No Heeji, Born with Severe Congenital Hearing Impairment, Becomes Anchor
Practiced Pronunciation by Sensing Chopstick Vibrations and Other Efforts
For the first time in South Korea, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) has selected a hearing-impaired anchor.
KBS announced on the previous day, May 5, that it has selected No Heeji (26) as the 8th disabled anchor. No will take charge of the "Life News" segment on "KBS News 12" starting May 7.
No was born with a severe congenital hearing impairment, but through continuous efforts such as speech therapy, she has developed her communication and speech abilities to the extent that others do not recognize her disability. Because she cannot hear her own pronunciation well, she practiced from a young age by holding chopsticks in her mouth to sense subtle vibrations and improve her pronunciation. She stated that even when presenting the news, she has to turn the volume of her in-ear monitor to the maximum just to barely hear the director’s instructions, so she must practice several times more than other anchors.
No said, "As a member of the public broadcaster KBS, I want to become an anchor who gives hope to viewers," and added, "I have realized that disability can never be a barrier. I want to contribute to changing society’s prejudice against disabilities." She further expressed her aspirations, saying, "I have come to realize that I can be someone who changes social prejudice, and I want to help more people believe in their own potential."
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