Lee Geum-hee's 'Centenarian Wealth' and Jung Seung-je's 'Listening'.. EBS Wins Four Works Awards at the 53rd Korea Broadcasting Awards

*This content was translated by AI.

EBS (President Kim Yu-yeol) secured four works awards and three individual awards at the 2026 Korea Broadcasting Awards.

At the 53rd Korea Broadcasting Awards, hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Association (Chairman Ahn Hyung-jun), 'Space Empathy', 'Indie Music 30th Anniversary Special Project Pioneer Series', 'Doc Prime: Centenarian Wealth', 'Youth Communication Project Listening', 'Hyejeong x Seungje Cross', 'Young Philosopher', and 'AI Series Special' won works awards in the categories of 'Culture, Arts, and General Interest', 'Lifestyle Information TV', 'Lifestyle Information Radio', and 'Children', respectively. Additionally, three individual award recipients were selected.

First, 'Space Empathy' and 'Indie Music 30th Anniversary Special Project Pioneer Series' won the 'Culture, Arts, and General Interest' category.

The indie scene, which began in 1995 centered around live clubs in Hongdae, has steadily expanded the landscape of Korean popular music beyond genres and boundaries. As a faithful recorder of Korean popular music, EBS's 'Space Empathy' broadcast the 'Pioneer Series', featuring the music and stories of musicians who have forged new paths on the 30th anniversary of indie music.

The 'Pioneer Series' featured Crayon Pop, Jang Young-gyu, The Quiett, Jayoulim, pianist Yoon Seok-cheol, Kirara, Sayumi, SoulScape, and Baming Tiger. Deeply capturing the musical lives of these artists who have explored their own musical possibilities across different eras and genres, the series highlighted the changes and challenges in Korean popular music over 30 years since the birth of the indie scene in 1995.

In particular, while reflecting on the paths each musician had walked as a 'pioneer', they presented representative songs that marked musical turning points live, vividly conveying their musical worlds. The series was loved by many viewers for not merely looking back at the music history of one generation but capturing the flow of Korean popular music that continues to expand through new genres and musical attempts up to the present day.

The two-part economic solution program for the retired generation, 'Doc Prime: Centenarian Wealth', won the Lifestyle Information TV category.

This program received high praise for moving beyond the conventions of existing documentaries to offer practical economic solutions for life after retirement. As the baby boomer generation, accounting for about 30% of the total population, enters the full-fledged retirement period, questions such as "How much money is needed for old age?" and "Why must one worry about bankruptcy in old age despite working a lifetime?" have emerged not as individual issues but as structural challenges for society as a whole. 'Centenarian Wealth' boldly questioned this reality that we all face and aimed to be Korea's first economic solution program for the retired generation, seeking to happily resolve their concerns about "living longer than money."

In particular, experts from various fields participated, including broadcaster Lee Geum-hee, money trainer Kim Kyung-pil, financial planning expert Kim Gyeong-rok (Dr.), and family conflict and legal expert Lawyer Yang So-young. Based on the 'Money Map', which documented case subjects' lifetime income, consumption, and expenditures, they analyzed their financial status and accurately diagnosed the causes of crises by retracing economic choices across life stages such as marriage, childbirth, career, and real estate. This approach, which went beyond simple problem identification to offer solutions tailored to each subject, drew broad interest and resonance from many viewers, including those in the retired generation.

'Youth Communication Project Listening', hosted by idol Jung Seung-je who is a favorite among test-takers, along with 'Hyejeong x Seungje Cross', won the Lifestyle Information Radio category.

The 'Youth Communication Project Listening' is Korea's only radio program that listens to and empathizes with the concerns of teenagers. Every Thursday, 'Hyejeong x Seungje Cross', featuring Jung Seung-je and Yoon Hye-jeong, is broadcast.

Until now, 'Listening' has shared daily concerns that are difficult for teenagers to easily open up about, including studies, entrance exams, friendships, family, and career paths, serving as a communication channel that listens to the stories of teenagers rather than presenting 'correct answers'. In particular, 'Hyejeong x Seungje Cross' gained resonance from viewers because it is not only familiar to teenagers but also created a space where they can comfortably talk about their hearts, with two hosts who always offer trustworthy advice, providing realistic counsel and sincere empathy to answer their concerns.

The 'Young Philosopher' and 'AI Series Special (3-part)' won in the Children's category.

The 'Young Philosopher' is Korea's first children's philosophy debate program that focuses on the point that in an era where AI rapidly replaces human domains, the unique and irreplaceable power that only humans possess is the "power to philosophize." Through the operation of an advisory committee, it adds educational value and academic depth, helping children grow into independent individuals who can question for themselves, think deeply, and establish their own value standards.

The 'AI Series Special' focuses on the problem of what criteria to use for judgment beyond technology and how to take responsibility for the results in an era where global AI companies are hiring philosophers. It consists of short fables tailored to children's level that address three key dilemmas of the AI age: "Ethical dilemmas surrounding life," "The possibility of coexistence between AI and humans," and "Human dignity."

In particular, in this debate conducted without a script, children articulated answers that even adults find difficult to give easily, such as "True empathy is something only humans can do" and "Machines calculate, but humans have courage," moving viewers with their unique ways of expressing themselves.

For individual awards, Producer Park Yu-rim was selected for the Producer category, Seo Sang-seok for the Art category, and 'World Theme Travel' writer Joo Kkot-saem for the Writer category.

The judging process involved 239 works and 60 broadcasters submitted through internal competition among nationwide terrestrial broadcasting stations, resulting in the selection of 30 works for the Works Awards and 15 individuals (works) for the Individual Awards.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.