Unscripted and Unstoppable

March marks the exciting start of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season, uniting players and fans in a vibrant celebration of sports. At the heart of the excitement are sports announcers, whose voices bring every moment to life. This spring, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) invites Kingos to meet Kim Hee-yeon, a Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) graduate and announcer for MBC SPORTS+.

Home Base: Kim Hee-yeon at SKKU

Q1. Please introduce yourself. Why did you decide to major in theater?

Hello, I am Kim Hee-yeon, a sports announcer for MBC SPORTS+. Born and raised in Daegu City, I was a carefree and bright child with a deep love of movies and television. I often imitated actors’ lines and performances, which naturally led me to dream of becoming an actress. Later, I moved to Seoul City alone and studied for my second university entrance attempt. This was a major turning point in my life that taught me how to dedicate my full effort at key moments. Ultimately, it led to my admission to the Department of Theater at SKKU in 2018.

Q2. What is the most memorable moment of your university life?

All freshmen in the Department of Theater at SKKU have to take a mandatory course called Movement. As the name suggests, it teaches students how to convey a play’s content solely through body movements, without dialogue. It involves a year-long project that culminates in a presentation at the end of the second semester. During my freshmen year, I remember pouring my passion into this course with my friends. The moment I finished the final presentation, I finally felt like a true theater major.

Q3. What role did S-Angel play in shaping your university experience?

After becoming an adult and living alone in Seoul City for the first time, my social circle was initially limited to my department peers. This made me curious about students in other majors and led me to join S-Angel, the official school development ambassador group of SKKU. Through S-Angel, I met new friends with diverse academic and personal interests. Engaging in conversations and participating in various projects with them broadened my perspective and eventually played a significant role in guiding my career path.

On the Field: Life as a Sports Announcer

Q4. What led you to become a sports announcer, and what was the process like?

Originally, I never considered a career outside of acting. However, after my freshman year, I experienced a slump and lost interest in it. Determined to find new interests, I explored various fields by taking part-time jobs and attending one-day classes. Ultimately, I realized I enjoyed being in front of the camera the most. This realization allowed me to set my career goal as an announcer, and as I approached graduation, I began preparing with full commitment. I attended an announcer academy, took private lessons, read newspapers daily, and rented practice rooms for solo rehearsals. My first job was as a dedicated reporter for the professional ice hockey team, HL Anyang, and thanks to this experience, I eventually joined MBC SPORTS+, my current workplace.

Q5. What do you think is the charm of your job?

Unlike acting, sports are unscripted, and the unpredictability of each game makes my role exhilarating. There are limits to how much sports announcers can prepare in advance, so we have to structure our report spontaneously while watching the game unfold. Although this pressure was challenging at first, I now believe it is the most intriguing aspect of being a sports announcer. For instance, in baseball, a player who has gone hitless in five at-bats may suddenly hit a walk-off home run with two outs in the ninth inning. Witnessing such moments firsthand and conveying them to the viewers are privileges exclusive to sports announcers.

Q6. How do you adjust your reporting approach to each sport?

At MBC SPORTS+, I have covered various sports, including KBO professional baseball, the Women’s Korean Basketball League, and the Curling Super League. Because sports fans develop deep emotional connections with their teams and players, it is essential for announcers to create reports that resonate with them. The nature of these connections differs by sport, so I adapt my approach accordingly by browsing online sports communities to understand fans’ perspectives. For example, if many posts highlight a certain player’s growth, I structure my reports to emphasize that narrative.

Q7. What difficulties or rewards have you experienced in your career?

When I first started as a sports announcer, my biggest challenge was understanding the rules of each sport, as I had limited prior knowledge. To overcome this, I watched games constantly, even playing broadcasts while sleeping, to familiarize myself with the rules. On the other hand, there have been many rewarding moments as well. One example was when I interviewed the captain of the baseball team, NC Dinos, after they ended an 11-game losing streak in 2024, the longest in their history. Sharing that joy with the players and fans was incredibly fulfilling — a moment I will never forget.

Q8. What is a typical day like for a sports announcer?

Since routines vary by sport, I will describe a typical baseball reporting day. I arrive at the stadium four hours before the game begins and conduct interviews with the home team’s coach and players to gather insights. When the visiting team arrives, I conduct similar interviews. Using this information, I give my first report. Throughout the game, I remain in the commentary box, taking notes and delivering a second report after the fifth inning. Once the game ends, I interview the standout player, making a total of three reports for the day. Finally, I then return home to review and monitor the broadcast.

Q9. Please share your most memorable broadcasting episode.

One of my most memorable reports was a baseball coverage segment in Changwon City during the summer of 2023, when the weather was extremely hot. To vividly convey the conditions, I sprinted from first base to home plate with the team mascot in front of the camera. Sometimes, creative performances like this are incorporated into broadcasts under the consent of producers, and I recall that this unique reporting received much positive feedback.

Q10. What is your ultimate goal as a sports announcer?

My goal is to be an announcer who is both cherished and remembered for years to come. Since sports announcers appear on screen only briefly during broadcasts, making a lasting impression can be challenging. However, just as the same news can be presented with different headlines, I believe a report can be uniquely delivered through personal expression and style. These days, I devote significant effort to setting myself apart, such as using props or even singing. Likewise, I aspire to develop a distinctive style that leaves a lasting mark in the future.

Beyond the Game: Kim’s Personal Highlights

Q11. How is the Kim Hee-yeon on-screen different from the Kim Hee-yeon off-screen?

Although I appear confident on-screen, I am naturally introverted and consistently score nearly 100% in introversion on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test. On my days off, I prefer to stay home and rest. Additionally, while empathy is crucial for interviews, my personal decision-making style leans more toward thinking than feeling. In this way, my professional and personal personas differ, but I believe I maintain energy and enthusiasm in both.

Q12. Do you have any personal values or philosophies that guide you in life and work?

I always remind myself not to regret missed opportunities due to fear. Whenever I face a choice, I opt for the more courageous path. In my career, even when I feel uncertain about covering a new sport, I never say I cannot do it. Instead, I voluntarily express my willingness to try. I believe embracing challenges is the only way to grow.

Q13. What advice would you like to give to SKKU students?

Having focused solely on acting since childhood, choosing a different career path was incredibly difficult. With few seniors around me who had made similar transitions, I had no one to turn to for guidance and spent a long time struggling on my own. Therefore, I encourage any readers aspiring to become announcers or considering a career change to reach out — I would be more than happy to help in any way I can. Additionally, I hope you fully embrace the freedom that comes with being a university student. Take advantage of the countless opportunities available, explore new experiences, and challenge yourself to grow.