I am so pleased to have this opportunity to give a few words to the members of the Chun-Ang Herald as its first editor. During my 16 months with the Chung-Ang Herald, I had gone through a lot of difficulties from the very beginning of its paper. However, I had many good memories with it, which enriched by college days. I certainly believe that no other valuable experience can be compared with this.
I conceived a really wonderful idea to report the tremendous development of Chung-Ang on a English newspaper. I thought how wonderful it would be if the foreigners at our school could read about Chung-Ang’s great doings. One day I dropped in Mr. Byung-Doo Young’s (president chief secretary of the University) office and consulted this problem with him. Mr. Young had agreed to my idea and submitted a draft plan to President Louise Yim immediately. Finally we got President Yim’s approval. She said “I have been thinking of it for a long time and I’m so glad that there’s a boy who can do the job. Word hard and make good newspapers.”
Since then I did my best to put all enthusiasm into the recruited publication of the newspaper. As the first step, Mr. Young and I gathered students who had interests and talent in journalism. Among 100 applicants from all the departments, we selected about 20 cub reporters through strict and careful written, oral and practical examinations. The first officers of the Herald were: Dr. Louise Yim, President Publisher, Mr. Byung-Doo Young, Director, Mr. Kichoon Lee, Editor, Mr. Eung-Do Cook, manager; Bong Ro Yoon, Chief Reporter. Mr. Young and I spent almost one week before naming our baby “The Chung-Ang Herald.”
At the time, there were only English college papers. The Granite Tower of Korea University, The Argus of Foreign Language College and Ewha Voice of Ewha Women’s University.
Once we worked under a small hot tin roof room of the present main building in the third floor. We often sighed and were discourage by the unexpected obstacles in our way but constant efforts brought fruit at last. Afterwards, we moved to the new building with our sister paper the The Chung-Ang Press.
We wrote manuscripts in smile and humour. It’s needless to say that girl reporters cheered and harmonized our office always. It was our rule to converse in English wherever we go. We often had sweats, for a large number of students rushed into our office for apprentice reporter’s vacancies. At first 8,000 copies were printed. 3,000 copies were circulated to institutions and alumni across the country. Soon after the first issue, congratulatory and encouraging letters from foreigners and alumni flooded the editor’s desk. Those encouraging letters certainly cheered every one of us in the office. We tried to compromise to publish our paper semi-monthly instead of a monthly basis following the request of such a large number of readers, but it wasn’t so easy financially. I however, am assured that my junior will accomplish this task someday, and I still strongly want to.
During our printing work at the Korean Republic, we learned much knowledge on living. We will never forget Mr. Yoon, Chief of the lynotype room at the time and Mr. Lee the layout maker, who helped us in printing the newspaper.
Long for old friendships, I am pleased to recall the first year of struggles which were stepping stone to reach its 5th publishing anniversary. Before I close I would like to appreciate once again Dr. Louise Yim, Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Byung-Doo Young, and other professors who were instrumental in fostering The Chung-Ang Herald to what it is today.
My sincere cheers go to the Herald staff in developing the tradition of alma mater, for where the newspaper keeps its frontier spirit and the highest academic information, the alma mater also grows. I pray for alma mater’s endless paper.