MBC Radio has completed its makeover with Lee Sang-soon, Lee Hyun, and Yoon Sang.
On the 13th, a press conference for the new DJs of MBC Radio was held at the MBC M Lounge in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Present at the event were broadcaster Yoon Sang, Lee Sang-soon, Lee Hyun, and producers Hwang Jong-hyun of ‘A Perfect Day with Lee Sang-soon’, Song Myung-seok of ‘This Morning with Yoon Sang’, and Choi Ji-min of ‘Close Friends with Lee Hyun’.
Lee Sang-soon started his first broadcast as a DJ on November 4 last year, followed by Lee Hyun’s first broadcast as the DJ of ‘Close Friends’ on the 25th. Yoon Sang had his first DJ debut on the 23rd of last month.
Producer Hwang Jong-hyun of ‘A Perfect Day’ said, “We are doing a show that is good to listen to while on the move. If you have good stories, please send us many articles,” and added, “DJ Lee Sang-soon has many hidden charms, and I think it will be enjoyable to discover them one by one.” Producer Song Myung-seok of ‘This Morning’ stated, “It’s a morning show that combines music and daily life. Yoon Sang is receiving a lot of attention as he returns after 22 years. We are looking forward to it.” He continued, “(‘This Morning’ has) three mottos: daily life, comfort, and music. We mainly include stories from daily life while delivering messages of comfort. Yoon Sang, a musician’s musician, will not miss the musical aspect, and we also plan to cover music from the Third World that is hard to hear in daily life. We ask for your expectations.”
Producer Choi Ji-min of ‘Close Friends’ said, “Our program aims to be a space where K-pop idols can come and talk about anything and empathize,” and added, “I thought DJ Lee Hyun was the right person for this.” He continued, “Sometimes he becomes a teacher, and sometimes he becomes the neighborhood fool. As an artist who has seen BTS from their trainee days to reaching the top of the world, I believe he is the right person to empathize, ponder, and solve any issues that any artist (guest) may have.”
Yoon Sang hosted ‘Yoon Sang’s Music Salon’ on MBC Radio from 1999 to 2002. On December 23 last year, Yoon Sang returned to MBC Radio with ‘This Morning’ after 22 years, capturing the attention of both past fans and young listeners as Anton’s father, a member of the group Rise.
‘This Morning’ was previously hosted by announcer Jeong Ji-young for 12 years. Yoon Sang joked, “Jeong Ji-young hosted for a whopping 12 years. Due to some circumstances, I had to leave, and I’m glad that I naturally took over the baton.” He added, “Since Jeong Ji-young did a great job during that time slot, there may be some who feel disappointed, but I met listeners in the morning for three years 22 years ago. I’m glad that the atmosphere is welcoming.”
He also shared, “I left broadcasting when I got married and moved to the U.S. After becoming a father of two, doing DJ work at the same time feels like coming home after a long journey.”
Yoon Sang is well-known to the younger generation as Anton’s father. It seems that there are quite a few listeners who tune in to Yoon Sang’s radio because they are fans of his son. When asked if he could expect his son Anton to appear on the show, he replied, “I believe Rise has not officially had radio guest experiences yet,” and added, “As Anton’s father, I would feel disappointed if these kids start appearing as radio guests elsewhere. Of course, I would love to have him as a guest. I want to believe that we can meet soon.”
Yoon Sang also stated, “We have moved from an era of playing music on LPs to a digital era. What remains unchanged is the small daily stories that come from messages. These are stories that are too trivial to be covered elsewhere. I believe that because of these unchanging elements, radio maintains its positive function well. The atmosphere of radio has not changed. I think that’s its charm.”
Lee Sang-soon started his first broadcast as a DJ on November 4 last year. He greeted, “This is not my first time on radio. I have done a late-night program with the band Roller Coaster members on SBS and have also done EBS radio, but this is my first time as an MBC Radio DJ.”
He continued, “I feel a sense of responsibility compared to when I was a guest. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to lead and create this program. I feel a sense of responsibility and think that if many people listen, I should work hard.”
Lee Sang-soon had previously served as a special DJ when DJ Bae Cheol-soo of ‘Bae Cheol-soo’s Music Camp’ was on vacation in 2023 and 2024. Reflecting on that time, he said, “When I came to Seoul to be a special DJ, my wife listened and kept saying, ‘It would be great if you could be a DJ if you get the chance.’ She is happy that this opportunity has come.” However, he added, “My wife feels a tremendous burden about me going out every day. She feels the pressure of having to cook at home while I’m DJing. But she still likes it.”
Lee Sang-soon also mentioned, “I moved to Seoul at the end of September last year, and it has been over three months since I came to Seoul. I go to MBC every day. Unlike living in Jeju, it’s very enjoyable to have something to do every day. I have always liked the medium of radio. Growing up listening to shows like ‘Disk Show’ and ‘The Night Shines Bright’, I am happy to be a radio DJ. I want to seize this opportunity and continue to enjoy hosting for a long time, so I am working very hard.”
Who would Lee Sang-soon like to invite as a guest on ‘A Perfect Day’? He said, “I had mentioned that it would be great if Hyun Bin could come, and I was surprised that he is coming today. I realized I shouldn’t speak carelessly.” He added, “In the beginning, I discussed with the production team that I wanted to invite Han Seok-kyu. Seeing him on video, I liked his speaking style. I’m curious about the tastes of such people, what music they listen to, and what they usually do. The person I’m most curious about is Han Seok-kyu, but I haven’t received a response yet. I want to say that if there’s a chance through this opportunity, I would like to invite him.”
Lee Hyun had his first broadcast as the DJ of ‘Close Friends’ on November 25 last year. Since the radio starts at midnight, there must have been changes in his lifestyle. In response, Lee Hyun said, “My lifestyle hasn’t changed much. I usually went to work at 4 PM and finished around 5 AM. I got tired of that pattern, so I tried to become a morning person for 4-5 months, but now I’ve become a night owl again because of DJing. I’m more accustomed to this pattern, so I think it’s easier to meet.”
On his first broadcast, BTS’s J-Hope came with a bouquet to congratulate him. Lee Hyun said, “When J-Hope came, I was wondering if it would happen, and it did. (J-Hope) was busy with his schedule in the U.S. I thought it would be nice if some of the BTS members who finished their military service could come to support, and J-Hope came willingly.” He added, “Honestly, I felt a lot of pressure having J-Hope as my first guest. He’s a big star but also a junior in the company. It was burdensome and embarrassing to show my not-so-familiar and not-so-skilled self right in front of him.”
Lee Hyun also expressed gratitude, saying, “Despite the rain, many ARMY fans came, so I’m very thankful. Thanks to J-Hope coming, I was able to finish my first broadcast without being too nervous. Afterward, he said, ‘You did really well, hyung.’ I was grateful for that, even if it was just words. I think the BTS members will come out one by one.”
The radio that Lee Hyun pursues is “a radio that gets closer to K-pop.” He said, “I’m a bit cautious, but I think it would be great if Seo Taiji could come out once. If the timing is right, it would be wonderful if BTS could come back on the same day as Seo Taiji. I dream of a historic moment where the pioneer of K-pop meets two idols who contributed to K-pop going global.”
Finally, Yoon Sang said, “I want to attract those who have turned away from radio and everyone who has been with DJ Jeong Ji-young. I can’t ask you to listen every day, but I hope you will tune in whenever you remember. Just thinking, ‘Isn’t Yoon Sang DJing from 9 AM to 11 AM?’ would be a great success. I ask for your support.”
Lee Hyun also said, “There may be shortcomings, but if we continue together, there will be fun in growing. It would be nice if you could check in once in a while, ‘Is Lee Hyun doing well?’ I wish you a happy new year.”
‘This Morning’ airs every day from 9 AM to 11 AM, ‘A Perfect Day’ airs every day from 4 PM to 6 PM, and ‘Close Friends’ airs from midnight to 2 AM from Monday to Thursday.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
