Star Reporter Born With Heavy Snowfall
By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
Park Dae-gi, a 32-year-old KBS city desk reporter, became a star overnight among Internet users not because he got a scoop but because his snow-covered appearance while reading the news under heavy snow impressed viewers.
From 6 to 8:30 a.m., Monday, Park, standing outside under the falling flakes, reported on the record snowfall in Seoul eight times in 20 to 30 minute intervals for KBS news programs.
The video clips showed his head and coat were covered with snow and viewers were more attracted to his snowman-like image than what he was reporting.
Some Internet users posted the images on Web sites, making him a star and one of the most-searched figures on the Internet.
His first name means ``waiting'' in Korean and his email, which appeared at the bottom of the TV screen, is waiting@kbs.co.kr.
It drew lots of comments from Netizens. Among them are: ``You must have waited long,'' ``It's really funny your email is waiting'' and ``You showed real professionalism.''
Park later said it's not unusual for him to have to wait before cameramen start shooting.
``I was surprised that it made such a big fuss. I'm happy to have given a little bit of solace to those who had a hard time due to the heavy snow,'' Park said.
On KBS's Web site, his colleagues also posted a number of comments, with one reading: ``You were aesthetically pleasing to watch while you were waiting.''
Park has also been listed in the Korean Wikipedia.