Chosun Ilbo honorary chairman passes away at 88

Bang Woo-young

Bang Woo-young, honorary chairman and standing advisor of the daily Chosun Ilbo, died of a chronic ailment, Sunday. He was 88.

Bang was born in 1928 in Chongju, North Pyeongan Province, now in North Korea. He was the grandson of Bang Eung-gon, the brother of Bang Eung-mo who took over the newspaper in 1933.

He graduated from Kyungshin High School in Seoul and Yonsei University.

Bang started at Chosun Ilbo’s printing bureau as an apprentice reporter in 1952 and worked as a city and business desk reporter for eight years.

He became the director of the newspaper in 1962, the publisher in 1963, the executive director in 1964 and the CEO in 1970.

He founded the Monthly Chosun magazine in 1980 and the entertainment newspaper Sports Chosun in 1990.

Bang succeeded to the paper’s chairman position in 1993 after his older brother Bang Il-young stepped down.

He was named the honorary chairman in 2003 and the standing advisor in 2010.

Bang also served as the chief director of a media research center now under the Korea Press Foundation, the head of the Koreanisch-Deutsche Gesellschaft, and the chief director of the Yonsei University Foundation.

He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and son Sung-hoon, CEO and publisher of the Sports Chosun and director of the Chosun Ilbo.

A memorial altar was set up at Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital.