The funeral hall for the late announcer Im Taek-geun set up at Gangnam Seoul St. Mary's Hospital / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] First-generation announcer Im Taek-geun passed away at the age of 89.
According to the Korean Announcers Club on the 12th, Im Taek-geun passed away the day before.
Im Taek-geun's family stated, "He passed away around 8 p.m. the previous day," and told a media outlet, "He was admitted to the intensive care unit last October due to heart problems, and in November he was diagnosed with a cerebral infarction. At that time, he underwent immediate treatment and was fine, but last month he was admitted to the ICU again due to pneumonia."
Born in Jongno, Seoul, Im Taek-geun joined the Central Broadcasting Station as an announcer in 1951 when he was a first-year student at Yonhee University. He gained fame by hosting popular radio programs of the time and later left a strong impression with Olympic broadcast coverage.
In 1964, he moved to MBC and was active there, and in 1969 he hosted the morning program "Im Taek-geun Morning Show." This was the first case in Korea where an MC's name was included in the title of a TV program.
Based on his high recognition, he ran for the National Assembly election in 1971 but was defeated. Afterwards, he returned to MBC and even served as acting president. After resigning, he ran a private business and served as a director of the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Association, the major shareholder of MBC, and as an executive director of the Korea Employment Insurance.
He is the father of singer Im Jae-beom and actor Son Ji-chang. Singer Im Jae-beom revealed stories about his father Im Taek-geun for the first time on a talk show in the past. Im Jae-beom is from the second wife, and Son Ji-chang is an illegitimate child from the third wife.
The deceased's funeral is being held at Gangnam Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Funeral Hall, Room 14. The funeral procession is scheduled for 8 a.m. on the 14th. The burial site is at Yongin Catholic Church. The chief mourner is Im Jae-beom.
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