Without a doubt, the university festival is one of the highlights for many young people. Following Sungkyunkwan University’s (SKKU) May festival, Daedongje, the integrative annual festival ESKARA 2023 was once again ignited by MC Seop — the iconic master of ceremonies (MC) of university festivals. MC Seop, who is currently writing memories for many university students, started his journey at SKKU. Follow the stories of Lim Kyeong-seop, an MC and SKKU graduate, with the Sungkyun Times (SKT).
The Man Who Dreams to Be the "Nation's MC"
Q1. Please introduce yourself.
Hello, I am Lim Kyeong-seop, or MC Seop. I was accepted into SKKU in 2012 and majored in Chemical Engineering. Today, I am currently working as a professional MC hosting numerous festivals. I am also a YouTuber, creating videos through my YouTube channel Seop2.
Q2. How did you choose your career path as an MC after majoring in Chemical Engineering?
Since I was young, I have often pondered about the concept of life. The question that I have always posed was, “Why do I exist?” The answer I found was, that I certainly must have a role in life. This led me to contemplate my role, and eventually conclude that my role would be something I enjoy and am talented at. I believed that my major was not the right path for me; so, I was determined to find my own path. I soon realized that my role would involve drawing out stories from people and engaging with them. When I finished organizing these thoughts in the military, the “Nation’s MC,” Yoo Jae-suk, was on television, and I decided to become an MC.
The Icon of Festivals, MC Seop
Q3. What efforts did you make to become an MC?
I did not know where to start when I first decided to become an MC. However, my instincts told me I had to be involved in any kind of hosting. Hence, I started my career as a part-time host for doljanchi, a first birthday party of a child. Eventually, this experience progressed into weddings, corporate end-of-year celebrations, and university festival hosting. During this process, I practiced relentlessly, analyzed the performances of numerous MCs, from celebrities to small festival MCs, and tried to develop my hosting style.
Q4. Have you ever been in a slump during your career so far?
I believe that slumps occur once your skills become stable. Since there is still a lot of room for improvement for me, I have not experienced a slump until now. However, I would choose the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as the darkest time of my career. I was frustrated when all the stages and the environment I loved suddenly disappeared. The endless cancellations of schedules even led to a feeling of being a loser. The pandemic pulled me down from the top of my career just when I was on the verge of receiving offers from agencies and appearing on television shows.
Q5. How did you overcome the dark times?
The pandemic suddenly seized my passion and enthusiasm. Until the pandemic, any challenges I faced were bearable — I was able to overcome them by trying. COVID-19 was not the case. Despite any effort, it was simply impossible to deal with. However, at some point, I decided to accept the situation. Moving on from the ball of frustration, I considered my previous successes as simple luck. Hence, I decided to prepare for the possible post-pandemic era, the start of my second MC career.
Q6. From part-time host to MC of Yoo Jae-suk's fan meeting, what drove you not to give up?
My biggest drive was the confidence in my career choice — it is something I genuinely enjoy. Since I had a long period of consideration to find my dream, the drive when I finally pursued what I desired to do was incredibly strong. I had no time to worry; I only wanted to do better and to reach higher. The journey toward my dream was enjoyable, and any effort I put in yielded better results than expected. It was when I first learned that “efforts do not betray.” I believe it is this virtuous cycle that kept me moving forward.
Q7. Now, you are a host of numerous events. What is the most special memory looking back on your career so far?
While slowly establishing my hosting style during my part-time job at doljanchi, I organized a talk show with my university friends. My friends and I gave presentations to corporates and received a sponsor. My talk show, Cheongjacket, was then held at universities such as SKKU, Korea University, and Konkuk University. Since it was targeting the young, indeed, it was not easy. However, I am proud to say that it was a valuable experience where I established my way of communicating with the audience.
Q8. Your YouTube channel, Seop2, is also gaining much popularity. How did you start sharing festival-related content on YouTube?
My YouTube channel initially started as a form of family vlog, but it took an unexpected turn when my father casually suggested uploading videos of me hosting festivals. Since I thought it could be an effective monitoring tool, I shared a video of a rap performance during the SKKU festival. To my surprise, this video gained 3 million views. At the time, the festival content was, in fact, a blue ocean. This success was followed by two more unexpectedly popular videos: the horse sound mimicking video at Hanyang University ERICA and the Champion cover stage at the University of Seoul. By gaining much attention on festival-related videos, the natural direction for my YouTube channel became clear.
Q9. You convey the natural charm of students on your YouTube channel. Is there an aspect you particularly care about in these videos?
University festivals seem to have needs that encompass all generations. For adolescents, the expectations. For college students, the pride, and for adults, the nostalgia. It is important not to undermine these moments. Therefore, I try to convey them as naturally as possible. My way of capturing the charm in these videos is by minimizing the editing process.
Q10. You always host SKKU festivals. What does hosting at your alma mater mean to you?
The SKKU festival is the first university festival I have ever hosted and the first stage after COVID-19. It is the first and second debut stages of my MC career. Without a doubt, hosting at SKKU holds a special meaning for me. Every time I stand in front of the Samsung Library, I vividly recall the emotions from when I dreamed of being an MC and when I first performed in front of a crowd. The same place and the same sparkling eyes of students, regardless of time, remind me of my original passion.
The Next Steps of MC Seop
Q11. Are there any future goals you want to achieve?
My aspiration is to become the “Nation’s MC,” but my primary goal is to support the youth. I dream of a world where young individuals can challenge themselves in their areas of interest. Nowadays, unfortunately, many young people seem to fear failure and tend to avoid hardships. However, I want to encourage them to pursue their dreams. In the future, I want to support their goals and provide practical assistance. As a part of this, I would like to travel the country and host talk shows like Cheongjacket one day.
Q12. Do you have any words of encouragement for students with dreams unrelated to their majors?
Having dreams unrelated to your major itself is a sign that you have gone through a lot of self-reflection. In that case, you are on the right track. It will surely be challenging. Sometimes, you will doubt your choice, but you should believe in yourself. On top of that, I strongly advise you to reach the end of your journey, whether it is success or failure. I am more than confident that it will not negatively affect you.
Q13. Is there any message you would like to share with the young?
You are all doing well. You will all continue to do well. Every one of you is living your life full of passion in your unique way. Shed the fear and worries about your future. Instead, believe in yourself and take care of yourself. You are the one who knows you the best, so please look after yourself. Do not push yourself too hard to become perfect. It will be fine. Do not get frustrated in front of countless wonderful things ahead of you.