SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - The Foreign Language Newspaper Association of Korea marked its 10th anniversary on July 8 with a ceremony at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul. Lawmakers, diplomats, media executives, and business leaders gathered to reflect on the press's evolving role in a time of global tension and rapid change.
Established in 2015, the association brings together South Korea's major foreign-language news outlets. Over the past decade, it has helped deliver the country's political, economic, and cultural stories to a global audience through multilingual journalism.
Choi Jin-young, chairman of the association and CEO of Herald Media Group, which publishes The Korea Herald and Herald Economy, opened the event by stressing that journalism must move beyond simply relaying facts.
"Media does not exist just to pass along the news," Choi said. "We connect. We shed light. We create empathy. Journalism is what keeps democracy alive."
He said the association's mission is not only to share South Korea's story with the world but also to make global developments relatable for domestic readers. "Our job is to turn global issues in peace, culture, technology, and diplomacy into stories that matter to our readers here," he added.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, who was unable to attend in person due to parliamentary commitments, sent a video message. In his remarks, he praised the association for helping promote the country's creative diversity and for narrowing the distance between nations through journalism.
"You are a vital part of the Korean media landscape, realizing the values of creativity, diversity, and inclusion," Woo said. "The National Assembly also recognizes the importance of open communication with the global community, and we will do our part to help South Korea play a greater role in the world."
Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing also addressed the gathering. While thanking the association's member publications for their efforts, he voiced concern over some portrayals of China in South Korean media. "If China is reviewed through a distorted analysis, or if Korean media uncritically echo narratives like the so-called China collapse or China threat, it risks misleading the public and damaging bilateral cooperation," Dai said.
He highlighted that more than 7 million people traveled between China and South Korea last year, with over 1,200 direct flights operating weekly. Encouraging greater exchange, he said, "We welcome Korean reporters to visit China, whether to conduct interviews, attend events, or simply explore. We hope you are coming back with a fuller, more detailed and more authentic picture of China."
The event included lawmakers from across party lines, senior presidential aides, ambassadors, and executives from major South Korean conglomerates, including Samsung and Hyundai. Speakers repeatedly emphasized the responsibility of the media in an age of disinformation and political division.
Choi also thanked veteran journalists and founding members who helped establish the association. Among those recognized were Kwak Young-kil, Chairman of Aju News Corporation, Oh Young-jin, President of The Korea Times, and Yang Ki-hyun, a media executive of Joongang Daily.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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