Family Entertainment Show's 'National MC' Heo Cham Passes Away at 73 After Battling Liver Cancer

Debuted in 1971 on Dongyang Broadcasting's '7 Dae Gasu Show'
Hosted KBS 'Gajok Orakgwan' for 25 Years

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Broadcaster Heo Cham, who hosted the entertainment program 'Gajok Orakgwan' for 25 years, has passed away.

According to broadcasting industry officials on the 1st, he passed away on this day while battling liver cancer. He was 73 years old.

Born in 1949, he debuted in 1971 with TBC Dongyang Broadcasting's '7th Singer Show,' the predecessor of JTBC. With his outstanding wit and eloquence, he served as MC for shows such as 'Show Show Show,' 'Challenge Housewives' Singing Star,' 'Singing White-Blue Battle,' and 'All-Star White-Blue Battle.'

His representative work was KBS entertainment program 'Gajok Orakgwan,' which he hosted from its first broadcast in April 1984 until the final episode in April 2009. Over 10,000 participants and 110,000 audience members passed through the show. Although 23 female hosts changed over time, Heo Cham was the only male host throughout.

The only period he was absent from the 'Gajok Orakgwan' MC position was one week in the mid-1980s when he was hospitalized due to a traffic accident.

After the cancellation of 'Gajok Orakgwan,' Heo Cham actively hosted music programs such as SBS's 'Trot Paldo Gangsan,' KBS's 'Challenge Housewives' Singing Star' and 'Trot Paldo Gangsan,' Gyeongin Broadcasting's '8 Provinces Singing Contest,' and Mnet's 'Golden Hit Song.'

In 2003, he debuted as a singer by releasing the album 'Chueok-ui Yeoja' (Woman of Memories). Until recently, he continued his activities by appearing on broadcasts such as KBS's 'Immortal Songs - Legendary MC Special' and TV Chosun's 'Star Documentary My Way.'

He received the 12th Korea Entertainment Arts Awards TV Host Award in 2005 and the KBS Entertainment Awards Achievement Award in 2006.

The funeral is being held at the Seoul Asan Medical Center funeral hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.