[Exclusive] Han Ga-in confirmed as MC for KBS' 'History Journal', "Program canceled after parachute MC failed"

KBS's "History Journal That Day," which was preparing for its first broadcast with actress Han Ga-in confirmed as the new MC, has been revealed to have received an "indefinite temporary suspension notice" from the production team, which is expected to cause controversy. The production team revealed that they decided to cancel the show after the production team tried to push former KBS announcer Cho Soo-bin, who served as a member of the Presidential Committee for National Integration's Media Special Committee, as the new MC, but it fell through.

In a statement on the 13th, PDs Shin Dong-jo, Kim Min-jung, Choi Jin-young, and Kang Min-chae of 'History Journal That Day' revealed, "On the evening of April 25th, three days (business days) before the recording of the first broadcast of the revised version scheduled for April 30th, Production Headquarters 1 Director Lee Je-won gave the final notice through Current Affairs and Culture Department 2 Director Lee Sang-heon to appoint Jo Soo-bin as the 'parachute MC'."

The production team said, "We had already finished recruiting the MCs, panelists, and experts, as well as preparing the script and casting famous actors, and finished filming the segments. When expectations for the first broadcast were running high, the head of the headquarters gave this extraordinary order." They continued, "Filming was postponed for two weeks after that, and last Friday (the 10th), we were finally notified of an indefinite suspension." According to Media Today's investigation, the famous actor cast as the MC was confirmed to be Han Ga-in.

The production team said, "Mr. Jo Soo-bin is a member of the Media Special Committee of the Presidential Committee for National Unification (April 2023 - September 2023), a current director of the Baek Seon-yeop General Memorial Foundation, a former main news anchor on Channel A, and currently an MC for a TV Chosun current affairs program. He also has a history of hosting numerous political events." They added, "Since neutrality is important for a historical program, the production team could not accept a person who could cause political controversy."

The production team said, "In early April, a top domestic actor was already confirmed as the MC, and famous actors were also recruited for the corner appearances. At the very moment when the news of a famous popular actor's appearance was confirmed, sponsorships worth about 200 million won were in progress," and "The content composition and guest recruitment up to the 5th episode were already complete, but right before recording, Head of Headquarters Lee Je-won decided to appoint Jo Soo-bin as the parachute MC. And then he effectively notified the program's cancellation." Regarding this, they lamented, "Which guest and staff would want to work with KBS now?"

Then, "While recording was on hold, Jo Soo-bin notified the program on the evening of May 8 that she would not be appearing on the program. The production team earnestly appealed to them to resume the program, but Director Lee Je-won insisted on a temporary cancellation, saying, 'The organization's discipline has been shaken, so the program cannot proceed as is. '" He also said that they did not know how long the indefinite hold would last.

https://n.news.naver.com/article/006/0000123873?sid=102