U Thaung

U Thaung (born "Aung Bala"; 4 October 1926 – 3 April 2008) was a Burmese author and journalist. In 1957, he founded the newspaper Kyemon, which quickly became the most popular in Burma. In 2000, he was named one of the International Press Institute's 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the past half-century.

Work with Kyemon U Thaung was born "Aung Bala" in Nyaung Oo township, Mandalay Division, to Thar Phan and Daw Oak. He began his literary career with humor writing and plays, entering journalism in 1947 with the Yangon-based newspaper The Burma Times. Within four years, at the age of 25, he had become the newspaper's editor-in-chief.

Post-release U Thaung was pardoned in 1967. He then began work at the Ministry of Information and was again permitted to write columns; however, his license was revoked when his popular column again became too critical of the government.

Personal life U Thaung was married to Tin Tin Win, with whom he had five children, now living in the US.