KBS 7th Disabled Anchor Selection
Process Fully Documented on YouTube
Huh Woo-ryeong (24) has been selected as the 7th disabled anchor at KBS.
On the 30th, KBS announced that after recently conducting the selection process for disabled anchors, Huh Woo-ryeong was chosen as the final successful candidate. Starting April 3rd, Huh will take charge of the 'Life News' segment on 'KBS News12.' She plans to expand her role later by producing separate reporting content.
Commuting with 'Hayan-i'... "We will reflect society as it is"
For hosting 'KBS News12,' Huh will commute daily with her guide dog, 'Hayan-i.' Hayan-i is a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever who first met Huh three years ago and has been by her side since.
Huh expressed her aspirations, saying, "I believe the role of public broadcasting is to respect diversity and reflect society as it truly is, without excluding marginalized groups." She also pledged to faithfully fulfill her duties as a news anchor.
Since 2011, KBS has been selecting disabled anchors to contribute to forming a community free from discrimination and prejudice as a public broadcaster. Visually impaired anchor Lee Chang-hoon was the first disabled anchor. Following him, anchors Hong Seo-yoon (2nd term), Lim Se-eun (3rd term), Lee Seok-hyun (4th term), Lim Hyun-woo (5th term), and Choi Guk-hwa (6th term) have consecutively hosted 'KBS News12.'
Furthermore, KBS plans to expand sign language broadcasting, which was previously provided only during 'News9' and daytime news, to all TV news programs starting this April in observance of Disability Awareness Month.
Final selection after active activities... 'Also popular on YouTube'
Huh has also been running a YouTube channel since 2019, currently boasting over 100,000 subscribers. On the 15th, she announced her application for the KBS anchor position through a video titled "I wanted to tell you all first" on her channel.
In this video, Huh revealed the anchor application process and her practice reading news scripts. The video also showed Hayan-i patiently waiting beside her during a camera test.
She shared her feelings, saying, "My hands trembled the moment I received the script," and added, "Regardless of the outcome, I will not regret today."
She also said, "I will let you know once the final results are announced."
Meanwhile, Huh, who became visually impaired due to a rare disease at age 14, attended a special school for the visually impaired where she served as a broadcasting club announcer and student council president. She actively participated in discussions on topics such as 'inclusive education for disabled and non-disabled students' at local government student council meetings.
From 2020, she worked as a Korean language instructor at a social enterprise for one year, and in 2021, she obtained certification as a professional instructor for disability awareness education.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
