Former Top MC Jung Jae-hwan Opens Up About Struggles During Early Career

Jung Jae-hwan, a former top MC, revealed his struggles during his early career on the TV Chosun show 'Sikgaek Heo Young-man's Baekban Journey' aired on the 31st.

The episode featured Jung Jae-hwan, who was a leading MC in the 1980s and 1990s, visiting the vibrant city of Sejong. Known for his handsome looks and eloquent speech, Jung hosted the popular program 'Youth March' and was considered a national MC alongside Shim Hyung-rae, Im Ha-ryong, and Joo Byung-jin. At the age of 40, he made the bold decision to pursue academics, stepping away from the limelight.

Transitioning from MC to comedian and professor, Jung Jae-hwan has become a guardian of the Korean language. He shared, "I've been teaching Korean history at Sungkyunkwan University for about 10 years now."

Jung, who has mastered both the Korean language and history, debuted as a comedian at 19 through Lee Soo-man's radio show 'Starry Night.' He later enjoyed a second peak in his career as the host of 'Youth March.'

Jung explained his sudden departure from broadcasting, saying, "While working on TV, I realized I didn't know much about the Korean language. After entering Sungkyunkwan University in my 40s, I studied and realized the importance and greatness of our language, which led me to distance myself from broadcasting."

Despite his early debut, Jung Jae-hwan faced a long period of obscurity. He recalled, "I appeared as a regular guest once a week on Lee Moon-se's 'Starry Night,' earning 18,000 won per appearance. I lived on 72,000 won a month, but I didn't spend money because I didn't have any to spend."

Jung experienced financial hardships, lacking essentials like rice and coal at home. As his career eventually took off, he shared, "The highest fee I received was 2.5 million won per appearance, but I didn't earn much overall. Senior Bae Chul-soo advised me to manage myself well during my peak and not to overcommit to programs, which is why I didn't earn a lot," he revealed, evoking sympathy.

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia. Contact: eun@tenasia.co.kr