Jung Se-jin, an announcer who served as the main anchor of KBS 'News 9,' is leaving the company after 27 years of service. Jung recently applied for a special long-term service retirement program implemented by KBS due to financial difficulties and is set to resign soon. Announcers Jung Eun-seung and Kim Yoon-ji also applied for this special retirement and will leave the company together.
On the 28th, Yonhap News and other media reported, "Announcer Jung Se-jin recently applied for KBS's special long-term service retirement and is scheduled to resign on the 29th."
Jung Se-jin joined KBS in 1997 as part of the 24th public recruitment class and is a representative KBS announcer who hosted 'KBS News 9' from 2001 to 2006. In the 1990s, she hosted several programs including 'Live Good Morning,' 'Evening Classics,' 'News Plaza Lifestyle Information,' and 'Live Midnight Debate.' In November 2021, she also hosted the 'Dialogue with the People' with then-President Moon Jae-in.
Earlier, on the 15th, KBS announced that it would implement special and voluntary retirement programs to overcome ongoing deficits and the management crisis caused by the separation of license fee collection. KBS accepted applications for special retirement from 1,847 employees with over 20 years of service and voluntary retirement from those with more than one year of service. According to KBS, applicants for special retirement can receive up to 45 months of basic salary and a consolation payment of 100 million KRW depending on the remaining period until retirement, while voluntary retirement applicants can receive up to 6 months of basic salary and a maximum consolation payment of 30 million KRW.
The application period ended on the 26th, with 87 people applying for special and voluntary retirement and leaving the company.
Announcers Jung Eun-seung, who hosts 'Gugak Hanmadang,' and Kim Yoon-ji, who currently hosts 'News World' on 1 Radio, also applied for special retirement and will leave together. Jung Eun-seung joined KBS in 2001, and Kim Yoon-ji in 2003. Reporters Kim Won-jang, former anchor of 'Sasa Geon Geon,' and Park Jong-hoon, host of 'Park Jong-hoon's Economic One Shot,' are also reported to be on the list of retirees.
Meanwhile, the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Broadcasting Act for the separation of KBS license fee collection passed the Cabinet meeting in July last year. KBS President Park Min stated in his New Year's address in January that preparations are underway for the implementation of separated collection and that various self-help measures will be devised to overcome the management deficit situation.
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