The Korea Broadcasters Association said on Aug. 3 that MBC CEO Ahn Hyung-joon (안형준) took office on Aug. 1 as its 28th chairman and began a two-year term.

In his inaugural remarks, Ahn said he would make every effort to lay policy and institutional foundations so terrestrial broadcasters can continue to lead the public-interest value and future of South Korea’s broadcasting.

He set a course to focus the association’s capabilities on improving outdated and discriminatory regulations that restrict the competitiveness of the content industry.

Ahn also stressed the public-interest role of terrestrial broadcasting. He said he would work to address universal viewing rights with a sense of responsibility to not turn away even a single viewer left in the blind spots of pay TV.

The Korea Broadcasters Association was founded in 1974. It has 39 terrestrial broadcasters as members, including KBS, MBC, SBS and EBS, as well as local and radio broadcasters.

The association appointed Kim Jung-ho (김정호), a former head of MBC’s policy and cooperation bureau, as its new secretary general to lead its secretariat. Kim previously served as head of MBC’s inter-Korean and diplomacy team, head of the Straight team, head of the Newsdesk editing team, and Washington correspondent.