Kang Dasom (‘10, Law) talks of her experiences as a former undergraduate law student at Korea University (KU) and an announcer at Korea’s broadcasting company, MBC. Not only does she mention the delights of achieving her dreams, but she also points out all the barriers she had to overcome to become the self-confident, determined person she is today. To her, being an announcer is the same as being an advocate, a listener, and a counselor. In sum, announcer Kang Dasom understands and embraces these roles and continues to speak directly from her heart.

About Kang Dasom

Since 2010, Kang Dasom has been an announcer at MBC. From a young age, she hoped to become a powerful speaker who comforts and warms the hearts of her audience. To fulfill her dream, she received her high school diploma from Daewon Foreign Language High School and studied law as an undergraduate student at KU. Her television appearances include Tempting TV and True Story Expedition where she stars as the host. Besides her television appearances, she is active as a radio personality, a drama actor, and a social media influencer.

GT: What does KU mean to you? 

Kang: KU holds a very special place in my heart. I worked my hardest there and was also able to make many wonderful memories. I formed meaningful friendships and memories with my friends. These days, especially admist the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), I miss the times when I used to devote all my energy and effort into the annual Ko-Yon Games and Ipselenti — Jiya Hamsung.

GT: What motivated you to become an announcer? 

Kang: When I was young, I enjoyed listening to the radio. I was particularly interested in the announcers that hosted night radio shows. I would listen to their calm and understanding voices, reading out the various stories that people sent them. When delivered by the announcers, even the most ordinary stories sounded delightful and unique. Inspired by the announcers on the radio, I made a promise to myself to become an inspirational individual and hoped to be like them when I grew up. 

GT: From your days attending KU, what activities did you do to help achieve your dreams of being a professional announcer? 

Kang: I did not participate in any club activities directly related to becoming an announcer during my time at KU. However, I believe that my experiences contributed overall to getting me involved in the broadcasting business. I was a part of a music club called Soulmate and a publishing club called the KU Jurisdiction Editing Committee. In addition, I was active in studying civil law, commercial law, and economic law, and participated in a Mock Fair Trade Commission Competition. 

Interacting and collaborating with professionals from multiple fields is crucial for announcers. It allows us to gain insightful knowledge and valuable experiences, which helps us build character. Thanks to the experiences I had during my time at KU, I was able to grow a broader perspective and greater insight in to my career. These perspectives still benefit me and help broaden my horizons.

GT: What were some of the challenges you faced? What did you do to overcome them? 

Kang: Personally, I think finding the perfect tone is the most challenging part of my job. Before I became an MBC announcer, I would often have a recorder by my side and ask for my friends’ permission to record our conversations. Afterwards, I would listen repeatedly to the recordings, paying attention to how my voice sounded. Being an announcer is about constant self improvement. It is like coming face-to-face with my rawest and most imperfect self, and trying to make it palatable. Sometimes I felt so embarrassed about my mistakes that I wished I could just crawl into a hole. However, I tried my best to cope with the nerve-wracking situations I was put into during my training as an announcer. Looking back, I think my consistency in keeping to my dreams helped me the most. 

Furthermore, I did not get accepted to MBC on my first try. In some cases when I applied to other broadcasting agencies, I usually went all the way to the third round of the application process before being rejected. I have often been rejected in the final round as well. Every time I faced rejection, it felt as if my surroundings were completely freezing up and entrapping me inside. However, I kept telling myself that unless I was going to give up completely, I should accept these rejections as part of the process. Looking back on what I have been through, I am grateful for everything including these rejections, and I feel as if they shaped me to be the best person I can be.

GT: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? 

Kang: I do not have a solid goal yet. I just hope to become a great role model for my juniors as my seniors were to me. Also, I aim to continue challenging myself and fighting for what I feel most passionate about.

GT: Please share a word of advice for KU students who wish to take up a career in the broadcasting business. 

Kang: Nowadays, there are multiple platforms in which we can showcase our talents and launch our careers. Most important of all is finding and presenting our own charm to the audience. There may already be people who are well-aware of what their charm is. However, I am sure that there are some who do not know or are uncertain. Although it is obvious, I recommend KU students to read a wide range of books, watch performances, go travelling, and spend quality time with others. These experiences are fruitful and meaningful and help build one’s character and present one’s best self. Moreover, I believe experiences can open up new possibilities and opportunities, both in academic and personal matters.