"Stalked for Years by a Stranger"... How Can Threatened Journalists Be Protected?

Korean Women Journalists Association Holds "Forum W" on the 17th
"In-house Reporting Guidelines and Legal Support Systems Needed"
"Online Violence Against Journalists Raises Concerns Over Shrinking Public Sphere"

"Journalists face the reality of becoming targets of crime by complete strangers simply for doing their work with diligence. Due to the nature of the job, our faces and names are exposed, and some men treat women whose information is made public as communal property, consuming them sexually."

Aram Kwak, Culture Department reporter at The Chosun Ilbo (second from left), is sharing her six-year experience of stalking victimization and litigation during the 'Forum W: How to Protect Threatened Journalists' held on the 17th at the Korea Press Center. Provided by the Korean Women Journalists Association

Aram Kwak, Culture Department reporter at The Chosun Ilbo, participated as a presenter at the "Forum W: How to Protect Threatened Journalists" organized by the Korean Women Journalists Association at the Korea Press Center on the 17th, where she shared her experiences of stalking victimization and the process of criminal lawsuits and trials that she endured over six years.

This forum was organized to examine the threats journalists face in the field, such as stalking, digital sexual violence, and online harassment, and to discuss protection systems at the newsroom and government levels.

Reporter Kwak suffered stalking and digital sexual violence for several years at the hands of a man in his 50s, who sexualized her through YouTube and online communities and spread false information about her.

She stated, "The perpetrator even drew obscene images in letters and sent them to me while in prison, and spread false information about me to my colleagues." She has taken legal action against the perpetrator on seven occasions in total, including six criminal complaints and one civil lawsuit.

In particular, Reporter Kwak raised her voice about the unreasonable and unfair situations she faced during the criminal lawsuits and trials. She said, "Victims are excluded and marginalized in the system simply because they are not considered parties to criminal trials. The parties to criminal trials are the defendant and the prosecutor, and the court pays much more attention to the defendant's right to defense."

She added, "Throughout the entire process, I felt as though I was being harmed by the state and fighting against it. The reality that victims have to fight not the perpetrator, but the state itself, felt extremely absurd."

Reporter Kwak also emphasized the need for in-house reporting guidelines and legal support systems to address crimes that female journalists experience during reporting. She said, "There needs to be a system in place that enables the company to actively support journalists, recognizing that the harm suffered during reporting is not just a personal matter, but something the company is responsible for."

Heo Minsook, Legislative Research Officer at the National Assembly Legislative Research Office, is delivering a presentation titled "Disappearing Voices, Newsrooms That Must Be Protected" at Forum W held on the 17th. Provided by the Korean Women Journalists Association.

The second presenter, Heo Minsuk, Legislative Research Officer at the National Assembly Legislative Research Office, gave a presentation titled "Voices Disappearing, Newsrooms to Protect." Heo discussed the structural risk of online violence targeting female journalists in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms, which undermines the public sphere.

According to a UNESCO report, 73% of female journalists and media workers have experienced online violence during reporting or news activities, and a significant number of these cases escalated to offline harassment and threats.

Heo pointed out, "As female journalists accumulate experiences of ridicule and threats online, it becomes more difficult for them to delve deeply into more dangerous issues. This leads to increased self-censorship and reduced contact with sources."

She also referenced response systems implemented by major overseas media organizations in countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, proposing methods of protecting and supporting journalists. Heo emphasized, "It is difficult to respond through the efforts of media organizations alone. It is necessary to establish direct communication channels with tech platforms and public institutions, and to build a joint protection system."

Choi Moonseon, President of the Korean Women Journalists Association, stated, "It is not difficult to find journalists who have been harmed, but there are few cases in which they have been properly helped. I hope this forum will serve as a starting point for creating safer workplaces and a better society."

Forum W is an event organized by the Korean Women Journalists Association to discuss key issues in the media industry and tasks for improving newsroom culture. This forum was held with government advertising fee support from the Korea Press Foundation.

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