Announcer Son Beom-soo Names IU as His Successor…The Real Reason Behind It

Broadcaster Son Beom-soo, a former announcer, appeared on the entertainment program 'Radio Star' and made a surprise statement, "My successor is IU," attracting much attention. Son Beom-soo has consistently upheld his linguistic philosophy of correct pronunciation and usage of the Korean language, and he chose IU as a suitable successor.

On the MBC entertainment program 'Radio Star' aired on the 13th, Son Beom-soo revealed an anecdote about contacting junior announcers to correct their pronunciation errors. He stated, "After the news ends, I call junior announcers to correct their mispronunciations," showing his strong sense of responsibility for the correct use of the Korean language. The MCs were surprised by his statement.

Source: Channel MBCentertainment Youtube

Son Beom-soo as the 'Pronunciation Corrector' for Junior Announcers

Source: M-durumadururu Youtube

Son Beom-soo stated that he does not hesitate to point out pronunciation errors to junior announcers. He explained, "After the news, I praise them by saying, ‘Well done,’ but I always point out the mistakes," adding that he takes the initiative in helping his juniors to use accurate pronunciation and expressions. MC Kim Goo-ra made the audience laugh by joking, "Why didn't you stay at the announcer's office and correct their pronunciation instead of declaring yourself a freelancer?"

Son Beom-soo also shared his experience of correcting a pronunciation mistake made by junior broadcaster Kim Sung-joo during an Olympic broadcast. Son Beom-soo said, "Sung-joo kept saying, ‘I hope they win,’ but that expression doesn't exist in Korean. I sent him a message saying ‘'I hope they win' should be 'I wish they would win', and Sung-joo replied, ‘Senior, I'll correct it,’" providing a glimpse into his meticulous guidance of his juniors.

Singer IU, the Successor Chosen by Son Beom-soo

"A young person who tries to speak beautifully and correctly!"

When the MCs asked, "Who do you think is the successor to Senior Son Beom-soo?" during the broadcast, Son Beom-soo surprisingly chose IU, causing a stir. He explained, "IU came to mind as a young person who tries to speak beautifully and accurately," highly praising her linguistic sensibility.

The MCs burst into laughter at the unexpected mention of IU, saying, "Aren't you just talking about someone popular?" But Son Beom-soo seriously showed his appreciation for her attitude toward using the Korean language beautifully. This can be interpreted as Son Beom-soo wanting IU as a successor, not as an announcer, but as someone who shares his values on the correct use of language.

The Importance of Correct Korean Language Usage Emphasized by Son Beom-soo

Son Beom-soo is passing on correct pronunciation and expression to his juniors, showing that he considers the role of an announcer not just as a transmitter, but as a cultural leader. He takes his responsibility as a guardian of the Korean language seriously, and his goal is to demonstrate exemplary language use to all Korean speakers.

He hopes that his juniors can deliver clearer messages to their audience through accurate pronunciation and language use, and in that context, it seems he chose IU, who values speech and pronunciation, as his successor. Son Beom-soo's philosophy demonstrates his ongoing role as a guardian of language, beyond that of an announcer.

Son Beom-soo joined KBS in 1991 and became a freelancer after leaving in 2014. He has been loved by viewers for a long time for his clean and trustworthy hosting skills, and he has shown his outstanding abilities by covering programs in various fields.

Main Career:

• KBS Announcer (1991 ~ 2014): After joining the company, he worked as a leading announcer, hosting various programs.
• Freelance Announcer (2014 ~ Present): He has been actively working in various fields, including broadcasting, events, and lectures, even after leaving KBS.

Representative Programs:

• Gayo Top 10: As a leading music program that led the trend of the 1990s music scene, Son Beom-soo's clean hosting style contributed to the program's popularity.
• Quiz Expedition: The Mysterious World: As a quiz program exploring the animal world, Son Beom-soo provided viewers with entertainment through his witty remarks and humor.
• Open Concert: As a representative music program in South Korea, Son Beom-soo showed his stable hosting skills by hosting the show for a long time.
• TV Show: Genuine Article: As an antique appraisal program, Son Beom-soo enhanced the program's credibility with his calm and intellectual image.

Characteristics:

• Clean and trustworthy hosting: He is known for his accurate pronunciation, delivery skills, and stable hosting abilities.
• Versatile abilities: He has showcased his outstanding hosting skills by working in a variety of programs, including music, quizzes, educational, and entertainment shows.
• Friendly and comfortable image: He has been loved for a long time by delivering a friendly and comfortable image to the viewers.
• Self-management: He maintains a young and healthy appearance through consistent exercise and self-management.

Other:

He is married to actress Jin Yang-hye and has two sons.

He has received numerous awards in broadcasting, recognizing his contributions.

Son Beom-soo is an announcer who provides viewers with trust and comfort through his consistent demeanor over a long period. He is expected to continue to delight many people by excelling in various fields in the future.