From May 21 through 25, 2018, the Korea Foundation hosted a visit to Korea by Chairman Alisher Khadjaev of the National Television and Radio Company (NTRC) of Uzbekistan.

The NTRC is Uzbekistan’s largest national broadcaster and operates broadcasting networks in twelve regions across the country with twelve television and four radio channels featuring programs about news, sports, education, culture, and children and youth, among others.

Ever since his appointment in April 2005, Mr. Khadjaev has served as NTRC’s chairman for 13 years, and he is one of Uzbekistan’s most influential journalists. He also served as Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Deputy Director General of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Informatization. He has developed a keen interest in Korea’s tourism-related entertainment programs as he seeks to attract foreign visitors to his country.

During his visit to Korea, Chairman Khadjaev met with heads of leading broadcasting and media companies, including KBS President Yang Sung-dong, MBC President Choi Sung-ho, EBS CEO Chang Hae-rang, Arirang TV CEO Lee Seung-youl, and Korea Press Foundation Chairman Min Byung-wook, to discuss joint productions and the signing of an MOU to promote cooperation and exchange in the field of broadcasting between the two countries.

He also met with Chairman Song Young-gil of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation who had recently visited Uzbekistan and met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to build a network of cooperation under the South Korean government’s New Northern Policy. Chairmen Khadjaev and Song discussed follow-up measures to promote northern economic cooperation.

Amidst a favorable atmosphere for inter-Korean peace and growing importance of the Eurasian region in the New Northern Policy, the visit of the influential Uzbek journalist Khadjaev visit to Korea is expected to contribute greatly to the promotion of practical cooperation and broadcasting exchanges between the two countries.