Former announcer Park Shin-young. [TikTok/IOK Company]
Former announcer Park Shin-young. [TikTok/IOK Company]

Former announcer Park Shin-young, who stepped away from broadcasting amid controversy over a fatal motorcycle accident, has resurfaced as a TikTok creator five years later — and has now spoken out directly about her state of mind.

Park wrote on her Instagram on Tuesday that she had grown strong enough to speak up for herself. "No matter what anyone says, I am living my best life in a way I am not ashamed of," she said.

She added that she would not easily fall apart, if only because it would feel unfair to give up after enduring so much hardship. "To those who worried about me, and those who said they missed me and were glad to see me — thank you," she wrote.

Videos and screenshots of Park hosting TikTok live streams have been circulating widely on online communities and social media in recent weeks. The content drew attention for its sharp contrast with her composed image as an announcer — featuring bold fashion choices, dance clips and lookbook-style videos.

Park graduated from New York University with a degree in economics before making her debut as an announcer at MBC Sports Plus in 2014. She gained recognition for her strong English skills, conducting interviews with foreign athletes without an interpreter.

Her broadcasting career came to a halt in 2021, however, after she was involved in a traffic accident at an intersection in front of Sangam Elementary School in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Former announcer Park Shin-young. [Yonhap/SNS capture]
Former announcer Park Shin-young. [Yonhap/SNS capture]

An investigation into the accident found that Park had entered the intersection on a yellow light and was traveling at 102 kilometers per hour on a road with a speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour. The motorcycle rider was also found to have entered the intersection on a red light. A delivery worker in their 50s died in the crash.

During the trial, Park tearfully apologized, saying she was deeply remorseful and had been receiving psychiatric treatment because of the guilt. In December of that year, the Seoul Western District Court sentenced her to a fine of 15 million won ($11,100) on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning Traffic Accidents resulting in death.

The court cited her clean record, her remorse and settlement with the bereaved family, and some degree of fault on the victim's part as factors in determining the sentence.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com