It’s not every day that a live television broadcast peels back the curtain on the high-stakes world of international diplomacy, but that’s exactly what happened on the February 11, 2026 episode of MBC’s Radio Star. The episode, titled “Too Much TALK GPT,” featured a star-studded panel including film critic Lee Dong-jin, rapper Nucksal, science communicator Gwedo, and—at the center of attention—broadcaster and interpreter Ahn Hyun-mo. The conversation, full of wit and candor, took viewers deep into the behind-the-scenes drama of the 2025 APEC CEO Summit Korea in Gyeongju, an event that brought together some of the world’s most powerful figures.
Ahn Hyun-mo, who served as the summit’s host, wasted no time sharing the sort of stories that rarely make it into official communiqués. She recounted, with a blend of humor and humility, the logistical headaches that come with wrangling world leaders. “Only the South Korean president arrived on time,” she recalled, drawing knowing laughter from the studio. According to MHN, Ahn described how, over the course of four days, she had to improvise constantly because “you never knew who would show up when, or what was going to happen next.”
But the real standout in the parade of tardiness was former U.S. President Donald Trump, who, as Ahn revealed, arrived a staggering 80 minutes late for his scheduled appearance. “When President Trump was late, I had to apologize four times,” she said, as reported by OSEN. The delays were so pronounced that Ahn joked, “I started thinking, if only I could sing or dance to fill the time, wouldn’t that be something?” The audience, sensing her mounting exasperation, responded with applause. “Maybe they felt sorry for me, seeing me apologize over and over,” Ahn mused. “They knew it wasn’t my fault, and that actually gave me strength.”
The summit wasn’t just a test of patience; it was a showcase for the kind of improvisational skills that only a seasoned professional could muster. “I had to keep apologizing, especially for President Trump’s lateness,” Ahn explained on Radio Star. She even described the surreal moment of delivering her final apology, only to be met with a round of applause—an unscripted show of empathy from the audience that momentarily lightened the atmosphere.
Yet, the drama didn’t end there. Ahn recounted a particularly tense backstage encounter with Trump, which unfolded under the watchful eyes of Secret Service agents and event security. “Before President Trump appeared, they cleared out the entire backstage area at the Gyeongju Arts Center,” she explained, as reported by Gukje News. “Everyone had to leave except me, because I was the host.” Left alone in the room with Trump and a handful of security personnel, Ahn found herself at a loss for words. “I thought maybe I could say hello as he passed by, but the atmosphere was so intimidating that I couldn’t say a thing,” she admitted. She was even instructed to move her chair off the stage, so as not to share the space with the president. “It felt like I was watching his speech on a screen, even though I was right there,” she added. The entire experience, she said, was “unlike anything I’d ever felt before.”
As if wrangling presidents wasn’t enough, Ahn found herself in the company of tech royalty as well. The summit hosted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose presence left a lasting impression on Ahn and the Radio Star panel alike. “From the moment Jensen Huang appeared, he was more dignified and elegant than I expected,” Ahn said, drawing a comparison to actor Robert De Niro. But what truly astounded her was Huang’s 40-minute speech—delivered without the aid of a teleprompter. “It was impressive to see a genius not just from the front, but from the back as well,” she reflected, according to Sports Donga.
Then came a moment that, in any other context, might have been mundane but, given the circumstances, became the stuff of legend. Midway through his speech, a parched Jensen Huang reached for the nearest water bottle—Ahn’s own—and took a drink. “I suddenly thought, ‘Wait, isn’t that my water bottle? Should I put it up for auction somewhere?’” Ahn said, prompting laughter from both the studio and viewers at home. Fellow guest Lee Dong-jin asked if she’d kept the bottle, while Nucksal quipped, “If it were me, I would’ve definitely kept it. That’s ‘money holy water’ right there.”
The summit also provided Ahn with unexpected insights into the habits of Korea’s corporate elite. She described witnessing Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s attentive posture during the opening ceremony. “While other business leaders lounged back on their sofas, Chairman Lee sat upright and listened intently to the president’s speech,” Ahn observed. “Seeing someone so prominent take things so seriously made me think I should stand up straight too.” It was a small but telling moment—one that offered a glimpse into the discipline that defines the upper echelons of business leadership.
Adding a personal touch, Ahn shared an anecdote involving her great-aunt, a pioneering interpreter in Korea, who also worked at the summit. “It was the first time my great-aunt was interpreting what I was saying as the host,” Ahn recounted, as reported by Radio Star. “She’s always been a big supporter, and each evening she would send me messages saying I’d done well. I don’t know what I would have done without her there.”
Throughout the episode, Ahn Hyun-mo’s stories painted a vivid picture of the chaos, camaraderie, and occasional comedy that underpin global summits. From managing the egos and schedules of world leaders to sharing water bottles with tech billionaires, her experience at the 2025 APEC CEO Summit Korea was anything but ordinary. As MHN put it, Ahn’s professionalism shone through even as she captured the very human (and sometimes humorous) side of those who shape the world’s economy.
For viewers, the episode was a rare treat—a chance to see the world’s movers and shakers not just as headline-makers, but as real people navigating unpredictable moments. And for Ahn Hyun-mo, it was a testament to the power of adaptability, empathy, and a good sense of humor, no matter who’s running late or whose water bottle goes missing.