Um Ji-in Reveals Reasons for Leaving Sports News
Um Ji-in (엄지인), a prominent announcer, shared her reasons for stepping down from sports news during the February 23 episode of KBS2's 'Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears' (사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀). In a discussion about discrimination in the culinary field, chef Jung Ji-sun (정지선) recounted his own experiences, prompting Um to reflect on her journey as a female announcer in a male-dominated environment.
Jung Ji-sun expressed feelings of envy when he met other chefs, recalling how he pursued cooking out of passion but faced significant challenges, including a lack of guidance that led him to study abroad. He described the culinary world as a tough landscape dominated by male chefs and older generations, which made it difficult for him to find employment. He shared, "I often arrived 1-2 hours early to work, and there were many senior chefs who would hit us with ladles. It was a different era where the youngest had to endure such treatment."
Um Ji-in chimed in, revealing her own struggles as the first female announcer in sports news, stating, "There was a lot of backlash because I was taking spots from male announcers." She also mentioned that she left her position after getting married, highlighting the ongoing issue of discrimination against female announcers, particularly regarding marriage and career.
The conversation highlighted the challenges faced by women in both the culinary and broadcasting industries, with Jung Ji-sun noting that many of the chefs who mistreated him are still active in the field today. The episode shed light on the need for change and recognition of the struggles women face in these professions.
