Former reporter becomes public relations director

Hong Yoon-oh

By Kim Hyo-jin

Hong Yoon-oh, 53, a former Hankook Ilbo reporter, has been named director general of public relations planning at the National Assembly.

“I’m determined to bridge the gap between the public and the legislative body by promoting a positive side of the Assembly,” Hong said.

Born in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Hong majored in communications at Seoul National University and joined the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, in 1988.

He was the first Korean reporter to fly to Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2011 when U.S. forces were tracking down al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.

After 15 years’ in journalism, he became a spokesman for the political party National Alliance 21 in 2002. It was the party businessman-turned-politician Chung Mong-joon created in a bid to run for the presidency.

Later, he served in various posts including auditor at the Korea Creative Content Agency and executive director at Hyundai Group.

Hong unveiled plans to launch an online news media site that would introduce parliamentary activities to the public.

“Members of the Public Relations Planning Department are expected to act as reporters,” he said. “I believe my journalist background will help guide the department.”