State-run broadcaster KBS said it has recruited Lee Chang-hoon, a disabled man with first-degree visual impairment, as a news anchor.

Lee was selected from among 10 final candidates on Monday. A total of 523 people applied for the job.

<YONHAP PHOTO-0940> KBS 장애인뉴스앵커로 선발된 이창훈 씨 (서울=연합뉴스) 유용석 기자 = 국내 최초 장애인 앵커로 선발된 시각장애 1급의 이창훈 씨가 25일 오전 서울 영등포구 여의도동 KBS 신관 내 스튜디오에서 열린 뉴스앵커 위촉식에 참석해 점자정보단말기를 이용한 뉴스진행 시범을 선보이고 있다. 2011.7.25 yalbr@yna.co.kr/2011-07-25 11:18:59/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2011 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> Lee Chang-hoon Lee Chang-hoon
KBS 장애인뉴스앵커로 선발된 이창훈 씨 (서울=연합뉴스) 유용석 기자 = 국내 최초 장애인 앵커로 선발된 시각장애 1급의 이창훈 씨가 25일 오전 서울 영등포구 여의도동 KBS 신관 내 스튜디오에서 열린 뉴스앵커 위촉식에 참석해 점자정보단말기를 이용한 뉴스진행 시범을 선보이고 있다. 2011.7.25 yalbr@yna.co.kr/2011-07-25 11:18:59/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2011 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> Lee Chang-hoon Lee Chang-hoon

Lee Chang-hoon

The 25-year-old received high scores from all the judges during a news reading test, as he was able to quickly and precisely deliver news while his hands were reading the script from a Braille machine, the broadcaster said.

Lee is Korea’s first disabled news anchor, KBS said.

Born in Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province, Lee lost his sight after suffering inflammation of the brain and spinal cord when he was seven months old. He has been living in Seoul by himself since he entered the Hanbit School for the Blind for elementary school courses. Although he majored in social welfare at Graduate School of Soongsil University, he has always been interested in becoming a news anchor. Recently, he worked as a program host for the Korea Blind Internet Cast. Since his childhood, he liked to shadow other people’s speeches including TV news anchors.

“When I was young, I especially liked broadcasts of baseball games,” Lee told The Korea Herald on the phone.

“I’m so excited now. I hope to deliver various kinds of news including sports and lifestyle news,” he said.

Starting Aug. 8, Lee will undergo three months of training as a cub anchor and will then take a regular anchor post on one of KBS news programs, he said.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldm.com)