[Seoul, The Korean Today] The Korean Today, a participatory media outlet (Publisher: Yeon Sam-heum), announced on the 7th that it is launching a large-scale recruitment campaign for domestic and international bureau chiefs and citizen journalists, leveraging its network of over 60 domestic branches and 1,555 global sites across more than 100 countries.
Since its founding in 2013 with the slogan “We Listen to People,” The Korean Today has practiced community-based journalism and is now expanding its coverage network nationwide and across Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa through its citizen journalist program.
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■ No Professional Journalism Experience Required… “Passionate Storytelling Is Enough”
The most distinctive feature of this recruitment is that it does not require professional journalism experience or a journalism degree. Publisher Yeon Sam-heum emphasized, “The essence of journalism is listening to people’s stories and delivering the truth. Anyone with the passion to share the small voices of their local community or vivid stories from overseas Korean communities can become a journalist for The Korean Today.”
In fact, The Korean Today currently has citizen journalists ranging from their 20s to their 70s, with diverse backgrounds including homemakers, office workers, business owners, and retirees.
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■ Your Articles Become E-Books… “You Can Be an Author Too”
Articles written as a Korean Today journalist can be published as e-books. Based on individual reporting themes and interests, works such as “Today’s Sky Poetry” and “Stories from My Neighborhood” are produced as official e-books with ISBNs and listed on major online bookstores.
Last year, Ms. Lee (68), a journalist from the Haeundae-gu branch in Busan, compiled 52 local culture articles written over a year into “Stories the Sea Tells,” while Mr. Park (42), Director of the LA Global Branch, published a series of interviews with second-generation Korean-American teens as an e-book titled “Hearts Crossing the Pacific.”
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■ ‘Future Citizen Journalism’ Integrating AI and Blockchain Technology
The Korean Today is also leading in technological innovation. It has introduced an AI-based TTS (Text-to-Speech) voice news service to improve news accessibility for the visually impaired and elderly, and supports journalists’ reporting activities with its self-developed WIA Bot system.
Publisher Yeon Sam-heum serves concurrently as Chairman of the AI Convergence Society and Chairman of the Korea Blockchain Industry Association, pioneering the convergence of technology and journalism. In 2018, he received the Blockchain Industry Award in the Media Publishing category.
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■ Practicing ‘Independent Journalism’ with Rigorous Ethical Standards and Legal Support
The Korean Today has established and operates a journalism ethics code consisting of 31 articles, guaranteeing editorial independence. Lawyers Yang Seung-won and Noh Joo-hee provide legal protection and consultation during the reporting process.
In particular, the principle that “we maintain editorial independence from any external forces, including advertisers, political power, and economic power” is codified, and protecting the rights of the socially vulnerable and minorities is defined as a social responsibility.
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■ Strengthening Professionalism Through Regular Workshops and Training
The Korean Today operates regular educational programs to enhance the capabilities of bureau chiefs and citizen journalists. Six bureau chief workshops have been held this year alone, providing practical training in reporting techniques, writing, photography, and journalism ethics.
It also operates specialized journalist groups such as the Safety Education Journalist Corps and has an award system for outstanding articles.
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■ “The Pride of Working on a Global Stage”
Those selected as overseas bureau chiefs will serve as official correspondents with the title “Global Branch Director,” covering local Korean communities and global issues. International exchange activities are also possible through connections with 1,555 global network sites distributed across more than 100 countries.
True to its slogan “Experience the World Through The Korean Today – Your Global News Hub!”, The Korean Today is establishing itself as a platform that elevates the status of Korean journalism beyond Korea and into the world.
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■ Recruitment Overview
- Positions: Domestic Bureau Chiefs (all provinces and cities nationwide), International Bureau Chiefs (worldwide), Citizen Journalists (no restrictions)
- Qualifications: No age, education, or experience requirements (passion and responsibility essential)
- Main Activities: Local/on-site news coverage, citizen journalist management, article submission at least once monthly
- Benefits: Official press credentials, free training, e-book publication support, legal consultation, outstanding journalist awards
- Application Method: Submit simple application and sample article via website or email
- Inquiries: [Phone] /박수진기자: [guro@thekoreantoday.com ]
Publisher Yeon Sam-heum stated, “Like The Korean Today’s founding spirit of ‘Learn and Share,’ true journalism is sharing each person’s learning and experience with the world. We will grow as Korea’s representative participatory media outlet together with citizen journalists across the nation and around the world who listen to small voices and deliver the truth.”
[About The Korean Today]
- Founded: November 11, 2013 (Gangseo Welfare Newspaper)
- Publisher: Yeon Sam-heum
- Editor-in-Chief: Park Jun
- Slogan: “We Listen to People”
- Network: Over 60 domestic branches, 1,555 sites in over 100 countries
- Specialties: Social issues, local news, education & welfare, IT/tech, culture & lifestyle
- Features: Citizen journalist program, TTS voice news, WIA Bot, e-book publication support
- Awards: Blockchain Industry Award (2018), Korean Brand Award (2016), etc.
- Legal Advisors: Attorney Yang Seung-won, Attorney Noh Joo-hee
[ 박수진기자: guro@thekoreantoday.com ]
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[ 박수진기자: guro@thekoreantoday.com ]
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<저작권자 ⓒ 코리안투데이(The Korean Today) 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
