MBC Newsdesk is a South Korean television news broadcasting show broadcast by MBC. It aired from October 5, 1970 to present. The newscast aired at 7:40 pm KST on Weekdays and 7:55 pm KST on Weekends. Jo Hyun-yong and Kim Su-ji serves as the currently anchors for weekdays and Kim Kyung-ho and Kim Cho-rong serves as the currently anchors for weekdays.
History
The newscast premiered on October 5, 1970, as MBC 뉴우스데스크 due to the orthography at the time. It was then renamed MBC News Scene (MBC 뉴스의 現場) on 1976 before reverting to its original title in 1980, this time as MBC 뉴스데스크.
+YearDateBroadcastAirtimeTitleNotes1970October 5weekdays22:30-22:55MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴우스데스크)First broadcast with the current title; also first flagship newscast by a public broadcaster1971February 722:00-22:30timeslot changeMarch 122:00-22:20runtime extensionSeptember 2Monday-Saturday22:00-22:30October 4weekdays22:00-22:251972October 3022:00-22:30runtime reduction1974November 2weekdays, Sundays22:00-22:30 (weekdays) 21:40-21:55 (Sundays)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴우스데스크) (weekdays) MBC Comprehensive News (Sundays)new standalone program on Sundays1975January 622:00-22:30 (weekdays) 21:35-21:55
(Sundays)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴우스데스크)integration with Comprehensive NewsApril 7everyday22:00-22:30 (weekdays) 22:05-22:55 (Saturdays)
21:35-21:55 (Sundays)runtime extensionOctober 1322:00-22:30 (weekdays) 22:00-22:20 (Saturdays)
21:35-21:55 (Sundays)timeslot change on Saturdays1976April 1221:00-21:25 (weekdays, Saturdays) 21:25-21:45 (Sundays)timeslot change on Monday-SaturdayApril 26MBC News Scenetitle changeOctober 1821:00-21:25 (weekdays) 21:30-21:50 (weekends)timeslot change on weekends1977April 1821:00-21:30 (weekdays) 21:30-21:50 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdays1978October 1621:00-21:30 (weekdays) 21:00-21:20 (weekends)timeslot change on weekends1980March 321:00-21:35 (weekdays) 21:00-21:20 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdaysSeptember 221:00-21:40 (weekdays) 21:00-21:20 (weekends)December 1521:00-21:35 (weekdays) 21:00-21:20 (weekends)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크)return to the current title1981March 1521:00-21:35 (Mondays-Saturdays) 21:00-22:00 (Sundays)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크) MBC News Center (Sundays)new standalone program on SundaysSeptember 3021:00-21:40 (weekdays) 21:00-21:35 (Saturdays)
21:00-22:00 (Sundays)runtime extension on weekdays1982October 1821:00-21:40 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (Saturdays)
21:00-22:00 (Sundays)runtime reduction on Saturdays1984April 1021:00-21:40 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (Saturdays)
21:00-21:50 (Sundays)runtime reduction on SundaysOctober 2221:00-21:40 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (weekends)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크)integration with News Center1985March 421:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdays1987May 421:00-21:50 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (weekends)1988May 921:00-21:50 (weekdays) 21:00-21:25 (weekends)runtime reduction on weekends1989April 2421:00-21:45 (weekdays)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크) (Mondays-Saturdays) MBC News Center (Sundays)new standalone program on SundaysOctober 3021:00-21:40 (weekdays) 21:00-21:25 (weekends)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크)integration with News Center1990April 2821:00-21:50 (weekdays) 21:00-21:25 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdays1991April 2121:00-21:50 (weekdays, Sundays) 21:00-21:25 (Saturdays)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크) (Mondays-Saturdays) MBC News Center (Sundays)new standalone program on SundaysOctober 221:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (Saturdays)
21:00-21:50 (Sundays)runtime reduction on weekdays, extension on Saturdays1993May 321:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (Saturdays)
21:00-21:40 (Sundays)runtime reduction on SundaysOctober 1821:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:40 (weekends)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크)integration with News Center1994February 2121:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (weekends)runtime reduction on weekends1996January 1621:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:35 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdaysMarch 521:00-21:45 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (weekends)runtime reduction on weekends1997January 621:00-21:50 (weekdays) 21:00-21:30 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdays1998July 2021:00-21:50 (weekdays) 21:00-21:35 (weekends)runtime extension on weekends1999May 1721:00-21:50 (weekdays) 21:00-21:40 (weekends)2001February 521:00-21:55 (weekdays) 21:00-21:40 (weekends)runtime extension on weekdays2005April 2521:00-21:55 (weekdays) 21:00-21:35 (weekends)runtime reduction on weekends2008May 2621:00-21:55 (weekdays) 21:00-21:40 (weekends)runtime extension on weekends2010November 121:00-21:55 (weekdays) 20:00-20:45timeslot change on weekends2012November 520:00-20:55 (weekdays) 20:00-20:45 (weekends)timeslot change on weekdays2017December 820:00-20:35 (weekdays) 20:00-20:30 (weekends)MBC Newsreorganization period (MBC strike)December 2620:00-20:55 (weekends) 20:00-20:35 (weekends)MBC Newsdesk (MBC 뉴스데스크)massive reorganization2018March 3120:00-20:55 (weekdays) 20:00-20:45 (weekends)runtime reduction on weekendsSeptember 2120:00-20:55 (Mondays-Thursdays) 20:00-20:50 (Fridays)
20:00-20:45 (weekends and holidays)runtime reduction on Fridays2019March 1819:30-20:55 (Mondays-Thursdays) 19:30-20:30 (Fridays and holidays)
20:00-20:45 (weekends)massive reorganization2020March 2519:35-20:55 (Mondays-Thursdays) 19:35-20:30 (Fridays and holidays)
20:00-20:45 (weekends)runtime reduction on weekdaysMay 3119:35-20:55 (Mondays-Thursdays) 19:35-20:30 (Fridays and holidays)
20:00-20:45 (Saturdays)
20:00-20:25 (Sundays)runtime reduction on SundaysJune 2919:55-21:30 (Mondays-Thursdays) 19:55-20:50 (Fridays and holidays)
20:00-20:45 (Saturdays)
20:00-20:25 (Sundays)reorganizationSeptember 1419:50-21:20 (Mondays-Thursdays) 19:50-21:45 (Fridays and holidays)
19:55-20:45 (Saturdays)
19:55-20:25 (Sundays)timeslot change on weekdays
Segments
Current segments
Main segments
News Pre-desk () is a YouTube-only segment established on June 29, 2020, following reorganization, where announcer Kim Min-ho and head of news strategy team Sung Ji-young brief viewers about different issues. Guests also drop by the show sometimes, including anchor Wang Jong-myung. Going Right Away () is a segment centered on investigative reporting. It is a merge of old segments Camera Dispatch, On-site Dispatch and On-site Dispatch M. MBC Tip-off () is a segment established on October 13, 2020, where viewers send in tips to the news department for developing stories. It was preceded by You Are the News. In-depth Coverage M () is a segment established on October 15, 2020, centered exclusively on investigative reporting. Site 36.5 () is a segment where stories and/or interviews are aired with subtitles and background music. In Today's News () explains stories briefly. Weighing Facts () is similar to JTBC Newsroom's Fact Check segment where reporter Nam Sang-ho fact-checks statements or give in-depth explanations on a certain topic. Omniscient Political View () is a segment where anchor Wang Jong-myung and reporter Kim Jae-young analyze how journalists produce their stories, similar to Newsroom's Behind Plus segment, but specializing in political stories.. The title is a parody of the network's variety show Omniscient Interfering View. One-shot Politics () is a segment where the latest happenings on politics is summarized in one minute. Roadman () is a Saturday-only segment where reporter Yeom Kyu-hyun goes out in the field to cover stories. He is backed up by reporter-turned-producer Kwak Seung-kyu, cameraman Kim Tae-hyo, writer Lee Mi-rim and assistant director Ryu Da-ye, with fellow reporter Nam Hyung-suk serving as the Fact Man to help viewers understand the issues being explained. My First Interview () is another weekend-only segment where anchor Kim Kyung-ho holds a camera with a selfie stick and interviews people working behind the scenes in the style of a vlog. MBC Sports News (MBC 스포츠뉴스) is the show's sports segment hosted by Lee Young-eun, where she details the latest in the sports world. MBC Weather (MBC 날씨) is the show's weather segment presented by Choi Ah-ri.
News Pre-desk segments Walking Through the Cue Sheet () previews how the show will go through the cue sheet provided by Noh Jae-pil, head of the Newsdesk editing team. This typically is aired last, but can be omitted when Pre-invitation is extended. Pre-invitation () is where the hosts talk about issues with an expert. Old-fashioned Politics () is a Tuesday-only segment where Hwang Oe-jin drops by to talk about political issues. Economic Hand () is a Thursday-only corner where announcer Lee Sun-young talks about economic issues. Choi Ah-ri's Painful Weather () is a Friday-only segment where weathercaster Choi Ah-ri explains issues related to the weather.
Former segments In Today's Newsdesk () previews the top stories that will be covered in the show. It was abolished on March 18, 2019, following reorganization. Today's Stocks () is a segment where then-reporter Kwon Jae-hong delves on the latest at the stock exchange. Economic Trends () is a short segment where important economic factors are displayed, such as stocks and exchange rates. It was abolished on March 18, 2019. Camera Dispatch () is a segment focused on investigative reporting, and was one of the show's most popular segments. Desk Video () is a video montage appearing before presenting the weather. Songs from popular anime and games are used during this segment, such as an instrumental version of A Cruel Angel's Thesis, Tsuna Awakens from the Reborn! score and multiple themes from the MapleStory score. My Little Newsdesk () borrows the format of variety show My Little Television where Lee Jae-eun (joined by reporter Lim Kyung-ah on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and Kim Kyung-ho on Tuesdays and Thursdays) presents different articles to viewers, who will react to it via livestream. Kim Soo-jin's Human Story () is a short-lived segment where anchor Kim Soo-jin interviews people. Only two episodes were broadcast, one with Seoul mayor Park Won-soon and actor Ha Jung-woo. News Refresh () is a fact-checking segment hosted by Park Young-hoe, where he conducts interviews rather than putting separate reports. The title is derived from the Internet's refresh function. Back to the News (BACK 투 더 뉴스) You are the News () is a segment where viewers provide tips about stories around them. It is succeeded by MBC Tip-off. Minority Opinion ()
Anchors
Weekdays
Name DurationNotes style="text-align:center;" 박근숙early 1970sOn the newscast's 40th anniversary special, host Kim Yong-man introduced him as the first Korean news anchor. He anchored the program's first broadcast on October 5, 1970. style="text-align:center;" 김기주1970 style="text-align:center;" 곽노환 style="text-align:center;" 김창식 style="text-align:center;" 형진한 style="text-align:center;" 이은명 style="text-align:center;" 이영익 style="text-align:center;" 김기도 style="text-align:center;" 하순봉late 1970s—1980s style="text-align:center;" 정병수late 1970s—1981He also hosted Laida 11, MBC's premier current affairs program at the time. style="text-align:center;" 이득렬1974—April 30, 1987He and Uhm Ki-young are the longest-serving anchors of the show. style="text-align:center;" 강성구May 1, 1987—November 4, 1988He is most remembered for the "bug in my ear" incident that happened during his tenure. style="text-align:center;" 추성춘As weekend main anchor: June 3, 1989—August 26, 1989
As weekday main anchor:
November 7, 1988—September 15, 1989He was a former correspondent based in Tokyo and Paris. style="text-align:center;" 이인용November 11, 1996—October 27, 2000He is known for anchoring during the most depressing period in Korean history, the 1997 Asian financial crisis style="text-align:center;" 권재홍As weekend main anchor: November 16, 1996—May 7, 2000 As weekday main anchor: October 30, 2000—December 31, 2001
April 5, 2010—November 15, 2013 style="text-align:center;" 엄기영October 9, 1989—November 8, 1996