(LEAD) CNN may close Seoul office: source

(ATTN: RESTRUCTURES throughout to highlight bureau chief's comments)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Jan. 11 (Yonhap) -- CNN, a U.S.-based 24-hour cable news network, may soon
shut down its Seoul bureau or scale down operations as part of worldwide
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.
CNN's Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-ae was guarded about the future of her office,
but confirmed that she herself is quitting the job.
"For now, it is difficult to say what will happen. The decision is up to the
headquarters in the U.S.," she told Yonhap News Agency by telephone.
Sohn was named spokesperson for foreign media by South Korea's organizing
committee for the G-20 economic summit, which is to be held in Seoul in November.
She said she will do her best in her new job and then think about the next one.
CNN opened its office here in 1995, and Sohn has served as its head since then.
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."
lcd@yna.co.kr
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