Former KBS Announcer Kim Young-gil, Husband of Kim Young-ok, Dies at 88

Renowned former KBS announcer Kim Young Gil passed away on the morning of May 17, 2026, due to a chronic illness. He and his wife, veteran actress Kim Young Ok, were iconic figures in Korean broadcasting, having shared a 66-year marriage after beginning their careers together as announcers.

Key Facts

• Kim Young Gil began his career in 1959 as a 5th generation announcer for the KBS Chuncheon Broadcasting Station.
• He held leadership roles at CBS, including Head of the Announcer Office, Head of the News Department, and Head of the Broadcasting Department.
• He returned to KBS following media consolidation, serving there until his retirement in 1997.
• Kim Young Ok and Kim Young Gil first met as members of the broadcasting club at Chung-Ang University.
• The bereaved family includes Kim Young Ok and their three children (sources vary on the count of sons and daughters).
• The memorial altar is located in Room 12 of the Seoul St. Mary's Funeral Hall.

Key Terms

• Media Consolidation: A historical restructuring of the South Korean media landscape involving the merger and relocation of broadcasting personnel.
• Mandatory Retirement Age: The age at which an employee must legally or institutionally vacate their position; the deceased retired from KBS in 1997.

Key Quote

"We first met in the broadcasting club at Chung-Ang University. My husband was a political science and international relations major, and I was a Korean language and literature major." — Kim Young Ok

Next

• The funeral procession is scheduled for 8:00 AM on May 19.
• The deceased will be interred at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.