Former Korea Times Vice President Chang Ki-bong Dies
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Former Korea Times Vice President Chang Ki-bong passed away Thursday. He was 81.
Born in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, he started his journalism career after Korean liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. He was the editor of several newspapers published in the 1950-60s, as well as the head of the Seoul Shinmun.
He served as vice president and managing editor of The Korea Times between 1962-63, managing editor and director of the sister paper Hankook Ilbo, and director of two defunct news agencies.
Chang was also secretary to former President Syngman Rhee in 1950 and the South Korean representative to the United Nations General Assembly.
He established The Shin-A Ilbo in 1965, an eight-page evening paper that was the nation's first daily to adopt multicolored printing. Shin-A was absorbed by The Kyunghyang Shinmun in 1980 following the authoritarian regime's policy of media suppression, and was abolished later that year.
Chang received several awards, including a national medal. He is survived by his wife and three children.
A memorial service is being held at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital in Seoul. He will be buried at a cemetery in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Saturday morning. (02) 2650-2743.