Established foundation for weather forecasts including direct isobar drawing
Awarded medal for recognized efforts in delivering friendly forecasts
Kim Dong-wan, known as South Korea's 'first weathercaster,' and former weather announcer at the Korea Meteorological Administration, has passed away.
The late Kim Dong-wan, former meteorological announcer at the Korea Meteorological Administration. [Image source=Korea Meteorological Administration]
On the 15th, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced that former weather announcer Kim Dong-wan had passed away at the age of 89. The funeral hall is set up in Room 8 of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital Funeral Hall. The funeral procession will take place on the 17th at 7:30 a.m., and the burial site will be at Hambaeksan Memorial Park.
In the early days when Kim was delivering weather forecasts, meteorological officials from the Korea Meteorological Administration were responsible for the forecasts. At the end of the news, when the anchor said, "Now, we will move the microphone to the Central Observatory to deliver the weather," Kim would give the forecast. At that time, there was no official position called 'weather announcer' at the Korea Meteorological Administration, but the broadcasting station arbitrarily called him a 'weather announcer,' which later became the official title.
Kim is credited with laying the foundation for today's weather forecast broadcasts. He tried to make the weather easy to understand by moving away from stiff weather forecasts and drawing isobars with a magic pen on paper weather maps. He also enhanced forecast delivery by using catchy phrases that resonated with listeners, such as "the day the fox gets married" and "heat so intense even flies seem drowsy." The term 'feels-like temperature' was also first used by him. In recognition of his witty and reliable forecasts, he was awarded the Order of Civil Merit, Dongbaek Medal, on World Meteorological Day in 2010.
The late Kim Dong-wan, former meteorological announcer at the Korea Meteorological Administration. [Image source=Korea Meteorological Administration]
It is said that even after work, he was curious and anxious about whether his forecasts would be accurate, developing a habit of secretly leaving home late at night to observe the sky for about an hour daily. Because of this, his wife sometimes suspected him of having an affair.
He also revealed his own know-how for reducing inaccurate forecasts. Kim explained, "If you forecast 'the central region will be mostly cloudy with rain in some areas,' then places where it does not rain will consider it a wrong forecast. I would say, 'some places may experience a brief shower, but it will mostly be cloudy.' This way, both the places where it rains and where it does not rain will think I was correct."
In a past interview with Yonhap News, Kim said, "It would be great if weather forecasts were 100% accurate, but human ability has limits, so no matter how much science advances and facilities and equipment are expanded, it is impossible." He also urged, "The general public holds infinite hope for weather forecasts, but I hope they approach weather forecasts with a more mature attitude."
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