Stephen Dunbar-Johnson (right), international president of The New York Times Company, chats with staff at the newspaper's new office in Korea at the Standard Chartered Bank building in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. The Times on May 10 began operations of its Asian digital news team in Seoul after relocating it from Hong Kong. (Korea Joongang Daily)

By Lee Jihae

The New York Times on May 10 officially began operations at its new Asian digital hub in Seoul, having moved that part of its Hong Kong bureau to the Korean capital.

The Times opened its Asian digital news team at the Standard Chartered building in the city's Jongno-gu District. The office can accommodate a maximum 50 staff, according to the newspaper's affiliate Korea Joongang Daily on May 11.

Similar in design to The Times' headquarters in New York, the Seoul office has 20 editors and staff. More personnel are expected to join once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, Joongang said.

The Times' international president Stephen Dunbar-Johnson told Joongang in an interview that day at the new office, "Looking at a five, 10, 20 year horizon, [Seoul] just feels like it's right in the middle of the action, and it hits a lot of other criteria."

"What's important about this office is that it gives us room to grow," he added. "We have quite a lot of ambitions in the region, so this is really a manifestation of those ambitions."

The Times had announced the move in July last year.

On the reason for the relocation, the daily explained that China's national security law passed in June last year could hamper freedom of the press.

Other factors cited included "Korea's digital advances, ease of business, and a high score on the World Press Freedom Index."

The Times produces digital news around the clock through its headquarters in New York and offices in London, Hong Kong and Seoul.

jihlee08@korea.kr