[Sportschosun Lee Woo-joo] Kim Min-kyung, an editor at a publishing house, will make her first appearance on "Radio Star" and share everything from her day job and YouTube activities to the fateful job offer she landed after six years of long-term unemployment. She rose to public attention through her company’s YouTube channel and has recently become one of the hottest office workers around, with a sold-out 1,500-seat concert for the "Outsider Guest Seat" segment in just five seconds and a waiting list of 20,000 people, signaling the presence of a true idol of the publishing world.
MBC's "Radio Star" (planned by Choi Yoon-jung / directed by Yoon Hye-jin, Hwang Yun-sang, and Byeon Da-hee), which airs on the night of Wednesday the 24th, will feature Lee Ji-young, Kim Dae-ho, Kyung Soo-jin, and Kim Min-kyung in a special episode titled "Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Convictions."
Kim Min-kyung, a sixth-year editor on Minumsa Publishing Group's foreign literature team, introduces her main job, which involves the entire process of getting a book to readers, from translation contracts and cover design to marketing. She explains the daily life of an editor, spending all day checking proofs for typos and polishing sentences, and shares how she became known to the public through Minumsa TV and appearances in various content projects.
In particular, Kim Min-kyung talks about the explosive popularity she gained through the "Outsider Guest Seat" segment. She says she never expected content where people with distinct tastes freely discuss films, comics, and books to receive such overwhelming love. She adds that an offline concert with 1,500 seats sold out in just five seconds, with 20,000 people on the waiting list, surprising the studio.
Her personalized book recommendations will also be revealed. She draws attention by selecting books for the hosts herself, and she impresses them by introducing a special book for Kim Gu-ra, who is highly interested in wealth management.
She also shares a realistic story about balancing office life and content appearances. Kim Min-kyung says she continues her YouTube and broadcast activities by taking half-days, using annual leave, or filming after work. She makes the audience laugh by saying, "If things don’t work out, I can just go to the office," adding that having a day job makes content work feel more comfortable.
Her remark about Kim Dae-ho as a "dark role model" also brings the set to a standstill. Kim Min-kyung emphasizes that she has no intention of quitting her job, and tells Kim Dae-ho, who has spoken openly about his worries after declaring himself a freelancer, "When I want to quit, I think of announcer Kim Dae-ho." She then creates a new term, the opposite of a role model, calling it a "dark role model," drawing more laughter.
She also reveals the fateful job story that followed six years of unemployment before joining Minumsa Publishing Group. Kim Min-kyung says that in the past, while preparing for the highly competitive exam for media companies, she applied to news organizations dozens of times but kept being rejected in the final round. Because of that, she says she felt a strange emotion when she entered the MBC headquarters building on the day of the "Radio Star" recording.
Her family background is also discussed. She says she spent six years at ease as an unemployed person thanks to her strong family support, including relatives who went through the College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University and law school, and expresses endless gratitude. The hosts respond by admiring her family, saying it smells like books.
She also recalls being deeply shocked after finally getting a job but facing the realities of the publishing industry, comparing herself with her former boyfriend. She is expected to bring laughter as she revisits the moment when her emotions exploded on the street.
Her know-how on "Text hip" will also be shared. Kim Min-kyung says books are the trendiest fashion accessory these days and explains how to carry them stylishly. She shows her editor-like charm by offering detailed tips, including using worn books, folded corners, index tabs, and even the look of reading the last pages.
Kim Min-kyung, who has emerged from editor to idol of the publishing world, will showcase her cheerful wit and candid office-worker talk on "Radio Star," airing at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday the 24th.
Meanwhile, "Radio Star" is widely loved as a one-of-a-kind talk show where the hosts disarm guests with sharp, unpredictable humor and draw out their real stories.
wjlee@sportschosun.com
