Starting in 2009, the Press Arbitration Commission handled damages caused by Internet news services and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) reports as mediation targets. However, the development of the press arbitration system’s laws has seen little progress. The right to claim for deletion and blocking of reading to relieve damage caused online was not included in the law, and the law did not reflect the relief of media damage caused by article comments and similar news services. Considerable efforts should be placed on revising the law to improve the press arbitration system. More importantly, improving communication between the Press Arbitration Commission, civil society organizations, and the members of the National Assembly is also necessary.