Lim Sung-min Opens Up About Financial Hardship After Leaving KBS

Actress Lim Sung-min, a former announcer, opened up about the financial hardships she experienced after transitioning to a freelancer. In EP.150 of the YouTube series 'Jjanhan Hyung Shin Dong-yup' released on the 22nd, Kim Byung-chan, Lim Sung-min, Kim Hyun-wook, and Kim Sun-geun appeared together.

The video title was 'KBS Announcers Who Left the Nest.' Broadcasters from KBS gathered in one place after leaving the stability of a broadcaster, and the core of the conversation was the realities each faced after leaving their jobs.

Periods of No Work, Even National Pension Contributions Were a Burden

Lim Sung-min said that during times when work dried up, it was difficult to handle even health insurance premiums and national pension contributions.

The fact that she was a well-known person was also a realistic barrier.

She said it was not easy to look for general part-time jobs, and she began to avoid contact due to the burden of having to spend money when meeting people. This part revealed the pressure of daily life that existed behind the name of a broadcaster.

This is not the first time this story has been disclosed. In the 2022 TV Chosun program 'Star Documentary My Way,' Lim Sung-min also mentioned a period around 2005 when she had almost no work, causing her to dip into her savings and delay paying insurance premiums and national pension contributions.

In this episode of 'Jjanhan Hyung Shin Dong-yup,' the same experience was revisited through the conversation of freelancers from KBS. It was also conveyed that the recognition built within an organization and the livelihood after resignation do not always move in the same direction.

Transitioned to Actress After Joining KBS as an Announcer in 1994

Lim Sung-min joined KBS as a 20th open recruitment announcer in 1994 and worked there until 2001. Previously, she had also passed the 1991 KBS open recruitment talent exam, but she could not immediately pursue acting activities, and later turned toward the path of acting after her career as an announcer.

She also has a history of returning to her 'home base' by appearing in KBS 2TV dramas and participating in plays and movies. While it appeared to be a natural transformation on the surface, in reality, there was a long period after her salary stopped where she had to create her own next opportunities.

In the broadcasting industry, freelancers from announcer backgrounds are often introduced as success stories. However, Lim Sung-min's experience showed that this path does not immediately lead to wider opportunities. While having a known name can help with casting, it also became a reason for narrowing her options when there was no work.

Talk After Resignation with Kim Byung-chan, Kim Hyun-wook, and Kim Sun-geun

EP.150 of 'Jjanhan Hyung Shin Dong-yup' focused more on how former KBS announcers endured life after resignation rather than simple recent updates. Kim Byung-chan, Lim Sung-min, Kim Hyun-wook, and Kim Sun-geun are all individuals who have experienced life both inside and outside broadcasting stations.

Lim Sung-min's confession was not a story embellishing the difficulties of a celebrity, but rather something closer to the cost that had to be paid to maintain a choice when leaving a stable job to do what one wanted to do. In her career, which spanned announcer, actress, and host, the process of returning to the stage even after work stopped remains.