Every morning at 9 a.m., announcer Yu Chea-lim starts the day with news of the world on Yonhap News TV. Announcer Yu Chea-lim, who has worked as an intern for BBC News, Jeonju MBC, and as a KBS media announcer, is generally recognized as a fair journalist by many people on Yonhap News TV. Meet Yu Chea-lim, an announcer who graduated from Chung-Ang University's Department of Media and Communication, and Civil and Environmental Engineering, with CAH.
1. Would you like to introduce yourself to Chung-Ang University students and people reading this article?
Hello! I’m Yu Chea-lim and I work as a news anchor in Yonhap News TV. I entered Chung-Ang University in 2011 and majored in Media and Communication, and Civil and Environmental Engineering.
2. Is there a reason why you decided to double major in Media and Communication at Chung-Ang University?
I was interested in architecture when I was a high school student, so I thought about majoring in Architecture, but I decided to major in Civil and Environmental Engineering because I wanted to learn a wider range of studies. I studied construction for about a year when I was a freshman and became interested in the field of journalism and broadcasting. I had so much fun that I couldn't give up my major in construction, and I wasn’t sure whether the broadcast would fit me, so I decided to double major in Media and Communication.
3. What activities did you find enjoyable in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering?
When I was a freshman, I learned the general outline of my major and became interested in social infrastructure systems such as ports and bridges. At that time, the Ulsan Bridge was being built, so I went to the site and met the employees. My major was interesting enough, but I was wondering if there would be anything more fun. While I was thinking about other majors, my uncle who works as a reporter suggested I give it a try as well, so I became interested in broadcasting.
4. What made you want to be an announcer for the first time?
I went to England as an exchange student for a year and took a Media Communication class there. My mistake was that I didn’t notice foreign countries start a new school year in the fall semester and that their summer vacation is very long, so most exchange students start their exchange programs in the fall semester. I started as an exchange student in the spring semester. So, I had an unexpectedly long summer vacation. The vacation was longer than the time I could take classes, so I applied for the BBC News Reporter internship to work in the field related to broadcasting. From the BBC's point of view, an applicant who is exchange student and who didn't live abroad for a long time seemed to be embarrassing. Since most of applicants were British friends or students who had been studying abroad for a long time. But I didn't give up and asked the BBC Radio producer to write a letter of recommendation. With his help I was able to work as an intern. When I was working as an intern reporter for the BBC, there was a technical accident. When I saw the anchor stumbling on alone for about 7 or 8 minutes during the live broadcast, I felt the attraction of her job as an announcer and started preparing to be an announcer after returning home. When I took many classes at CAU, I vaguely wanted to work in broadcasting. However after this, I wanted to be an announcer for the first time.
5. Were there any activities or classes at CAU that helped you achieve your dream of becoming an announcer?
All the time I spent at school helped me realize my dream. It is because CAU made me able to study construction at first, and CAU was the place that made me able to study Media and Communication through a double major. Crucially, I was able to be an exchange student in England and started dreaming of being an announcer because of CAU. Especially in the job of the announcer, I think the class 'Broadcasting Method' in the department of Media and Communication was most helpful. In fact, it was a class where I learned the language and speech used in general broadcasting by doing news like a reporter and delivering weather like a weather forecaster. I think I was able to have my own standards on how to accept the speech and language. I also felt how important the announcer's pronunciation is and the use of standard language.
6. While preparing to be an announcer, which part did you pay the most attention to? And if there were any difficulties (or memorable) in preparing to be an announcer, I wonder what it was.
I think it was mental care. Broadcasting stations select very few announcers in a year, so it's natural to fail. Since I kept failing, I felt skeptical of myself and my self-esteem and confidence dropped. I wondered if this is the right path to be on. So, I think how well we hold on to our determination is necessary to survive until the very end. I prepared for six months and finally got accepted as a local announcer. During the period preparing to be an announcer, I felt comfortable that it was natural for me to fail for those six months. Instead, I had time to think for myself why I kept failing. I think the most important thing is how fast you can recover through this process.
7. After you failed, how did you realize what you lacked?
It's hard to think alone. The result is what I thought it was the best thing I could do, so it didn't get better thinking alone. Therefore, I consulted seniors who were broadcasting around me or friends who studied with me. I also asked my parents and friends, not just those who are working in broadcasting, because there are executives who are not working in broadcasting in the interviews.
8. Have you ever thought of a career other than a reporter or an announcer?
There are so many. I had so many dreams when I was a university student, so it's hard to say just one. The reason why I was able to dream about so many things is that I had many experiences. It's also important to build your specifications when you're in college, but it is also important to find out what my personality is and what my favorite thing is.
9. Can you tell me more about your experience as an intern at BBC London?
When I was an intern, it was election season in England, but I didn't know anything about elections and politics in England, so I always went to work at 6:30 a.m. I looked up all the news that day, scraped the important parts, went to the local library after work, and looked up related books until late at night. It was very tough, but it was a very rewarding experience at the same time. I couldn't write the article myself, so I usually provided ideas. Among them, I introduced Korean Mukbang contents. In fact, I covered it and aired it. At that time, it was only a trend in Korea, so it was worthwhile that the broadcasting staff sympathized with the news even though it was their first time to hear about it.
10. From KBS media announcer to Jeonju MBC announcer and now, as a Yonhap News anchor, you have gone through various broadcast stations and positions. What did you learn through such experiences?
I think consistency is the most important thing for announcers. In a way, broadcasting is highly volatile and one-off. Life can be routine since when I deliver this news today, it will never be used again. Whether I do my best or not, the news is over after I speak it, so I feel like this is not building up. I'm building up my skills, but I don't think my work itself is developing. Therefore, I think I can fall into mannerism, so I think it's important to put my first mind together.
11. Can you introduce your daily routine, currently running as the main anchor of Yonhap News Agency <News 09> and <News Center 12>?
First, I arrive at work by 7 am, then read the day’s newspaper. I tend to read two different newspapers from different publishing companies. I especially focus on the political and social sections. Afterward, I listen to radio news programs while eating breakfast. Since most of the news of the current trial or political issues scheduled for the day can be known in advance, I try to be familiar with those materials during these times. After that, at 8 o'clock, I get dressed up and go to the make-up room and start preparing for the first program, <News 09>. Since Yonhap News is a channel that broadcasts news programs for 24 hours a day, it can be seen that breaking news is processed faster than other broadcasting channels. Then, after <News 09>, at 9 o'clock, there will be a short break. Next, I prepare for <News Center 12> from around 11. During the preparation, I can discover new information and update the changed news in advance. After the noon broadcast is over, I have no more broadcast schedule, so I handle the office work and other things that I have to do. I rarely have days off due to the nature of my job, but I am happy to find time to relax after a busy morning routine.
12. If you could try a new broadcast program genre other than news or radio, what genre would you like to try?
If there is an opportunity to try programs other than news and radio, I would like to try sports broadcasting. There are still not many cases of female casters doing 'sports broadcasts.' Female announcers often run sports programs, but female casters are not easy to find. Female casters can be found only in certain sports areas such as figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics, but I would like to break this perception as a female announcer. Also, personally, I really like sports, and I'm also a big fan of Korean baseball. So, if there is an opportunity, I want to work as a baseball broadcaster.
13. Through Dasan Books' YouTube, hosted by you, we were impressed with the program <Cheo-dok-cheo-dok>, which prescribes books to the troubles of subscribers. If you were to pick a book about your life, what would it be?
The book I would like to recommend is “Warm Coolness” by Park Joo-Kyung. Park Joo-kyung is a former reporter and an anchor who is running the morning news in KBS. This book deals with various social issues in a very real way from the perspective of a reporter, anchor, and senior in life. Also, like the title of the book, it seems to give warm comfort. I introduced this book because if the younger generation reads this book, they will probably be able to receive various perspectives and comfort on social issues at the same time.
14. What was your most valuable moment as an announcer?
When I hosted a radio program called <Noon Song of Hope> at Jeonju MBC, I still remember the moment of that last day of the program. When I was in Jeonju MBC, I was hosting a radio program called Noon's Hope Song from 12 pm to 2 pm. At that time, I oversaw the producer and announcer of this program together, so it was very busy and exhausting. During the last broadcast, so many listeners sent long text messages saying thank you. I always thought that two hours was very arduous as I was broadcasting at the same time and in the same place, but I think I was comforted by the thought that I was communicating well with many people for these two hours. After receiving messages like ‘the two hours was so much fun’ and ‘thank you for the good broadcast’, I felt that the efforts I had made were very meaningful and not in vain. So, I think this was the most rewarding moment. After hearing that the two hours of the listeners were happy because of me, I think I've been reassured as to why I'm doing this. I always try not to forget the gratitude of this time.
15. What has changed the most when conducting news after COVID-19?
There seem to be a little more worried than before. Basically, announcers do not cover their mouths for deaf people who watch the news through reading anchors’ mouths. Therefore, we take off the mask when we are doing news, and we also take off the mask when we participate in the program with external experts. That's why I'm always at risk and worried every moment. There is quite a concern because it can be transmitted through droplets, but as a vocation for accurate delivery, we do not wear a mask and take this part and proceed with the news.
16. I was impressed with the anchor introduction saying, “I will always do my best to deliver reliable news with the value of speed and accuracy.” What kind of journalist do you want to be remembered by the public in the future?
With the emergence of various media platforms, I think that there is more fake news than ever before, with no refining of the authenticity of the facts. Of course, people come across fake news and try to identify it, but most of the time, they focus on what they want to see and hear. At a time like this, I want to try harder to find out whether it's authentic or not. We want to deliver truthful information. That's why I want to be remembered as a journalist who always tries to tell the truth.
17. What is Chung-Ang University to you?
For me, Chung-Ang University is the place where I found my dream. My favorite saying is “If you have the ball, throw it.” This phrase was found while I was reading a book, and it means that throwing a ball is a meaningful action because it is an experience that allows you to learn about the throwing power and where you want to throw the ball, by throwing it. Chung-Ang University was a place for me to throw those balls. It seems to be a place like a big playground where I could try out various areas such as architecture and broadcasting, and in the end, I could throw a lot of balls.
18. As a senior in life, if you could give any advice to young people in their 20s who are running towards their dreams, what advice would you give them?
It may sound quite like a cliche, but my advice is to try as many different experiences as possible. Just as there is a ‘time’ in everything in life, there are things that you can only do when you are in college. I think college life is the time to try out various things and find out what suits you. It is also very important to build up the specifications and enter the company want, but I hope you have a lot of time to get to know yourself. Before finding a job that suits you, it seems important to find out what you like and what part of society you are naturally interested in.
19. In addition to your goals as an announcer, do you have any goals in life as human being Yu Chea-lim?
I want to live a happy life with the people around me. I think it's meaningful to me to live happily with the people I love and with my family in addition to work. I am living my life while always thinking of the precious people around me.
Yu Chea-lim is an announcer who delivers news quickly and accurately to the public at the same time every day. During the interview, we were able to confirm her passion for truthful news reporting and her firm conviction as a journalist. She said that her goal is to deliver accurate facts to the public with great speed. We applaud her enthusiasm and bright future as a journalist. CAH will continue to pay attention to the future moves of announcer Yu Chea-lim.