Kim Joo-ha Reflects on a Decade as MBN's Female Anchor
Kim Joo-ha, a rare female solo anchor in South Korea, has shared her thoughts as she steps down from her role leading MBN's main news after ten years. On March 31, she delivered her final broadcast on MBN's 'News 7'. The following day, a video obtained by OSEN captured the moment when the 'News 7' staff celebrated her last show with applause. The production team presented her with a large photo frame featuring a mosaic of her ten years on air, along with a bouquet and gifts to honor her contributions as a female solo anchor.
Starting her career in 1997 as a prominent anchor at MBC, Kim transitioned to MBN in 2015, where she maintained her position as the main female anchor. Recently, she was promoted to a special executive role at MBN, leading to her departure from anchoring duties after 'News 8', 'General News', and 'News 7'. In a written interview with OSEN, Kim reflected on the changes in the news landscape over the years.
She noted, "In the past, there were very few ways to access news compared to today. Back then, we relied on newspapers, broadcasts, and magazines, and there were not many media outlets. Now, news consumers have access to countless sources." However, she expressed that this abundance of information can be challenging for anchors. "When I was presenting news, I primarily focused on a few competing news outlets, but now I have to keep up with news from terrestrial and cable channels, newspapers, online media, YouTube, and social media."
Kim emphasized the importance of being aware of what viewers know, stating, "Anchors must not miss the news that viewers are already familiar with, and we need to understand how much the audience knows to report accurately. Otherwise, we risk presenting news as if everyone is aware of it, which can lead to significant errors."
She shared her rigorous routine, explaining that after finishing her news shift, she would often stay up until 3 or 4 AM to catch up on at least three other news sources and find exclusive stories from other outlets. "On weekends, I had to watch the main news to stay updated, which meant I was constantly juggling multiple news sources, feeling like a student who hadn’t done their homework."
Despite the challenges, Kim acknowledged some regrets about missing opportunities to connect with newsmakers due to her hectic schedule. However, she was deeply moved during her farewell when many journalists stayed after hours to applaud her in the studio, presenting her with an overwhelming amount of flowers and gifts. "I had promised myself not to cry, but in that moment, I felt that I had no regrets about how I lived my life, even if I jokingly said, 'This is just snot coming from my eyes.'"
As she steps away from the news desk, Kim Joo-ha expressed, "I can confidently say that I have been happy. The company has promised full support for new programs, so I plan to take some time off to use the vacation days I haven’t taken in ten years. For now, don’t look for me!" She added, "I’m not sure when I’ll be able to change my habit of monitoring the news after ten years, but I think I can take it slow. News has become a part of everyone’s life now."
