Lee Geum-hee

Lee Geum-hee was born on December 11, 1966, in Bulgwang-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. The fourth of five daughters, her father worked as a police officer. Due to the family's financial difficulties as her father was a low-level government official, her mother supported the family by working as a hairdresser and tailor.^[5][6]

In her early years, Lee faced significant health challenges; doctors initially doubted she would survive past the age of three. However, her mother, who had previously lost a child, dedicated herself to Lee's care, allowing her to grow up in good health. Financial constraints prevented Lee's parents from affording kindergarten, leading to her enrolling in Bulgwang Elementary School [ko] at the age of five. Despite the initial concerns about her health, her mother found comfort in seeing Lee thrive and attend school.^[7][8]

Lee's mother was a supportive listener, which encouraged Lee to share the details of her day. This habit helped her develop strong speaking skills and attentive listening abilities.^[7][8] In the fifth grade,^{[note 1]} of elementary school, Lee attended the KBS show ''Who is Better at Who?'' [ko] a nursery rhyme contest program, with her friends. She was captivated by the female host, an experience that inspired her to pursue a career as an announcer. During her time at Dongmyeong Girls' High School [ko], Lee actively participated in broadcasting activities.^[9][10]

She graduated from high school in 1984.^[9][7][11] When selecting a university, Lee specifically sought a campus with a broadcasting station.^[10] She enrolled i Sookmyung Women's University where she studied Political Science, graduating in 1988.^{[12][13][14][15]}

In 1987, during her senior year, Lee participated in the announcer recruitment exams for both KBS and MBC, but was eliminated in the final interview stage. Undeterred, she worked briefly as a radio reporter through a special hiring program for individuals who did not pass the final interview, where she met announcer Jung Eun-ah. After approximately four months, she resigned and also worked briefly as a secretary, dedicating her off-hours to preparing for the announcer exam.^[7][8][10] In February 1989, Lee successfully joined KBS announcer public recruitment and she finally was recruited.^[7] after passing the 16th announcer public recruitment. Her first program at the station was the radio show On the Wings of Song. She subsequently hosted the KBS Creative Children's Song Contest, which succeeded Who is Better at Who? the program that had originally inspired her to become an announcer.^[8][10]

In 1991, despite being described by the announcer director as "old-fashioned" compared to her more contemporary peers, this distinct quality led to her selection as the host of 6 o'clock My Hometown. Lee viewed this as an opportunity for professional development, even writing an essay titled 'Clumsy Announcer,' which was later published in a middle school Korean textbook.^[7] Lee gained wider public recognition starting in June 1998 as the host of KBS Morning Garden. Her quiet demeanor and two-handed microphone grip became characteristic of her broadcasts. She continued in this role for 18 years, conducting interviews with an estimated 23,500 individuals, until the program's sudden cancellation on June 30, 2016.^[7][16] As the host, Lee conducted interviews with 23,500 individuals.^[11][17][18]

While working as an announcer, Lee earned a master's degree in Journalism from the Graduate School of Media and Public Relations at Yonsei University in 1999. Her thesis was titled "A Study on Facilitator Preferences According to the Genre of Television Programs."^[13]

In 2000, after 11 years and 8 months at KBS, resigned from her staff position to work as a freelancer. She maintained her connection with KBS, continuing to host existing programs like the radio show Lee Geum-hee's Song Walk and the television program KBS Morning Garden.^{[19][20][21][22]} This decision followed a transitional period in 1999, during which she was promoted to Deputy General Manager of the announcer's office at KBS. After completing her master's degree, Lee also became an adjunct professor, teaching speaking classes at her alma mater, Sookmyung Women's University, and mentoring students. During this time, the pressure of writing her graduate thesis and a book led to health issues, including fainting episodes due to low blood pressure, prompting her decision to resign from her full-time role.^[10][22][23]

After transitioning to freelance work, her workload increased significantly. She took on administrative tasks previously handled by the Deputy General Manager of the announcer's office, including managing inquiries about her resignation and handling requests for coverage from reporters.^[22] For a period, she worked exclusively with KBS. One of her notable roles during this time was narrating the human documentary series Human Theatre, captivating viewers with her storytelling for five years. Lee described Human Theatre as a "living textbook," where she found deep immersion in the stories, often experiencing profound emotional reactions.^[6] In addition to Human Theatre, Lee began hosting TV Fairy Tale Happy World" on Korea Broadcasting 1 Television in April 2001. As a freelancer, she continued to be a popular presenter across various KBS programs, including Morning Garden, Lee Geum-hee's Music Stroll, Human Theatre, and TV Fairy Tale Happy World.^[24][25]

In 2005, Lee was selected as the host of Power Interview on KBS1TV, an interview program airing Saturdays at 11 p.m. This revamped show, previously hosted by actress Shim Hye-jin, featured in-depth interviews with influential figures from diverse fields to convey their philosophies and visions. The new format, which began airing on November 5, aimed to enhance expertise with revamped panelists including Jin Jung-kwon, Oh Ji-hye, Professor Chae Jung-ho, and Nancy Lang.^[26]

On May 22, 2006, Lee became master of ceremony of Sookmyung Women's University's 100th Anniversary. Sookmyung Women's University held a commemorative ceremony on the campus at Renaissance Plaza outdoor stage with more than 1,000 people in attendance, including former Prime Minister Goh Kun, Ewha Womans University President Shin In-ryeong, Korea University President Eo Yun-dae, and 32 delegations of presidents from 18 universities in 10 countries.^[15]

In 2007, she became the host of the radio show It's Lee Geum-hee, a Good Day to Love on KBS Cool FM,^[27][28][29] airing daily at 6:00 p.m. local time,^[30] with Kim Hye-soo as the first broadcast's guest.^[31]

Lee also expanded into acting, making a cameo appearance in the 2009 film Take-off alongside announcer Son Bum-soo, portraying an MC in a program where the main character Cha Heon-tae (played by Ha Jung-woo) searches for his mother. She also made special appearances and worked as a voice actress in films such as Top Star, My Father, and Cracked Eggs and Noodles.^[32]

In 2010, her talk show, Lee Geum-hee's Special Encounter, premiered on December 10 on KBS Prime. This program invited prominent figures to delve into their stories of success, love, and life, marking Lee's first solo-hosted talk show since Power Interview in 2005.^[33]

In 2016, Lee's unexpected departure from KBS Morning Garden after 18 years, where she had hosted since 1998, caused public regret. Her stepping down was attributed to KBS's internal policy of prioritizing internal personnel over external staff, a decision reportedly influenced by market competition. Despite her long tenure and lack of controversy, her departure surprised co-hosts and viewers, leading to public disappointment and criticism of KBS's decision.^[34]

On September 10, 2021, Lee received the Narrator Award at the '48th Korea Broadcasting Prizes,' hosted by the Korea Broadcasters Association, for her work on EBS's Travel to Korea. She joined the living field documentary program, which explores South Korea's hidden landscapes, as a narrator in 2009.^[35]

On March 25, 2022, the Korean Society of Laryngeal Speech and Speech Medicine honored Lee by selecting her as the recipient of the title for the person with the most beautiful voice and appointing her as an honorary ambassador. Following this, she delivered a lecture on 'Beautiful Voices and Our Stories'.^[36] Lee also participated in the 957th episode of the quiz show Conflict in Korean.^[4]

Lee Geum-hee is actively involved in various charitable causes, notably donating ten percent of her income consistently^[37] and supporting children with disabilities overseas. In 2003, Lee was appointed as a director of the Open World National Cultural Movement, an organization focused on people with disabilities, where she worked to promote awareness.^[24][38]

Lee frequently utilizes her voice for narration projects that create a positive social impact. In April 2013, she provided narration for the KBS 3 Radio special live broadcast "Sound, Sight, and Touch," held in honor of the "International Day of Disabled Persons" (April 20). The event took place at the KBS New Building Auditorium in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and was attended by approximately 250 invited individuals with disabilities and their families.^[39][40]

In 2020, Lee participated as a narrator in a fundraising campaign organized by the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to assist neighbors affected by disasters. The video, released on June 1, highlighted how people gathered at Hope Bridge to overcome significant disasters in Korea, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pohang earthquake, and various typhoon damages.^[41] On May 10, 2021, the Purme Foundation announced that Lee had allocated proceeds from an auction held during a YouTube live event to support rehabilitation treatment for children with disabilities.^[42]

Furthermore, on November 11, 2022 (Farmer's Day), Lee collaborated with Professor Suh Kyung-deok of Sungshin Women's University to release "Bee's Gift," a multilingual video (Korean and English). The video aimed to raise awareness about the value of urban beekeeping and advocate for the preservation and restoration of the honey bee ecosystem.^[43][44]

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