'National Singing Contest' Nam Heeseok: "It Would Be a Lie Not to Feel the Pressure"

"The Heaviest Microphone in the World Held"

Nam Hee-seok, the MC of KBS's long-running entertainment program 'National Singing Contest,' revealed, "I am holding the heaviest microphone in the world."

On the 7th, Nam Hee-seok said this during an interview on the official YouTube channel of the 'Korea Broadcasting Writers Association,' adding, "It would be a lie if I said I don't feel any pressure." Nam Hee-seok was selected as the new MC of National Singing Contest following Kim Shin-young and hosted the first broadcast on March 31.

Broadcaster Nam Hee-seok Photo by Korea Broadcasting Writers Association YouTube capture

Nam Hee-seok said he felt a great burden when he first received the MC offer but added, "Since the MC shouldn't look anxious, I started recording comfortably from the third episode. I have to bear the pressure."

He continued, "One reason I was chosen as the MC this time was because the show was widely watched by the elderly. My face was not forgotten by the older generation," and expressed his aspiration, saying, "Rather than creating an enormous synergy and explosive power as the MC, I hope to proceed in a stable and fitting manner."

Regarding his strengths as an MC, he said, "I have a personality that endures well. If I have money, I eat expensive food; if not, I eat what others buy." He added, "There was a time when I thought I was great to have come this far, but with this level of broadcasting experience, I realize how the staff operate, how the system evolves, and how a program becomes long-running."

National Singing Contest is a long-running KBS program that first aired in November 1980. It is also famous for having the late Song Hae as its MC for 34 years. After Song Hae's passing, Kim Shin-young was selected as the successor MC and led the program for about one year and five months but was notified to step down in February. Nam Hee-seok has since taken over the baton.

Meanwhile, according to the ratings company 'Nielsen Korea,' National Singing Contest recorded a 5.5% viewership rating for the first broadcast with Nam Hee-seok as MC on March 31. Subsequently, it stayed in the 5-6% range with 6.0% on April 7, 5.9% on April 14, 6.8% on April 21, and 5.1% on April 28. These ratings are similar to those during Kim Shin-young's tenure as MC.

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