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Kim Jae-chul Named New MBC President

By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

Kim Jae-chul was named the new president of MBC, the second largest TV station in Korea, by its board of directors Friday.

The decision came days after incumbent president, Ohm Ki-young, offered to resign as a gesture of protest against the conservative Lee Myung-bak administration, which activists have lashed out at for its alleged attempts to "tame" the liberal-minded broadcaster.

The administration and MBC have been at odds with each other since early 2008 when MBC aired an investigative program criticizing the government's U.S. beef import deal. The program provoked months-long street protests against President Lee.

Kim graduated from Korea University, an alma mater of the President. He has worked as a reporter at MBC since 1979. He is now an executive of the Korean Broadcasters' Association.

A spokesman for the board said Kim earned a landslide victory in the final vote. Three board members opposing the ruling party cast a blank ballot, the spokesman added.

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