MBC Newsdesk


MBC Newsdesk is a South Korean television news broadcasting show broadcast by MBC. It aired from October 5, 1970 to present. The newscast aired at 7:40 pm KST on Weekdays and 7:55 pm KST on Weekends. Jo Hyun-yong and Kim Su-ji serves as the currently anchors for weekdays and Kim Kyung-ho and Kim Cho-rong serves as the currently anchors for weekdays.
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History

The newscast premiered on October 5, 1970, as MBC 뉴우스데스크 due to the orthography at the time. It was then renamed MBC News Scene on 1976 before reverting to its original title in 1980, this time as MBC 뉴스데스크.
YearDateBroadcastAirtimeTitleNotes
1970October 5weekdays22:30-22:55MBC Newsdesk First broadcast with the current title; also first flagship newscast by a public broadcaster
1971February 7weekdays22:00-22:30MBC Newsdesk timeslot change
1971March 1weekdays22:00-22:20MBC Newsdesk runtime extension
1971September 2Monday-Saturday22:00-22:30MBC Newsdesk runtime extension
1971October 4weekdays22:00-22:25MBC Newsdesk runtime extension
1972October 30weekdays22:00-22:30MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction
1974November 2weekdays, Sundays22:00-22:30
21:40-21:55 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC Comprehensive News 		new standalone program on Sundays
1975January 6weekdays, Sundays22:00-22:30
21:35-21:55
MBC Newsdesk integration with Comprehensive News
1975April 7everyday22:00-22:30
22:05-22:55
21:35-21:55 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension
1975October 13everyday22:00-22:30
22:00-22:20
21:35-21:55 		MBC Newsdesk timeslot change on Saturdays
1976April 12everyday21:00-21:25
21:25-21:45 		MBC Newsdesk timeslot change on Monday-Saturday
1976April 26everyday21:00-21:25
21:25-21:45 		MBC News Scenetitle change
1976October 18everyday21:00-21:25
21:30-21:50 		MBC News Scenetimeslot change on weekends
1977April 18everyday21:00-21:30
21:30-21:50 		MBC News Sceneruntime extension on weekdays
1978October 16everyday21:00-21:30
21:00-21:20 		MBC News Scenetimeslot change on weekends
1980March 3everyday21:00-21:35
21:00-21:20 		MBC News Sceneruntime extension on weekdays
1980September 2everyday21:00-21:40
21:00-21:20 		MBC News Sceneruntime extension on weekdays
1980December 15everyday21:00-21:35
21:00-21:20 		MBC Newsdesk return to the current title
1981March 15everyday21:00-21:35
21:00-22:00 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		new standalone program on Sundays
1981September 30everyday21:00-21:40
21:00-21:35
21:00-22:00 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		runtime extension on weekdays
1982October 18everyday21:00-21:40
21:00-21:30
21:00-22:00 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		runtime reduction on Saturdays
1984April 10everyday21:00-21:40
21:00-21:30
21:00-21:50 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		runtime reduction on Sundays
1984October 22everyday21:00-21:40
21:00-21:30 		MBC Newsdesk integration with News Center
1985March 4everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:30 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekdays
1987May 4everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:30 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekdays
1988May 9everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:25 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on weekends
1989April 24everyday21:00-21:45 MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		new standalone program on Sundays
1989October 30everyday21:00-21:40
21:00-21:25 		MBC Newsdesk integration with News Center
1990April 28everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:25 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekdays
1991April 21everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:25 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		new standalone program on Sundays
1991October 2everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:30
21:00-21:50 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		runtime reduction on weekdays, extension on Saturdays
1993May 3everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:30
21:00-21:40 		MBC Newsdesk
MBC News Center 		runtime reduction on Sundays
1993October 18everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:40 		MBC Newsdesk integration with News Center
1994February 21everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:30 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on weekends
1996January 16everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:35 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekdays
1996March 5everyday21:00-21:45
21:00-21:30 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on weekends
1997January 6everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:30 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekdays
1998July 20everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:35 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekends
1999May 17everyday21:00-21:50
21:00-21:40 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekends
2001February 5everyday21:00-21:55
21:00-21:40 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekdays
2005April 25everyday21:00-21:55
21:00-21:35 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on weekends
2008May 26everyday21:00-21:55
21:00-21:40 		MBC Newsdesk runtime extension on weekends
2010November 1everyday21:00-21:55
20:00-20:45		MBC Newsdesk timeslot change on weekends
2012November 5everyday20:00-20:55
20:00-20:45 		MBC Newsdesk timeslot change on weekdays
2017December 8everyday20:00-20:35
20:00-20:30 		MBC Newsreorganization period
2017December 26everyday20:00-20:55
20:00-20:35 		MBC Newsdesk massive reorganization
2018March 31everyday20:00-20:55
20:00-20:45 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on weekends
2018September 21everyday20:00-20:55
20:00-20:50
20:00-20:45 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on Fridays
2019March 18everyday19:30-20:55
19:30-20:30
20:00-20:45 		MBC Newsdesk massive reorganization
2020March 25everyday19:35-20:55
19:35-20:30
20:00-20:45 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on weekdays
2020May 31everyday19:35-20:55
19:35-20:30
20:00-20:45
20:00-20:25 		MBC Newsdesk runtime reduction on Sundays
2020June 29everyday19:55-21:30
19:55-20:50
20:00-20:45
20:00-20:25 		MBC Newsdesk reorganization
2020September 14everyday19:50-21:20
19:50-21:45
19:55-20:45
19:55-20:25 		MBC Newsdesk timeslot change on weekdays

Segments

Current segments

Main segments

News Pre-desk is a YouTube-only segment established on June 29, 2020, following reorganization, where announcer Kim Min-ho and head of news strategy team Sung Ji-young brief viewers about different issues. Guests also drop by the show sometimes, including anchor Wang Jong-myung.Going Right Away is a segment centered on investigative reporting. It is a merge of old segments Camera Dispatch, On-site Dispatch and On-site Dispatch M.MBC Tip-off is a segment established on October 13, 2020, where viewers send in tips to the news department for developing stories. It was preceded by You Are the News.In-depth Coverage M is a segment established on October 15, 2020, centered exclusively on investigative reporting.Site 36.5 is a segment where stories and/or interviews are aired with subtitles and background music.In Today's News explains stories briefly.Weighing Facts is similar to JTBC Newsroom's Fact Check segment where reporter Nam Sang-ho fact-checks statements or give in-depth explanations on a certain topic.
  • Omniscient Political View is a segment where anchor Wang Jong-myung and reporter Kim Jae-young analyze how journalists produce their stories, similar to Newsroom's Behind Plus segment, but specializing in political stories.. The title is a parody of the network's variety show Omniscient Interfering View.One-shot Politics is a segment where the latest happenings on politics is summarized in one minute.Roadman is a Saturday-only segment where reporter Yeom Kyu-hyun goes out in the field to cover stories. He is backed up by reporter-turned-producer Kwak Seung-kyu, cameraman Kim Tae-hyo, writer Lee Mi-rim and assistant director Ryu Da-ye, with fellow reporter Nam Hyung-suk serving as the Fact Man to help viewers understand the issues being explained.My First Interview is another weekend-only segment where anchor Kim Kyung-ho holds a camera with a selfie stick and interviews people working behind the scenes in the style of a vlog.MBC Sports News is the show's sports segment hosted by Lee Young-eun, where she details the latest in the sports world.MBC Weather is the show's weather segment presented by Choi Ah-ri.
    ''News Pre-desk'' segments
    Walking Through the Cue Sheet previews how the show will go through the cue sheet provided by Noh Jae-pil, head of the Newsdesk editing team. This typically is aired last, but can be omitted when Pre-invitation is extended.Pre-invitation is where the hosts talk about issues with an expert.Old-fashioned Politics is a Tuesday-only segment where Hwang Oe-jin drops by to talk about political issues.Economic Hand is a Thursday-only corner where announcer Lee Sun-young talks about economic issues.Choi Ah-ri's Painful Weather is a Friday-only segment where weathercaster Choi Ah-ri explains issues related to the weather.

Former segments

In Today's Newsdesk previews the top stories that will be covered in the show. It was abolished on March 18, 2019, following reorganization.Today's Stocks is a segment where then-reporter Kwon Jae-hong delves on the latest at the stock exchange.Economic Trends is a short segment where important economic factors are displayed, such as stocks and exchange rates. It was abolished on March 18, 2019.Camera Dispatch is a segment focused on investigative reporting, and was one of the show's most popular segments.Desk Video is a video montage appearing before presenting the weather. Songs from popular anime and games are used during this segment, such as an instrumental version of A Cruel Angel's Thesis, Tsuna Awakens from the Reborn! score and multiple themes from the MapleStory score.My Little Newsdesk borrows the format of variety show My Little Television where Lee Jae-eun presents different articles to viewers, who will react to it via livestream.Kim Soo-jin's Human Story is a short-lived segment where anchor Kim Soo-jin interviews people. Only two episodes were broadcast, one with Seoul mayor Park Won-soon and actor Ha Jung-woo.News Refresh is a fact-checking segment hosted by Park Young-hoe, where he conducts interviews rather than putting separate reports. The title is derived from the Internet's refresh function.Back to the News You are the News is a segment where viewers provide tips about stories around them. It is succeeded by MBC Tip-off.Minority Opinion

Anchors

Weekdays

NameDurationNotes
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박근숙		early 1970sOn the newscast's 40th anniversary special, host Kim Yong-man introduced him as the first Korean news anchor. He anchored the program's first broadcast on October 5, 1970.
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김기주		1970
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곽노환		1970
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김창식		1970
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형진한		1970
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이은명		1970
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이영익		1970
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김기도		1970
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하순봉		late 1970s—1980s
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정병수		late 1970s—1981He also hosted Laida 11, MBC's premier current affairs program at the time.
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이득렬		1974—April 30, 1987He and Uhm Ki-young are the longest-serving anchors of the show.
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강성구		May 1, 1987—November 4, 1988He is most remembered for the "bug in my ear" incident that happened during his tenure.
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추성춘		As weekend main anchor:
June 3, 1989—August 26, 1989
As weekday main anchor:
November 7, 1988—September 15, 1989		He was a former correspondent based in Tokyo and Paris.
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이인용		November 11, 1996—October 27, 2000He is known for anchoring during the most depressing period in Korean history, the 1997 Asian financial crisis
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권재홍		As weekend main anchor: November 16, 1996—May 7, 2000
As weekday main anchor: October 30, 2000—December 31, 2001
April 5, 2010—November 15, 2013
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엄기영		October 9, 1989—November 8, 1996
January 1, 2002—February 1, 2008		He and Lee Deuk-ryul are the longest-serving anchors of the show.
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김성수		February 4, 2008—March 21, 2008
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신경민		As weekend main anchor: April 17, 1993—September 10, 1994
As weekday main anchor: March 24, 2008—April 13, 2009		He served as a member of the 20th National Assembly under the Democratic Party of Korea. He is currently a political commentator.
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권순표		April 27, 2009—April 2, 2010He is currently the anchor for its newscast News Exhibit.
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박용찬		As weekend main anchor: June 29, 2013—November 17, 2013
As weekday main anchor: May 12, 2014—November 6, 2015
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이상현		November 9, 2015—December 7, 2017
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김수지		As weekend sub-anchor: August 19, 2017—December 3, 2017
As weekday main anchor: December 8, 2017—December 22, 2017		She also served as anchor for News Today.
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박성호		December 26, 2017—July 13, 2018He is currently a correspondent based in Washington.
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왕종명		As weekend main anchor: May 7, 2009—October 31, 2010
As weekday main anchor: July 16, 2018—present		He has a thick voice and a serious tone when reporting or anchoring, but when fellow anchor Lee Jae-eun features him on vlogs in their YouTube channel , he is the total opposite.

NameDurationNotes
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백지연		May 9, 1988—September 4, 1992
April 12, 1993—September 16, 1994
October 2, 1995—August 9, 1996
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김은혜		April 26, 1999—October 27, 2000She was the first reporter to become sub-anchor, and is currently a member of the National Assembly, representing the city of Seongnam in Gyeonggi under the People Power Party.
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박혜진		As weekend sub-anchor: October 9, 2004—February 26, 2006
As weekday sub-anchor: March 6, 2006—April 24, 2009		She currently is a freelance announcer. Her most recent stint was during MBC's election coverage for the 2020 South Korean legislative election.
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김소영		As weekend sub-anchor: March 23, 2013—November 17, 2013
As weekday sub-anchor: November 18, 2013—May 9, 2014
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배현진		As weekend sub-anchor: June 12, 2010—April 3, 2011
As weekday sub-anchor: April 8, 2011—November 15, 2013
May 12, 2014—December 7, 2017		She is currently a member of the National Assembly, representing the Songpa District, Seoul under the People Power Party.
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손정은		As weekend sub-anchor: March 29, 2008—May 23, 2010
As weekday sub-anchor: December 26, 2017—July 13, 2018
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이재은		July 16, 2018—present

Weekends

NameDurationNotes
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손석희		January 3, 1986—May 27, 1989
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손석희		February 15, 1987—April 16, 1989
October 26. 1991—May 17, 1992		He is currently co-CEO at JTBC and previously headed the network's news organization, as well as an anchoring stint at its flagship newscast JTBC Newsroom.
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구본홍		September 2, 1989—October 29, 1989
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김동진		November 4, 1989—November 18, 1989
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이상열		November 25, 1989—May 17, 1992
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정길용		May 23. 1992—April 9, 1993
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정동영		September 11, 1994—January 7, 1996
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조정민		January 13. 1996—November 10, 1996
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박광온		May 13, 2000—January 13, 2002He's currently a member of the National Assembly, representing the city of Suwon in Gyeonggi Province under the Democratic Party.
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김세용		January 19, 2002—April 27, 2003
March 29, 2008—April 26, 2009		He is currently the head of MBC's Wonju bureau.
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김상수		May 3, 2003—October 5, 2003
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연보흠		March 19, 2005—March 11, 2007
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김주하		As weekday sub-anchor: October 30, 2000—March 3, 2006
As weekend main anchor: March 17, 2007—March 23, 2008		She is the first woman to anchor the newscast by herself, setting a precedent for women to become main anchors of their respective newscasts.
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최일구		October 11, 2003—March 13, 2005
November 6, 2010—February 19, 2012		He left the newscast and his press director position to participate in the 2012 MBC general strike. He is currently the weekend anchor for MBN Comprehensive News.
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김창옥		February 25, 2012—March 18, 2012
April 14, 2012—May 6, 2012		This was during the 2012 MBC general strike.
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김상운		March 24, 2012—April 8, 2012This was during the 2012 MBC general strike.
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정연국		May 12, 2012—June 10, 2012This was during the 2012 MBC general strike.
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최대현		June 16, 2012—October 7, 2012
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신동호		October 13, 2012—June 23, 2013
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도인태		November 23, 2013—May 11, 2014
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이준희		December 17, 2017—June 11, 2017
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천현우		June 17, 2017—December 3, 2017
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엄주원		December 9, 2017—December 25, 2017
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김수진		December 30, 2017—July 21, 2019She was the second woman to host the newscast by herself after Kim Joo-ha.
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김경호		July 27, 2019—present

NameDurationNotes
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김은주		As weekday sub-anchor: May 9, 1988—September 4, 1992
April 12, 1993—September 16, 1994
October 2, 1995—August 9, 1996
As weekend sub-anchor: May 12, 1991—September 6, 1992
September 24, 1994—August 4, 1996
April 25, 1998—September 20, 1998
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최율미		September 12, 1992—April 11, 1993
November 16, 1996—August 24, 1997
January 8, 2000—July 7, 2002
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정혜정		As weekday sub-anchor: September 19, 1994—September 29, 1995
September 22, 1997—April 23, 1999
As weekend sub-anchor: April 17, 1993—September 18, 1994
July 13, 2002—October 5, 2003
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이주연		August 10, 1996—November 10, 1996
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김지은		As weekday sub-anchor: September 7, 1992—April 9, 1993
November 11, 1996—September 19, 1997
As weekend sub-anchor: August 30, 1997—October 5, 1997
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박나림		October 11, 1997—April 19, 1998
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박영선		September 26, 1998—December 26, 1999She is currently the Minister of SMEs and Startups under the Moon Jae-in administration.
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최윤영		October 11, 2003—October 3, 2004
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서현진		March 4, 2006—March 11, 2007
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문지애		April 9, 2011—January 22, 2012
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양승은		May 12, 2012—March 17, 2013
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이정민		As weekday sub-anchor: April 27, 2009 – April 7, 2011
As weekend sub-anchor: May 17, 2014—December 11, 2016		She is currently the deputy general manager for MBC's announcer bureau.
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정다희		December 17, 2016—June 11, 2017
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박연경		June 17, 2017—August 13, 2017
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강다솜		November 23, 2013—May 11, 2014
July 27, 2019—June 28, 2020		She is currently doing segments for, one of MBC's YouTube channels.
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김초롱		July 4, 2020—present