▲ Hwang Dae-il, new president and CEO of Yonhap News Agency, gives a speech during his inauguration ceremony at Yonhap headquarters in Seoul on Oct. 10, 2024. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Yonhap-new president

(LEAD) New CEO aims to achieve 'renaissance' of Yonhap News Agency

(ATTN: UPDATES with new CEO's remarks; CHANGES headline, photo)

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- Hwang Dae-il, the new president and CEO of Yonhap News Agency, vowed Thursday to usher in a "renaissance" for South Korea's leading newswire by pursuing his "A1+F4" strategy based on artificial intelligence (AI), and fast and fair reporting.

Hwang, 59, was nominated last month to head Yonhap News Agency by the Korea News Agency Commission, a body overseeing Yonhap's management.

His appointment was approved during an extraordinary shareholders meeting and a board meeting in Seoul on Thursday.

"As I take office today, I feel like I should be excited and joyful, but to be honest, I almost don't feel that way at all," Hwang said in a speech during his inauguration ceremony at Yonhap headquarters.

"That's because the duty to revive the company from its worst-ever crisis caused by a rapidly changing media environment and loss of public trust weighs heavily on my entire body," he said as he began his three-year term.

Hwang held out hope, however, that by following the A1+F4 strategy, which he outlined in his manifesto submitted to the commission, the company will overcome its current challenges.

The strategy calls for equipping with AI, and being the "first" to arrive on a news scene and the "fastest" to report, based on "facts" and in a "fair" manner.

"I expect numerous difficulties, but if we unite following victories in multiple battles, Yonhap News Agency's renaissance will easily be achieved," Hwang said.

Hwang majored in public administration at Korea University and joined Yonhap News Agency as a reporter in 1990.

During his time at Yonhap, he worked as a correspondent in Jakarta, and headed various departments, including the finance and economy departments, before serving as editor of the national and social departments and chief of content.

Yonhap also announced the appointment of other senior reporters as new executives.

Kang Eui-young, an editorial writer, was named as executive director of management planning, and Hwang Jaehoon, the chief editorial writer, as executive director of digital convergence.

Kim Jae-hong, a senior reporter, was named as executive director in charge of marketing.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]