MBC anchor who quit SK hynix missed out on W120m bonus — and sold the stock too early

Kim Jun-sang, an MBC anchor who left SK hynix to pursue a broadcasting career, has expressed regret over his decision, saying he would have received a bonus of about 120 million won ($78,120) had he stayed. He also revealed that his SK hynix share investment fell short, having sold the stock far too early.

The story of how Kim left SK hynix to join MBC was featured on Saturday's 405th episode of the MBC variety program "Jeonjeokteo Chamgyeon Sijeom," a celebrity management reality show.

Kim had previously worked in SK hynix's public relations team but chose to resign to fulfill his dream of becoming a broadcast anchor.

During the program, anchor director Jeon Jong-hwan opened the conversation by asking Kim, "When you look at SK hynix's share price these days, wasn't leaving there perhaps the wrong choice?"

Kim said he had been considered a standout employee at the time. "I was quite the ace back then," he said. "I was in the PR team, and I even appeared on the company's flagship broadcasts — I was just about perfect there. So I thought I'd do even better if I came to MBC."

He added that the financial gap had grown beyond the threshold he once set for returning. "When people asked if I regretted leaving SK hynix, I used to say I wouldn't go back unless they paid me more than three times my salary — and now it looks like it would be more than three times," he said. "I heard that a friend with the same years of experience as me received about 120 million won just in performance bonuses earlier this year. And apparently next year it could be about three times that on top of it."

Kim also acknowledged that his SK hynix share investment had not paid off.

"A lot of people ask me whether I hold SK hynix shares," he said. "I bought 10 million won worth at 80,000 won per share and sold it all at 100,000 won" — a disclosure that drew sighs from the audience.

At the time of filming, SK hynix's share price stood at around 2.3 million won per share, meaning his stake would have been worth approximately 336 million won had he held on to it.

"I never look back at shares I've sold. Still, I'm fine with it," Kim said, drawing laughter when he added: "If I could turn back time, would I have gotten married if I'd stayed at SK hynix?"