ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL To readers, staff, thank you
By Oh Young-jin
Oh Young-jin
The Korea Times was founded on Nov. 1, 1950, only four months after the outbreak of the Korean War. The war had already turned the Korean Peninsula into a giant battlefield, filled with dense smoke and the roar of countless artillery barrages
This brutal war continued until a fragile truce three years later. Hundreds of thousands of members of the U.N. forces fought on the side of South Korea in what marked the start of the Cold War thrusting Korea into the center of international attention. The war was fought to defend the democracy of a new country that had just been liberated from the grip of an imperialist Japan.
But Korea still largely remained a mystery to the outside world. The Korea Times aimed at informing the U.N. forces about the country, and the people they were fighting for. The Korea Times continued to publish through the vicissitudes of war as the country's only English-language newspaper.
During a series of dictatorships that followed the war, The Korea Times did its best to continue to tell the truth. Censorship and financial difficulties failed to blunt its edge as an independent media outlet. With the dawn of democracy in 1987, The Korea Times has worked strenuously to serve as the world's window on Korea, highlighting its role around the globe as a growing industrial powerhouse and creator of popular culture.
Looking back on its 70 years of history, I feel proud to say that efforts of the journalists who have worked for The Korea Times as well as its readers, both at home and abroad, have made The Korea Times what it is today.
The spirit of The Korea Times has remained the same throughout the 70 years of its existence. The first editorial, entitled “Really New Start,” concludes by saying, “We are resolved to move on, full of hope, toward a bright and prosperous future… When winter comes can spring be far behind?”
As we embark on a new period of our history, The Korea Times is determined to build a global digital media network that will offer unique content to its readers around the world.
The last 70 years would have not been possible without the dedication of the staff, the readers and all those concerned for The Korea Times. We would like to thank everyone who have made our 70-year journey possible.
Oh Young-jin is the CEO and publisher of The Korea Times.