Sohn Suk-hee, former presenter of MBC’s political radio show “Siseon Jibjung (focus),” was named the new president of JTBC’s news reporting department, the broadcaster announced on Thursday. He is rumored to begin hosting the general-programming TV station’s primetime “News9” show from June.

On his final radio show, which aired Friday, Sohn said in a trembling voice, “The past 13 years I have spent with the show was the best time of my life. The listeners are everything to me, and I would just like to leave today as I left the recording room every morning. Good-bye.” MBC announcers gave farewell to the legendary anchorman at the MBC gate. 

The former news anchor of MBC quit the broadcasting station in 2006 after 22 years as an announcer there but kept the radio show, which topped the chart for 13 years since 2000. He reportedly resigned his professor position at Sungshin Women’s University on Thursday to start his new position at JTBC, which is run by the Joong Ang Ilbo newspaper group, from next week.

Sohn has been voted the most respected journalist numerous times and topped surveys as the preferred mentor for young people. His move is seen as unusual since TV stations under the wings of newspapers have drawn much concern over their alleged political bias.

“I know there is opposition to my choice. But I hope people can wait for me to carry out what I have been contemplating about true journalism. I will do my best to let them understand it in the future,” Sohn said.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)