JTBC Founding Anchor Kang Ji-young's Shocking Exit After 14 Years - 'Newsroom' Departure Sparked Deep Career Soul-Searching

The Shocking Revelation on MBC's Radio Star

On June 25th, 2025, MBC's popular variety show 'Radio Star' featured a special episode titled 'Business is Easy to Die For!' where JTBC's former founding anchor Kang Ji-young made a candid revelation about her departure from the broadcasting station after 14 years. Appearing alongside Lee Bong-won, Hong Seok-cheon, and Cha Jun-hwan, Kang Ji-young opened up about the deeply personal journey that led to her decision to become a freelancer. Her honest confession provided international fans with rare insights into the pressures and considerations that Korean media personalities face when making career-defining decisions. The episode became a trending topic across Korean social media platforms, with fans expressing both surprise and admiration for her courage to speak so openly about her career transition.

For international viewers unfamiliar with Korean broadcasting culture, it's important to understand that leaving a major network like JTBC after such a long tenure is considered a significant and often risky move. Korean broadcasting stations typically offer stability and prestige, making Kang Ji-young's decision all the more remarkable.

The Newsroom Departure That Changed Everything

Kang Ji-young revealed that her departure from JTBC's flagship news program 'Newsroom' in March 2024 served as the catalyst for her eventual decision to leave the company entirely. During her appearance on Radio Star, she explained how this transition period forced her to confront fundamental questions about her career direction. 'At that time, I really wanted to faithfully carry out my role as an anchor. I had no thoughts of leaving the company,' she reflected, showing how dramatically her perspective shifted over the course of just one year.

The cultural significance of 'Newsroom' in Korean broadcasting cannot be overstated - it's considered one of the most prestigious news programs in the country, and anchoring it represents the pinnacle of a news presenter's career. For Kang Ji-young to step down from such a position and then ultimately leave JTBC demonstrates the depth of her career contemplation. Her honest admission about the 'deep concerns about how to navigate her career' resonates with many professionals in Korea's competitive media landscape, where career moves are often scrutinized by both industry peers and the public.

From JTBC's First Special Recruit to Freelance Pioneer

As one of JTBC's first batch of special recruit announcers when the station launched, Kang Ji-young literally helped build the network's identity from the ground up. Her 14-year journey at JTBC coincided with the station's rise to become one of Korea's most influential news networks. This makes her departure even more significant - she wasn't just leaving a job, but walking away from a legacy she helped create. During her Radio Star appearance, she shared how senior colleagues acknowledged her contributions, telling her, 'You've worked so hard as a founding contributor for such a long time. You'll do well.'

For international fans trying to understand the Korean media landscape, JTBC's founding in 2011 marked a significant shift in Korean broadcasting. As a comprehensive programming service provider, it challenged the dominance of traditional networks KBS, MBC, and SBS. Kang Ji-young's role as a founding anchor positioned her at the center of this media revolution, making her recent decision to pursue freelance work a bold statement about the evolving nature of Korean broadcasting careers.

The YouTube Generation and Content Creation Evolution

Throughout her tenure at JTBC, Kang Ji-young wasn't content to limit herself to traditional anchoring roles. She actively engaged in various content creation activities, including YouTube, demonstrating an early understanding of how Korean media was evolving. This diversification of her professional portfolio likely prepared her for the transition to freelance work, where content creators must be versatile and entrepreneurial. Her experience with digital platforms while still employed at JTBC shows how forward-thinking Korean media personalities are adapting to changing audience consumption patterns.

The rise of YouTube and social media in Korea has fundamentally changed how audiences consume news and entertainment content. Traditional anchors like Kang Ji-young who embraced these platforms early positioned themselves advantageously for potential freelance careers. Her willingness to experiment with different content formats while maintaining her credibility as a serious news anchor demonstrates the kind of adaptability that international fans should recognize as increasingly common among Korean media professionals.

Industry Reactions and the Support System

Despite some colleagues attempting to dissuade her from leaving, Kang Ji-young ultimately received overwhelming support from her JTBC family. Her revelation on Radio Star about how senior staff members praised her as a 'founding contributor' and expressed confidence in her future success highlights the respect she earned throughout her career. This kind of institutional support is particularly meaningful in Korean workplace culture, where senior-junior relationships carry significant weight and leaving a company can sometimes be viewed as abandoning one's professional family.

The broadcasting industry's reaction to her departure reflects broader changes in how Korean media companies view talent retention and career development. Rather than viewing her decision as a betrayal, JTBC colleagues seemed to understand and support her entrepreneurial spirit. This shift in attitude represents a maturation of the Korean broadcasting industry, where talent mobility is increasingly accepted as a natural part of career progression rather than a sign of disloyalty.

Family Support and Personal Decision-Making

In a touching moment during the Radio Star interview, Kang Ji-young revealed that she first discussed her decision with her husband, emphasizing the importance of family support in major career transitions. This personal detail resonates strongly with Korean audiences, where family consultation on major life decisions is considered essential. Her husband's supportive response likely gave her the confidence to pursue what many would consider a risky career move.

For international fans, understanding the role of family in Korean professional decision-making provides important cultural context. Career changes aren't made in isolation but involve extensive consultation with family members, particularly spouses. Kang Ji-young's openness about this process humanizes her decision and makes it more relatable to viewers who might be facing similar crossroads in their own careers.

The Freelance Future and Industry Implications

Kang Ji-young's transition to freelance work represents a broader trend in Korean broadcasting, where established personalities are increasingly choosing independence over institutional security. Her decision, announced in April 2025, sent shockwaves through the industry and sparked discussions about the future of traditional broadcasting careers. As someone who helped establish JTBC's credibility, her departure signals that even the most successful traditional media professionals are reconsidering their career paths in an era of digital transformation.

Her freelance announcement has inspired other Korean media professionals to consider similar transitions, potentially reshaping how the industry approaches talent development and retention. For international observers, Kang Ji-young's journey illustrates how Korean media is evolving beyond traditional corporate structures toward more flexible, entrepreneurial models that allow personalities to build their own brands and directly connect with audiences across multiple platforms.