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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Former Hankyoreh VP Im Jae-kyung receives "Journalist's Spirit" award

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Im Jae-kyung, former Vice President of The Hankyoreh, has been selected as the recipient of the "Journalist's Spirit" award for 2024.
  • The award, presented annually since 2006 by the Korea Journalists Association, honors veteran journalists who serve as role models for current reporters.
  • Im, who began his career in 1961, faced persecution and imprisonment for his participation in a 1980 declaration criticizing the military junta, later playing a key role in founding The Hankyoreh.

The Korea Journalists Association has announced Im Jae-kyung, the 90-year-old former Vice President of The Hankyoreh newspaper, as the recipient of this year's "Journalist's Spirit" award. The award, established in 2006, recognizes veteran journalists whose careers exemplify dedication and serve as an inspiration to current members of the press.

The selection committee cited Im's lifelong commitment to journalism, characterized by rigorous self-reflection and adherence to ethical standards. "Mr. Im Jae-kyung has walked the path of a journalist until his nineties, practicing the ethics and norms that intellectuals must uphold through strict self-reflection," the committee stated in a press release. "His fierce and dedicated journalistic spirit will serve as a 'living example' for junior journalists."

Mr. Im Jae-kyung has walked the path of a journalist until his nineties, practicing the ethics and norms that intellectuals must uphold through strict self-reflection.

— Journalist's Spirit Award Selection CommitteeThe committee's statement explaining the reasons for awarding Im Jae-kyung the "Journalist's Spirit" award.

Im began his journalism career at the Chosun Ilbo in 1961. He later moved to the Hankook Ilbo, where he worked as an editorial writer. In 1980, he was forcibly dismissed and imprisoned for participating in a "Declaration of Scholars Condemning the Chun Doo-hwan New Military Government." Following his release, he was instrumental in the formation of the Democratic Media Movement Association in 1986 and served as co-representative of the Citizens' Coalition for Media Accountability.

He also guided the publication of the monthly magazine 'Mal,' which exposed the 'Reporting Guidelines' imposed by the Fifth Republic regime. In 1987, Im participated in the June Democracy Movement as a co-representative of the "National Movement Headquarters for the Achievement of Democratic Constitution." He later joined The Hankyoreh newspaper, founded in 1988 with public donations, serving as its editor-in-chief, editorial writer, and vice president. In 2021, he received the "Danje Sang" award for journalism and has authored several books, including 'Critical Spirit of the Times,' 'Anti-Nuclear,' and 'Finding the Way with a Pen.' The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on June 4th.

His fierce and dedicated journalistic spirit will serve as a 'living example' for junior journalists.

— Journalist's Spirit Award Selection CommitteeFurther elaboration by the committee on Im Jae-kyung's influence on future generations of journalists.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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