A MODERN
BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
THE COLLECTION / Film & TVARCHIVE № 272
1989 —   ANNOUNCER / TV PERSONALITY

KANGJI-YOUNG

Apr 11, 1989South Korea

What happened at what age?
Where were they at your age?

The breakthrough yearIn 2011, the year she turned 22, she reached the final eight of MBC’s Sunday Night – New Recruits, an open announcer recruitment show, and became the first contestant eliminated on the June 12 broadcast. Star News described her then as the youngest contestant, on leave from Indiana University. In September that year it was reported that she had passed as a special-recruit announcer at JTBC, and on Dec. 1 she co-hosted its launch celebration show.

In 2012, she began hosting JTBC’s Yeonye Teukjong. In autumn 2014, she hosted Nyuseu Hyeonjang. In 2015, she took on Jeongchibu Hoeui.

In 2017, she appeared as a student in the first lesson of Chainaneun Class. In 2019, she hosted Eoseo Mareul Hae. In 2021, she became an anchor of Ssul Zeon Live.

From November 2022, she helmed the weekend Newsroom alone. In 2023, she interviewed the director Oliver Stone on Newsroom.

In February 2024, she appeared on You Quiz on the Block, and on Mar. 10 she presented the weekend Newsroom for the last time. She married on Apr. 13, and in October her Sri Lanka trip aired on Geukhan Tueo.

In April 2025, she left JTBC and went freelance. In May, Netflix’s The Devil’s Plan: Death Room was released, and in June she was special DJ on MBC radio’s Brunch Cafe.

In January 2026, she signed with TN Entertainment and became MC of Sagikkundeul. In March she opened a YouTube channel, and in August she appeared as a new member of Jikjangindeul season 3.

Kang Ji-young (born Apr 11, 1989) became known on Jun 12, 2011, the year she turned 22, when she became the first contestant eliminated in the finals of MBC’s Sunday Night – New Recruits, and that year passed as a JTBC special-recruit announcer. She became sole weekend Newsroom anchor in 2022, the year she turned 33, and left JTBC in 2025, the year she turned 36.

Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.

Full timeline · 25 records2011 — 2026   ＋
AGE / YEAR

  1. 22 · 2011
  2. 22 · 2011
  3. 22 · 2011
  4. 23 · 2012
  5. 25 · 2014
  6. 26 · 2015
  7. 28 · 2017
  8. 29 · 2018
  9. 30 · 2019
  10. 32 · 2021
  11. 33 · 2022
  12. 34 · 2023
  13. 35 · 2024
  14. 35 · 2024
  15. 35 · 2024
  16. 35 · 2024
  17. 36 · 2025
  18. 36 · 2025
  19. 36 · 2025
  20. 36 · 2025
  21. 37 · 2026
  22. 37 · 2026
  23. 37 · 2026
  24. 37 · 2026

END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2011–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.

02 / QUICK ANSWERS

Q & AFrequently asked

How old was Kang Ji-young when she started on TV?
In 2011, the year she turned 22, she appeared on MBC’s Sunday Night – New Recruits and became the first finalist eliminated, on the Jun 12, 2011 broadcast.
How old was Kang Ji-young when she became famous?
In 2011, the year she turned 22. Nocut News (Jan. 13, 2026) and Star News (July 22, 2026) write that she became known through New Recruits in 2011, and Mediafine writes that she made her name known to the public.
When did Kang Ji-young join JTBC?
In 2011, the year she turned 22. On Sep 7, 2011 it was reported that she had passed as a special-recruit announcer, and on Dec. 1 she co-hosted the launch celebration show. She left in April 2025 and went freelance after 14 years.
How long did Kang Ji-young present Newsroom?
She took the weekend news alone with the November 2022 overhaul, and presented it for the last time as weekend anchor on Mar 10, 2024.
How old is Kang Ji-young?
Born in 1989, she turns 37 in 2026 (37 as of Sep 30, 2026). Her birth date is from Wikipedia and was not confirmed in news reports.
04 / ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

A LIFE,
IN CHAPTERS.

What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.

COLLECTION272Kang Ji-young / KANG JI-YOUNG

Film & TV · South Korea
Apr 11, 1989 —

Sources and method27 SOURCES   ＋

Ages are counted from the birth year 1989: the year of the event minus 1989, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.

  1. Newsen (Korean) · New Recruits: first elimination ↗Aired June 12, 2011: the first contestant eliminated among the eight finalists after text voting began
  2. Newsis (Korean) · The shadow of the audition republic ↗Article of Apr. 5, 2011: New Recruits first aired on the 6th of last month, with 5,500 people trying the first camera test
  3. Star News (Korean) · New Recruits: Kang Ji-young and Jang Sung-kyu hired as special recruits ↗Sept. 7, 2011. Born in 1989, on leave from Indiana University; says she won viewers’ support as the youngest contestant
  4. Newsen (Korean) · New Recruits special hires ↗Sept. 7, 2011: according to a JTBC official, Jang Sung-kyu and Kang Ji-young passed as special recruits
  5. Financial News (Korean) · JTBC launch celebration show ↗Co-host of the launch celebration show Show Show Show on Dec. 1, 2011
  6. Newsen (Korean) · Quiz Show Idol Preview ↗Aired Dec. 23, 2011; hosted with Kim Gu-ra
  7. Wikipedia (Korean) · Kang Ji-young (announcer) ↗Basis for the birth date and show start dates not confirmed in news reports
  8. TenAsia (Korean) · Chainaneun Class: first lesson ↗First lesson on Mar. 5, 2017; announcer Kang Ji-young is one of the 10 students
  9. Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Eoseo Mareul Hae ↗First aired Aug. 13, 2019, hosted by announcer Kang Ji-young
  10. JTBC (Korean) · Ssul Zeon Live launches ↗Airs weekday evenings at 6 p.m. from June 7, 2021; anchors Park Sung-tae, Lee Sung-dae and Kang Ji-young
  11. JTBC (Korean) · New Newsroom overhaul ↗Article of Nov. 7, 2022: overhaul from the 14th; announcement that anchor Kang Ji-young will helm the weekend news alone
  12. JTBC Newsroom (Korean) · Oliver Stone interview ↗Newsroom of Dec. 9, 2023, presented by Kang Ji-young. The byline is the name used in JTBC’s article system
  13. Sports Chosun (Korean) · You Quiz on the Block ↗Appearance on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, aired Feb. 21, 2024
  14. HuffPost Korea (Korean) · Leaves Newsroom ↗Last time presenting the weekend Newsroom on Mar. 10, 2024; says she became known through her 2011 appearance on New Recruits
  15. Nocut News (Korean) · Wedding ↗Wedding on Apr. 13, 2024; the groom is known to work in finance
  16. bnt News (Korean) · Geukhan Tueo ↗Episode 5, aired Oct. 20, 2024, the first part of a trip to Sri Lanka
  17. Newsis (Korean) · Leaves JTBC ↗Apr. 8, 2025: submitted her resignation, to leave on the 11th, 14 years after joining
  18. Ilgan Sports (Korean) · The Devil’s Plan 2 ↗First four episodes released May 6, 2025; filmed the previous year
  19. Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Problem Child in House ↗Appearance on KBS2’s Problem Child in House, aired May 15, 2025
  20. Xports News (Korean) · Brunch Cafe DJ ↗For two weeks from June 9, 2025; her first time as a radio DJ
  21. Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Exclusive contract with TN Entertainment ↗Exclusive contract on Jan. 13, 2026; MC of the lecture battle show Sagikkundeul, which became a regular program on Jan. 8
  22. Nocut News (Korean) · Exclusive contract ↗Jan. 13, 2026; says she became known through New Recruits in 2011
  23. Star News (Korean) · Joins Jikjangindeul season 3 ↗July 22, 2026; says she became known through New Recruits in 2011; joins Coupang Play season 3
  24. Mediafine (Korean) · Joins Jikjangindeul season 3 ↗July 21, 2026; says she became known to the public through New Recruits in 2011
  25. Xports News (Korean) · Opens a YouTube channel ↗First video on the YouTube channel Kang Ji-young’s Donggeurami on Mar. 24, 2026
  26. Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Jikjangindeul season 3 ↗Sept. 14 article: joined season 3, first released on the 29th of last month, as a new member
  27. Star News (Korean) · Bangguseok 1-yeol: Love Actually ↗Aired Dec. 21, 2018, recorded before an audience; guest appearance with Kim Ina, Park Jae-jung and Bae Soon-tak

Fact-checked: 2026.09.30 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.