Broadcaster Kim Dae-ho, a former announcer, returned to MBC after announcing his independence.
On the afternoon of the 25th, Kim Dae-ho appeared as a guest on MBC FM4U's 'Two O'Clock Date with Ahn Young-mi' (hereafter 'Two Date').
Kim Dae-ho joined MBC as a 30th cohort announcer through the announcer competition program 'New Employee,' aired in 2011. Afterward, he was active in various fields including news, radio, and entertainment, winning the rookie award at that year's 'Broadcast Entertainment Awards' for his performance on 'I Live Alone.' The following year, he received both the excellence award and the entertainer of the year award, establishing himself as a leading entertainer. On the 4th, Kim Dae-ho declared his independence from MBC, and shortly thereafter, signed an exclusive contract with 100 Agency, announcing a fresh start.
Ahn Young-mi introduced Kim Dae-ho, saying, "Today, we have the top output entertainer Kim Dae-ho born from 'Two Date' with us. Kim Dae-ho has been here since an hour ago," and added, "The person who will play with me today is a star nurtured by MBC and cherished by 'Two Date,' who has fulfilled the dreams of all office workers in this era by achieving independence from his previous workplace."
Kim Dae-ho, who introduced himself as "former announcer, current broadcaster Kim Dae-ho," expressed his nervousness when asked why he came an hour before the show started. He mentioned, "I was really nervous. I haven't done radio for almost two years due to being busy at the company except for the last time I appeared. So, it's been a long time since I've felt the proximity with the listeners that radio brings, and I'm nervous."
He shared frankly about his experience, saying, "It's been a while since I've had a drink since brother Hwang Jung-min," and noted that he still rides his bicycle to work. "I thought it would be warm today, so I rode my bike, but it was colder than I expected. After being hit by the cold wind, I realized MBC is warm. I only figured that out after leaving," he said. Responding to a listener's comment about being envious of his independence, he added, "The company is warm, everyone..." and mentioned, "After declaring my independence, there are many people watching me, so I've become more careful."
Moreover, this 'Two Date' appearance is his first return to the company after his independence. Kim Dae-ho stated, "What you see on TV now is footage recorded earlier, and this is actually my first time coming back to the company live," and described it as "like visiting an old house I've moved out of. I can clearly see my traces, but it feels unfamiliar. I'm a bit self-conscious about meeting the landlord. I'm also a bit scared about running into people I've known there. But looking around, it somehow feels both nostalgic and mixed with various thoughts. Now that I don't have a staff ID, I even had to write down my resident registration address. I came back through the proper processes," he mentioned.
When asked if the rules now allow an immediate return after declaring independence, Kim Dae-ho explained, "Officially, there's no such rule. In the past, since you needed time to regain your footing after leaving, it was rare to return immediately. But times have changed a lot now. So, I'm just grateful for the warm welcome I received and for being invited back."
When asked about his parents' reaction to his declaration of independence, he said, "My parents have had low expectations of me since I bought my first house. They were a bit hopeful at first but completely lost all hope when I had a car accident. They almost support me in a state of half-giving up on what I say and do." He continued, "I thought it felt wild, but now that I'm starting other broadcasts, many people, including Ahn Young-mi, treat me warmly. If I just work hard, it feels less wild than a scene in the movie 'The Matrix,' where you have to choose between the red pill and the blue pill. I feel like I'm facing a realistic situation; it feels like I'm alive."
In particular, Kim Dae-ho passionately sang an adapted version of YB's 'I'm a Butterfly' as 'I'm Free.' He expressed his feelings in the lyrics, singing, "I'm a veteran office worker of 14 years," "I'm going to spread my wings and broadcast freely," and "I'm a beautiful free person." He also humorously referenced Hong Seok-cheon and Lee Kyung-kyu, who criticized him after his declaration, saying, "Fly away from Hong Seok-cheon" and "Fly away from Lee Kyung-kyu."
When asked about the reason for his resignation, he said, "I've explained it a lot in interviews, but I felt a sense of liability towards MBC. When I was in my 3rd or 4th year, I submitted my resignation but it was rejected. I've been thankful to my colleagues and the company in various ways. Those times have passed well, and I have this moment now. I've been thinking about how to shake off that feeling of liability towards the company while working hard. In the end, they offered me opportunities in the sports field that I couldn't pursue before, and after I succeeded in that, I felt a sense of lightness. I worked hard, of course, and I still have things to do, but I feel like I did my best. At my age, isn't it the retirement age? I thought if I don't take the chance now, my opportunities to live my life on my terms will decrease."
He mentioned that he first informed the writer of 'I Live Alone' about his resignation. "I was troubled when I decided to resign, and there were many events at the end of the year, so the recording schedule got delayed. I thought if it was delayed, my resignation would also be delayed, so I first asked for understanding and coordinated my schedule, and then I spoke to the Director General. Although the order was mixed up, I spoke to them directly."
When asked if his criteria for choosing an agency were based on the contract amount, Kim Dae-ho responded affirmatively. He added, "I would say 'yes and no.' I can't disclose the amount, but it's not a typical amount that would generally show up in my bank account while I was working." He further explained, "Lee Soo-geun is a direct senior from my hometown, so I sought a lot of advice from him. Since he's from my hometown, would he really backstab me? I always sought his counsel and relied on him for my choices," mentioning that when asked if he received the contract amount in advance, he concluded, "I'll find out when I go today. I'm going to fight fiercely for it."
Ahn Young-mi asked, "You mentioned before that the appearance fee for entertainers during your announcing days was low; is that true?" Kim Dae-ho confirmed, "It is. It's been referred to as an extreme job. Is there going to be a formal negotiation for the appearance fee after signing the contract for a three-week variety show?" Kim Dae-ho replied, "Yes. I've already filmed 'The Great Guide,' and since I've been abroad, I've completed the negotiation for that." At this time, a listener asked, "Will you continue with 'Things We Do for Your Comfort' and 'Homes'?" Kim Dae-ho expressed, "I'm very grateful that during my resignation from MBC, the production teams expressed a strong desire to work with me. However, we'll have to see how things unfold. For now, please be patient with the recorded segments. If things improve, we'll see."
In response to the question, "You mentioned that you would retire after earning 3 billion won; is that still the case?" Kim Dae-ho answered, "I'll try to increase it slightly." Ahn Young-mi suggested, "Since we're at it, let's aim for 10 billion won," to which Kim Dae-ho replied, "It doesn't seem humble to wish for 10 billion won," but then playfully asked, "Shall we just aim for 10 billion won?" which drew cheers from the audience.
Finally, Kim Dae-ho shared, "I was really nervous. I came an hour early because I wanted to maintain my breath from the start to the end, but it turns out there was no need for that. Following Ahn Young-mi, broadcasting happens easily. It could be such a thing. I felt awkward coming back since I had a previous affiliation and came alone, feeling shy. Yet, I realized there's no place like home. Even if I work with other broadcasts in the future, I will not forget my fondness for MBC and will strive to engage in more activities and make it more enjoyable."
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBC FM4U