Billy Kim Show celebrates 600th episode

By Park Jin-hai

Rev. Billy Jang-hwan Kim

Rev. Billy Jang-hwan Kim’s longrunning talk show “Meet the People, Hear the Story” on the missionary radio station Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) Korea, which has aired inspirational stories of ordinary people and interviews with former presidents and celebrities, will mark its 600th episode, Friday.

“I’m 82 years old. It will be rare to find a host my age, running a show every week with no single episode missed,” said FEBC-Korea Chairman Kim during the press conference at the broadcaster’s headquarters in Sangsu-dong, western Seoul, Monday. “Because of my audiences in North Korea and China, who recognize me only by my voice, I cannot stop broadcasting.”

Under the personal mantra “When a person meets another person, he makes history. When he meets God, he makes a miracle,” he has invited some 800 guests to his show, including former presidents Lee Myung-bak and the late Kim Young-sam, self-help entrepreneurs and street cleaners since 2005.

Kim’s 600th show will focus on the theme “Again 1973,” to relive the historic moment when Kim passionately translated American evangelist Billy Graham’s speech in Seoul, in front of over 1 million people who flooded the Yeouido Square (today’s Yeouido Park) to listen to Rev. Graham’s gospel.

“The incident became a moment when Christianity could take root and prosper in Korea. On the last day of Graham’s five-day-long crusade, 40,000 people stood up and pledged that they would follow Jesus,” said Kim. “It was such a big incident that North Korea denounced it, releasing an official comment that the South has brought in an American shamanist.”

For the special 600th show, many of those who were present at the 1973 gathering will participate, including Lee Seung-hoon, chairman of Lee International IP & Law Group.

FEBC Korea, marking its 60th anniversary this year, has been celebrating its founding with several events at home and abroad including the mass baptism of some 5,000 military personnel on Aug. 6. Some 40 local Baptist church ministers and 22 American ministers participated in the religious event. Also, earlier in June, a 500-member FEBC- Korea Children’s Choir held a special peace concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.

In mid September, Kim will preach at the Morning Prayer service set to take place prior to the U.N. General Assembly, with the presence of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

“This year’s slogan is 60 Years and Again. As retired U.S. General Sharp predicted the demise of North Korea in three years if national unification takes place, I want to be one of the firsts to go to the North and preach the gospel,” he said. “I want to establish a radio station that can easily reach all North Korean citizens. I wish that day would come in my lifetime.”