Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Kim Je-dong hosts 'warm' news talk show
Kim Je-dong speaks about KBS news talk show “Tonight, Kim Je-dong” during a meeting with the press at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of KBS
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
Comedian and TV personality Kim Je-dong, who hasn't been shy about voicing political opinions, has landed a job as a host on KBS's new current affairs talk show, “Tonight, Kim Je-dong.”
KBS, in a bid to widen its audience appeal, tapped the 44-year-old outspoken liberal for the Monday-Thursday late-night show, which premiered last Monday. It looks at the major issues of the day from the perspective of viewers and explains them in easy-to-understand, witty words.
“I've never thought that citizens' opinions are less valuable than those of experts,” Kim said during a meeting with the press at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. “In the hope that there could be a new talk show to deliver viewers' opinions, I accepted the job. In our show, viewers are not just passive consumers of news delivered by experts, but are active suppliers of news. I as a host want to listen to people's voices more.”
The show's producer Jung Byung-kwon said: “There was a shared opinion among producers that we should come up with a daily news talk show. We wanted to have a show that helps viewers connect dots for the social issues but in a less restrictive format.”
Although Kim is a popular “socialtainer” and receives overwhelming public support for his social awareness, having him as a news show host has faced controversies.
The KBS labor union previously said in a statement, “after the Moon Jae-in administration, many leftists have been hired for major KBS news programs and now it has placed a comedian-turned-talk-show host in the job of news presenter,” raising concerns for a possible breach of fair and balanced reporting.
Kim, who had been blacklisted by the conservative Lee Myung-bak government, along with fellow liberal entertainers, made it clear that he disapproves of “mechanical” neutrality, which is taking no sides at all.
“News programs should not be left-leaning or right-leaning,” he said. “But on subjects that require pros and cons opinions, I think we should not take just a mechanically neutral stance. Basically, my role is to deliver expert views impartially.
“Apart from a brief news summary in the beginning, my major role is to interview people. The reason that I really wanted to join this program was that I wanted to have a diary-like news show that wraps up the day before people go to bed.
“There were many controversies prior to its broadcasting on its format of having an entertainer hosting a news-like show. Many countries had experienced similar controversies before settling down as new form of news show.”
“Tonight, Kim Je-dong” airs at 11:30 p.m. on KBS, Mon-Thur.