This article examines how the Korean press is trying to establish a `public person' privilege - which orginates from US libel law - as protection against libel litigation. The Korean press, free from political restraint since 1987, now faces an increasing number of libel suits that could impede press freedom. Considering that the press was almost immune to the threat of libel litigation, at least until 1987, the recent efforts of the Korean press to find a safeguard indicate that the libel situation in Korea has profoundly changed. Analysis of cases, news articles and editorials shows that there is a difference in the definition of `public person' between the courts and the media. The Korean press will continue constructing the meaning of `public person' as a means of protection until the courts realize the press's need for a safeguard against the threat of libel.
Bedeski, R. (1994) The Transformation of South Korea: Reform and Reconstruction in the Sixth Republic Under Roh Tae Woo. London and New York: Routledge.
2.
Choi, D. (1987) `The Press and the Law', Seoul Law Journal28(2): 84-119 (in Korean).
3.
Clark, D. (ed.) (1992) Korea Briefing, 1992. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
4.
Gastil, R. (1983) `The Comparative Survey of Freedom', Freedom at IssueJan.-Feb.: 3-14.
5.
Hahm, P. (1986) Korean Jurisprudence, Politics, and Culture. Seoul: Younsei University Press.
6.
Heuvel, J. and E. Dennis (eds) (1993) The Unfolding Lotus: East Asia's Changing Media. New York: Freedom Forum Media Studies Center, Columbia University.
7.
Im, Y. (1998) `A Study of Personal Defamation Cases against the Press in Korea: Where is the Limit of Public-Figure Reporting', MA thesis, Ewha Women's University, Seoul, Korea (in Korean).
8.
Kalven, H., Jr (1988) A Worthy Tradition: Freedom of Speech in America. New York: Harper & Row.
9.
Korean Journalists' Association (1970) `Interview', Journal of the Korean Journalists Association1: 1-3.
10.
Korean Press Institute (1997) The Korean Press. Seoul: The Korean Press Institute Press.
11.
Lahav, P. (1985) Mass Media Law in Modern Democracies: A Comparative Study. New York: Longman.
12.
Lee, B. (1990) `Press Freedom During Korea's 5th and 6th Republics', Sungkok Journalism Review1: 15-35.
13.
Lee, J. (1991) `A Study on the Conflicts between the Press Freedom and Reputational Rights', MA thesis, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (in Korean).
14.
Lee, J. (1997a) `Press Freedom and Democratization: South Korea's Experience and Some Lessons', Gazette56(2): 135-149.
15.
Lee, J. (1997b) `Social Changes and Libel Laws in Korea: A Critical Review', Sungkok Journalism Review8: 85-118.
16.
Merrill, J. , C. Ryan and M. Alisky (1970) The Foreign Press: A Survey of the World's Journalism. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
17.
Mowlana, H. and C. Chin (1971) `Libel Laws of Modern Japan and South Korea are Compared', Journalism Quarterly48: 326-331, 348.
18.
Nimmer, M. (1984) Nimmer on Freedom of Speech. New York: Free Press.
19.
Paeng, W. (1989) A New Theory of Mass Media Laws. Seoul: Nanam (in Korean).
20.
Park, K. (1993) `The Press in South Korea', pp. 7-21 in J. Heuvel and E. Dennis (eds) The Unfolding Lotus: East Asia's Changing Media. New York: Freedom Forum Media Center, Columbia University.
21.
Rivers, W. , S. Miller and O. Gandy (1975) `Government and the Media', pp. 217-236 in S. Chaffee (ed.) Political Communication: Issues and Strategies for Research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
22.
Schauer, F. (1980) `Social Foundations of the Law of Defamation: A Comparative Analysis', Journal of Media Law and Practice1: 3-23.
23.
Siebert, F. (1952) Freedom of the Press in England 1476-1776. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
24.
Smolla, R. (1994) Law of Defamation. New York: Clark Boardman.
25.
Sung, N. (1997) `Social Responsibility of the Press and Press Arbitration System', Law and Society14(1): 6-37 (in Korean).
26.
Vick, D. and L. Macpherson (1996) `Anglicizing Defamation Law in the European Union', Virginia Journal of International Law36: 933-998.
27.
Yoon, D. (1990) Law and Political Authority in South Korea. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
28.
Youm, K. (1985) `Freedom of the Press in South Korea, 1945-1983: A Sociopolitical and Legal Perspective', PhD dissertation, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
29.
Youm, K. (1986) `The Libel Laws of the Republic of Korea', Gazette35: 183-195.
30.
Youm, K. (1992) `Libel Law and the Press in South Korea: An Update', Contemporary Asian Studies Series1: 1-23.
31.
Youm, K. (1994) `South Korea's Experiment with a Free Press', Gazette53(1): 111-126.
32.
Youm, K. (1996) Press Law in South Korea. Ames: Iowa State University Press.
33.
Youm, K. and M. Salwin (1990) `A Free Press in South Korea: Temporary Phenomenon or Permanent Fixture?', Asian Survey30: 312-325.
34.
Yu, J. (1986) Korean Press and its Culture. Seoul: Nanam (in Korean).
