CNN may close Seoul office: source

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Yonhap) -- CNN, the U.S.-based cable news network, may soon shut down its Seoul bureau or scale down its operation as part of restructuring efforts, an industry source said Monday.

"CNN has been considering the closure of its Seoul office and the final decision
is expected to be made later this month," the source said, requesting anonymity.
The 24-hour news channel, with about 30 offices around the world, was hit hard by
the latest global economic crisis and has been studying ways to cut costs, the
source added.
CNN's Seoul bureau chief, Sohn Jie-ae, will quit her job in the coming weeks. She
has been named spokesperson for foreign media at South Korea's organizing
committee for the G-20 economic summit to be held in Seoul in November.
CNN opened its office here in 1995 and Sohn has since served as its head.
The source said that if CNN closes its bureau in Seoul, its correspondents in
Beijing or Tokyo will likely cover South and North Korean news.
"Even if it decides to do so, a small number of camera crew will continue to be
stationed here to cover breaking news or (CNN will) hire a part-time
correspondent," the source said. "It would be hard for CNN to withdraw all of its
staff from South Korea, given its economic size and uncertainties in the North
Korean nuclear crisis and the reported power transfer from its leader Kim
Jong-il."
Speaking to Yonhap News Agency, Sohn was guarded about the future of her office.
"For now, it is difficult to say what will happen. The decision is up to the
headquarters in the U.S.," she said over phone.
Sohn said she will first do her best in her new job regarding the G-20 and then
think about the next one.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)