The association said Ryu was the sole candidate during its nomination period, held from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5. He was elected at the association’s annual general meeting on Feb. 5 at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority’s Automobile Safety Research Institute in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. His three-year term runs from March 1, 2026.
Ryu began his journalism career in 2011 at News1 and later worked at ETNews and The Korea Herald, covering social affairs, business and industry. Since 2023, he has covered autos, mobility, batteries, robotics and AI at SamproTV. Within the association, he has served as chair of the ethics committee, chair of the Car of the Year selection committee and chair of the academic committee.
“In a rapidly changing media and mobility environment, I will work to make the association a practical hub of knowledge that keeps pace with change,” Ryu said. He pledged to strengthen training for new and early-career reporters, expand cooperation with the National Assembly, government and academia, and increase opportunities for global field visits to deliver results members can feel.
At the Feb. 5 general meeting, the association also appointed new officers. Kim Ki-beom, editor-in-chief of Roadtest, and Lee Seung-yong, editor-in-chief of Motor Magazine, were named directors. Bae Dong-jin, head of the Seoul bureau of the Busan Ilbo, and Choi Ki-sung, deputy editor at MaeKyung AX, were elected auditors.
The executive team was also reshuffled: Lee Yong-sang of the Kukmin Ilbo was named senior vice president; Yang Seong-un of Metro Newspaper, vice president; Won Seon-woong, editor-in-chief of Global Auto News, chair of the Car of the Year committee; Kim Yeon-ji of MediaPen and Choi Jeong-pil, editor-in-chief of Car Magazine, vice chairs of that committee; Cho A-reum of The Korea Herald, ethics committee chair; Chu Dong-hoon of Maeil Business Newspaper, external cooperation committee chair; Park Ki-beom of News1, academic committee chair; Kim Jae-seong of ZDNet Korea and Pyeon Eun-ji of Dailian, vice chairs of the academic committee; and Choi Yu-bin of Donghaeng Media Sidae, secretary.
Founded in 2010, the Korea Auto Journalists Association aims to promote responsible automotive journalism, encourage a sound car culture, improve reporters’ professional skills and expand exchanges among members. It has 60 member outlets, including major newspapers, broadcasters, wire services, online media and automotive publications, with about 200 reporters active.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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