2nd assignment

Bulhwigippennamo which is the school newspaper of Korean Minjok Leadership Academy sometimes has to cut some of the articles out of the paper just because the teacher who allows them to publish in the school says the articles are inappropriate for student newspaper.  The content of those articles are usually about criticism toward school policy, and sometimes some articles showing the result of student survey record are cut out. This is a kind of censorship that Korean students face when trying to express their opinion toward the issue where authority of certain organization or person is directly related.

When it comes to a topic of censorship, some adults who support censorship argue that censorship is essential for government or other organization with authority because they have to control the ideas published on the media so that they can stabilize the society, and also if there’s no censorship, biased information could be exposed to the public which might deceive and harm the society. However such logic is definitely wrong.

I want to question on the fact that stability caused by censorship is really good. It may not be as good and desirable as public thinks so. In 1980s of Korea, there was censorship upon almost every media and art from newspaper, TV, music and even cartoons on TV. Every publication must be censored by the government before being released to people, and also they can be banned whenever the government wanted so. It is true that the society was very stable; but is it a desirable stability? No, it is not. That’s a way how the dictator commands society, It was the realization of the novel, 『1984』. Such censorship stabilized the society as the dictator wanted which shouldn’t be tolerated in order to achieve democratic world.

Also, the logic that information not verified by the authority can harm the society and deceive public is definitely not true. If you know the case of Wikileaks, you will soon figure out that why such logic is wrong. Wikileaks is an organization which publicizes certain confidential information related in the field of financial market, diplomacy, politics and even the national defense, and it caused sensation to the society that the information we thought to be true may be fake information strategically released to the public in order to achieve what the government wanted. Some people worried that it may cause too much horror to the society and might destroy the current system. They say that the reason why certain information was manipulated is to achieve bigger goals. However, government should not deceive its people because whatever situation it is in, the very first duty of the government is to let the people know what is happening and to help them decide what to do by providing information as much as possible. If they don’t we, the people of a nation, certainly have a right to fight against the authority.

I understand the idea of opposition that censorship should be allowed if there’s a plausible reason. However, we cannot decide how much will we allow it, and we cannot also be certain whether censorship would be properly done. I hope that all the people of the society know about the inappropriateness of censorship and strive their best to protect their right as human beings and a member of the society.

THB: all the censorship should be banned
THS: publication without interference of government
THB: freedom of speech shouldn't be invaded