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| yna@yna.co.kr 2023-01-18 17:06:16
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) – MBC’s longest-running entertainment program, “Radio Star,” which premiered on May 30, 2007, will be airing its 800th episode on Wednesday.
A renowned South Korean comedian Kim Gu-ra, who has been in charge of hosting the show since its first episode, said, “I hope viewers would remember our show as a wild program” after referring to the show’s “strong taste” as the secret to the program’s longevity at the 800th episode-celebration press conference held at MBC’s headquarters in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Comedian Kim said, “The broadcasting industry is infamous for its ups and downs, and the fact that our MCs have carried through this show for this long time is just beyond my expectations. I also would like to thank the production crew and everyone who watches our show,” adding, “When we get used to old things, we are bound to look for new stuff; that being so, I think it means a lot to us that ‘Radio Star’ has been ongoing for 16 years.”
He then playfully said, “Even if ‘Radio Star’ comes to an end one day, the news will not be that devastating as I have already enjoyed my life here.”
The South Korean entertainment program has maintained its format as a guest-centered talk show over the past 16 years. The hosts’ outspoken talks with sharp questions and humorous banters were the points that viewers loved about the show, enabling the program to hold its position even in the ever-changing entertainment industry.
“Our show was different from other talk shows from the beginning, and even if our talks have become milder these days, we yet boast our own unparalleled ‘strong taste,’” Kim emphasized.
“With the production environment of talk shows growing worse, it is not very easy to have honest and deep conversations with celebrities. Even when we have a teen celebrity as our guest, he doesn’t say everything; even if says everything, he then asks for editing,” the host said with affirmation. “In a way, it can be said that our talk show is carried out with materials already prepared for us; however, we still try to add 10 to 20 percent of humor from the spot.”
Kim Gook-jin, the host who joined the show in Sept. 2007, explained that the show also has its own “mild taste” added compared to the past. “Metaphorically, our show in the past may have been ‘winter’ in terms of season, and the cast tried to wear winter clothes,” he said. “However, the show now has both strong taste and warmth,” he pointed out.
Producer Lee Yoon-hwa, who directs the show, said, “‘Radio Star’ is a program that is no longer impatient; recent web entertainment programs that garner public attention can only survive when the hosts stand out,” explaining, “on the other hand, our show is a program that has already established itself, so it is now armed with sincerity of focusing on the guests.”
The show’s 800th episode, which will be aired at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, will be enriched by the talks of comedians Lee Kyung-kyu and King Joon-hyun; actor Kwon Yul; and YouTuber Oking.
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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