Sohn Suk-hee
A trusted news anchor who became the face of a major Korean broadcaster, steering its journalism through a period of intense political scrutiny.
Born 1956 (age 70)·South Korean journalist·Birthday: June 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Sohn Suk-hee built his reputation not in a boardroom but in front of a camera, becoming one of South Korea's most recognizable and composed news anchors. His career, primarily with MBC and later JTBC, was defined by a calm, authoritative delivery that cut through the noise of the country's tumultuous political landscape. He didn't just read the news; he guided national conversations, particularly during pivotal elections and the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. His move into leadership at JTBC saw him shape the network's editorial direction, cementing its role as a formidable player in Korean media. Beyond broadcasting, he has engaged with academia, sharing his insights with students in Seoul and Kyoto, bridging the gap between media practice and theory.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Sohn was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sohn Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Sohn's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as president and general director of the major Korean broadcaster JTBC, overseeing its news division.
- Was the principal news anchor for JTBC's flagship evening news program, 'JTBC Newsroom.'
- Led news coverage that played a significant role during South Korea's 2016-2017 presidential impeachment scandal.
- Held a professorship at Sungshin Women's University and a visiting professorship at Japan's Ritsumeikan University.
Did You Know?
He is known for his distinctive, deep voice and meticulously polished on-air appearance.
Before joining JTBC, he was a longtime anchor for MBC, another major Korean network.
He interviewed multiple South Korean presidents and key political figures on his news programs.
His departure from JTBC's presidency in 2021 was reported to be over editorial differences.
“The facts are the only weapon a journalist has against power.”
