Broadcaster Song Eun-i. [Yonhap]
Broadcaster Song Eun-i. [Yonhap]

Broadcaster and CEO Song Eun-i sat down with her employees for a candid conversation about their shared history at the company.

A video titled "Employees betray Bibo CEO — the old-timer Song Eun-i and the young-timers all show up! Bibo's 'back in my day' stories" was uploaded Thursday to the YouTube channel Bibo TV.

In the video, Song approached employees working late with an idea. "I just had a great idea — let's have a late-night snack and chat with whoever's still here. I wonder how many will come up," she said, adding that she worried she might end up sitting alone. Four long-tenured staff members ultimately gathered.

Slightly disappointed, Song said, "Isn't it fun to have a late-night snack with the CEO? I thought at least six people would show up."

One of those present, a producer identified as Director Lee — described as the most junior member despite seven years at the company — revealed that her first day of work had fallen on March 1 Independence Movement Day. "You called me in for a meeting," she said. Song acknowledged the detail, saying, "Back then we had no staff. You were the first official employee with full social insurance coverage," and added, "It's remarkable that I've kept at this for 10 years, and equally remarkable that you've stayed for 10."

Writer No teased Song, calling her an old-timer, while Director Lee quipped that she always gets overshadowed by Song and Writer No.

Song insisted she was not really an old-timer, but Director No pushed back with a story. "There was a time when you were furious but held it in. You said, 'How can everyone just leave for lunch without me? Not a single person asked.' I told you to ask the staff to invite you next time, and you immediately calmed down and said, 'Oh, that would work,'" she recalled, drawing laughter.

Song reflected on the episode, saying the company used to eat together as a group back then, and that staff had told her they simply did not realize she was still around. "There were more than 10 of us all eating together," she said. Writer No remembered how staff would wait at the entrance just to eat separately, while one producer joked, "When I first joined, I thought, 'Is this place a communist party?'"

Song denied having imposed the group meals herself, and Writer No laughed, saying, "There was no freedom of choice when it came to the menu. By comparison, now nobody wants to eat together at all."

Meanwhile, Song founded content production company Bibo in 2015 and talent agency Media Lab Seesaw in 2019. The venture drew wide attention when her companies posted 10 billion won ($7.24 million) in sales and 1 billion won in net profit for the period in 2022.


choigo@heraldcorp.com