Um Ji-in Discusses Former MBC Announcer Kim Dae-ho on KBS2 Show
On February 23, during the KBS2 program 'Boss's Ears Are Donkeys' (사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀), announcer Um Ji-in brought up former MBC announcer Kim Dae-ho, who recently left the network. In the episode, she visited the home of Kim Sun-geun, a former announcer now working as a freelancer, to provide mental support to her colleagues Kim Jin-woong and Hong Joo-yeon.
Upon arrival, Kim Jin-woong stood up to greet them, humorously stating that he had 'planted his soul at KBS.' In response, Jeon Hyun-moo quipped, 'You can leave your body behind as long as your soul stays here. My soul is still here too,' which prompted nods of agreement from Um Ji-in and Kim Hyun-wook. They also mentioned Jo Woo-jong, joking that he had claimed he would become a boss but was the first to leave.
Um Ji-in explained her reason for bringing her juniors along, noting that with Kim Dae-ho's departure from MBC, the atmosphere among those still at the network has become uneasy, as they realize how cold the outside world can be.
Curious about Kim Sun-geun's true reasons for leaving after three years, Um Ji-in pointed out that while other freelancers like Jeon Hyun-moo and Jo Woo-jong have strong recognition, and Do Kyung-wan has the backing of his wife, singer Jang Yoon-jung, Kim Sun-geun seems to lack such advantages, calling it a 'mystery.'
Kim Sun-geun revealed that financial issues prompted his exit. While filming '6시 내고향' (6 O'Clock My Hometown), he received a call about a housing application that distracted him from his work. He explained that the burden of mortgage payments, children's education, and supporting his parents became overwhelming, stating, 'I couldn't manage it on my salary. I didn't know what would happen after leaving, but I thought I might earn more outside.' He also mentioned that he left just as the auditions for 'Mr. Trot 2' were announced but ended up getting eliminated quickly.
He shared that for a period, he had no income for about four to six months, expressing gratitude towards Jang Yoon-jung, who gave him 2 million won, saying, 'Sun-geun, you might need this when you go out.'
During that challenging time, he took on various jobs, including packing books and unloading packages, with his longest stint being in laundry work, earning around 100,000 won per day. He recounted a moment when he faced verbal abuse from a security guard while doing early morning deliveries. Reflecting on his career, Kim Sun-geun expressed a desire to return to KBS, advising, 'You should leave when you have a clear position. I was in a vague situation, both in timing and recognition, which made my departure feel uncertain. Think carefully, or rather, don’t think about freelancing.'
