MBC announcer Lee Hwi-jun revealed his feelings about being selected as the new host of 'Today N.' He cleverly expressed his humility at being chosen as a promising candidate to follow the trendsetter Kim Dae-ho.
The news of Lee Hwi-jun's appointment as the host of MBC 'Today N' was reported exclusively by OSEN on the 28th. In this regard, Lee Hwi-jun noted during a call with OSEN, "Until now, I mainly showed my appearance as an anchor, but I am happy and excited to have the opportunity to show a new side of myself."
'Today N' is a sister program of MBC's flagship morning program 'Live Today Morning,' featuring various information, life wisdom, daily living, popular culture, and current social issues presented in a lively manner. Among this, Lee Hwi-jun will serve as a new MC starting March 3rd, following announcers Jung Young-han and Park Ji-min, alongside junior announcer Park So-young.
In particular, 'Today N' has been hosted for a long time by former announcer Kim Dae-ho, known as the 'MBC son,' who has risen to trendsetter status. Lee Hwi-jun will meet viewers not only as the host of 'Today N' but will also take on the corner 'After Work N,' where Kim Dae-ho used to perform.
Lee Hwi-jun, who joined MBC as an announcer in 2017, has made a name for himself as an anchor on programs such as 'News Today' and 'Investigative Program Straight.' His new role as the host of 'Today N' seems to present a new performance. However, he has also appeared in past MBC flagship entertainment programs such as 'King of Masked Singer' and 'What Do You Do When You Play?' Notably, he has shown his other talents by handling planning and editing on the MBC announcer department's YouTube channel, 'Not News.'
In response, Lee Hwi-jun said, "Until now, I mainly showed my appearance as a news anchor. I was of course grateful to have the opportunity to show a reliable appearance as a presenter. Now, I am excited at the thought of having the chance to show a new side of myself."
Additionally, he said, "'Not News' started from the idea of wanting to show new sides of my fellow announcers. I wanted to share the daily life of senior Kim Dae-ho, which is different from what others see, showcasing a more relatable charm, and I think that was communicated well, making everyone happy and supportive."
When asked by a reporter if he may become the next successor to Kim Dae-ho, he smiled and said, "It's still far off." He jokingly remarked, "I wonder if there will be such an opportunity," adding, "Senior Kim Dae-ho has accumulated a wealth of broadcasting experience and has shined, so all announcers supported him with unified hearts. After hearing about his resignation, everyone felt the same way. It's too far for me to think about becoming like him."
Lee Hwi-jun further added, "Since I am greeting you not in a news context, I feel that I need to show another side of myself rather than as an anchor. Even on 'Today N,' I can present a friendly image to viewers through segments like 'After Work N' that appear more natural via 'Mukbang.'"
Finally, when asked about which entertainment programs he would like to appear in besides 'Today N,' he jokingly mentioned, "I can't appear on 'I Live Alone' because I am married," referring to his wife, former MBC reporter Kim Ah-young, which drew laughter. He continued, "If I can appear on programs like 'The Manager' with my wife, I think I could show another side of myself."
Former reporter Kim Ah-young has transformed into a travel writer after leaving MBC last year and is running a personal YouTube channel 'Ayung.' Additionally, she is set to publish a book in March. Meanwhile, Lee Hwi-jun is also operating a YouTube channel called 'Hwideok,' themed around sharing daily life while supporting his wife's endeavors.
[Photo] Provided by MBC and social media sources.
[OSEN]