Han Hye-jin of ‘Anyone Can Be a CEO’ said, “CEOs who face crises and opportunities at every moment are the true survival masters and ‘heroes’ of this era,’ drawing attention with her heartfelt message of support to 6 million self-employed business owners.

Han Hye-jin appeared as the main MC of ‘Anyone Can Be a CEO’, which first aired on the 14th, and played an active role as an ‘empathy fairy’ who understands the hearts of self-employed business owners better than anyone else. In relation to this, Han Hye-jin said in an interview with the production crew, “My younger brother, who is one year younger than me, runs a meat restaurant in Geumho-dong, Seoul, so I‘ve witnessed many of their hardships up close,” and “I felt empathy because (the joys and sorrows of the self-employed) didn’t seem like someone else‘s business,” revealing the unique reason why she was able to immerse herself deeply in the broadcast.

Regarding the offer to be cast as an MC this time, Han Hye-jin said, “I also have to take on new challenges at every moment because of my job, so I could empathize with the self-employed more than anyone else because they face new crises and opportunities every day,” and showed her sense of mission and determination, saying, “I thought that I should do what I can to help the self-employed overcome these difficult times, even if only a little.” Han Hye-jin continued, “I really wanted to participate in ’Anyone Can Be a CEO‘ because it is not just a simple entertainment show, but it provides real stories of self-employed people and specific solutions,” emphasizing her affection for the program and what makes it different.

“Through the program, I met business owners who were on the verge of closing down, and my heart was heavy as I vividly heard their desperate stories from the field,” said Han Hye-jin. “All the business owners who are silently enduring and doing their best in their respective positions even at this moment are true survival experts and heroes of this era. I sincerely want to express my respect and support.” In particular, Han Hye-jin said, “Self-employment is not simply a job to make money, but a job that contains a person’s dreams and life,” and added, “I sincerely hope that through the program, everyone will understand the earnestness, effort, worries, and tears of the self-employed, and that we can join forces to change reality for the better.”

Lastly, Han Hye-jin said, “I hope that ordinary viewers who are not self-employed will also gain hope and courage to not give up and move forward despite difficulties by watching the process of the CEOs getting back on their feet,” and conveyed her hope that, “Apart from stories about specific occupations, I hope that a culture will be established that willingly supports the courage and passion to find a new path without fearing failure.”

Meanwhile, in the first episode of ‘Anyone Can Be a CEO’ that aired on the 14th, the three MCs Han Hye-jin, Yoo Jung-soo, and Kim Ho-young will take a look at the unimaginable actions of the ‘bastards’ that make the self-employed cry, such as fecal terrorism, drunken violence, and no-shows, and discuss how to deal with them. The scene of seeking a solution was included. In addition, business expert Yoo Jung-soo presented a comprehensive customized solution that determines the existence of a store at the crossroads of life and death. Above all, the owner of the ‘Salmon House’, the main character in the first episode, showed a twist by expressing his intention to “continue the store” despite Yoo Jung-soo‘s decision to ‘close the store’, and then showed a ‘transformation’ by ‘taking care of hygiene management and developing a new menu, receiving support from viewers.

‘Anyone Can Be a CEO’, a small business solution program that exposes the various behaviors of ‘Black Consumers’, as well as provides proper support for closing down a business and survival consulting, airs every Tuesday at 8:40 p.m. on SBS Plus.

Reporter Choi Yoon-na, Donga.com yyynnn@donga.com