Italian TV personality promotes Korean culture
Alberto Mondi
By Kim Jae-heun
Alberto Mondi, a popular Italian TV personality in Korea, never planned to become a celebrity when he first arrived in Korea eight years ago.
Mondi is a person full of curiosity who likes to put himself in new environments. Growing up in a small town in Italy, his desire to learn about Asia took him to China after graduating from university, but would soon bring him to Korea where his participation in the talk-variety TV show “Non-Summit” turned him into a local celebrity.
“When I left Italy for China, then Korea, I wanted to learn something new. I wanted to learn something that I can’t learn by myself,” said Mondi during an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday. “For example, culture is something that people need to teach me.”
Back in Italy, he majored in Chinese language and culture before spending one year studying in China.
“But I enjoyed traveling and discovering new things, and I came to Korea,” added Mondi.
The Italian first planned to stay here for a year, but his plan changed when he met Prof. Koo Chung-mo at Kangwon National University. Mondi originally sought to attend a university in Seoul after interning at the Italian Embassy, but Koo’s demanding teaching style and active personality grabbed his mind. He received his master’s degree in economics from the school.
“Prof. Koo really pushed me to work hardest. He is more like American style than Korean. I think I made a good choice going to university outside of Seoul. If I had studied in Seoul, I would have probably ended up drinking every night,” said Mondi.
Mondi started his career as a research analyst for the Korea Institute of Public Finance for 10 months, before moving to SABMiller’s in June 2011 to serve as a brand ambassador for the Italian beer Peroni. In 2013, he got a job as sales area manager at Fiat Chrysler in Korea and became a member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ITCCK) in April 2013. Last year, he was elected vice president of ITCCK to serve a two-year term.
“Since I was doing a lot of activities in Korea, I was elected as vice president by the board. It is probably because I am one of the few Italians to speak Korean in the country and I know people in the industries. Appearing on television also gives ITCCK a good image,” said Mondi.
In 2014, cable network JTBC casted Mondi on the show “Non-Summit,” as a representative of Italy in its panel of foreign men discussing various topics and Korean cultural issues. The television show quickly gained popularity across the nation, and brought the panel of foreign representatives to stardom at the same time.
Mondi turned into a successful TV personality to appear on four more TV shows including JTBC’s “Where Is My Friend’s Home” and “Witch Hunt,” and KBS’s “Happy Together 3” and “Amazing Recipe.”
The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), an organization that promotes Korean culture, awarded its second-highest prize to Mondi and three other panelists of Non-Summit earlier this month for introducing Korean culture to the world with enthusiasm and affection.
Mondi said he receives fan mail from people saying he inspires them. “I am honored and it makes me work harder,” said Mondi. “It is funny that we are all from different countries but people are all the same in the end. Human beings are all the same in the end.”
He said that the beauty of Korea is the Koreans, although it is hard to form relationships at first. He experienced a strong attachment and camaraderie with Koreans, which he believes other foreigners can learn. “It’s something like you can call Korean friends at midnight and they are willing to listen to your stories happily,” he said.