Conversations with Peter Choi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Choi.

Hi Peter, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to becoming a TV journalist has been anything but linear, but every twist and turn has shaped the reporter — and person — I am today.

I first came to Colorado as an international student from South Korea when I was 16. I still remember the culture shock of stepping into my first classroom in Littleton. Everything felt different — the language, the environment, even the way people expressed themselves. But over time, Colorado became a second home. I finished high school here and carried that growing curiosity about people and stories with me to college in Seattle.

In 2014, I started studying Communication at Seattle Pacific University. That year changed my life forever. A campus shooting took place — one that claimed the life of my classmate. In the aftermath, I found myself glued to the television in my dorm room, trying to make sense of what had happened, watching how reporters covered the heartbreak and the healing. That was when it clicked for me: journalism wasn’t just about reporting facts — it was about helping people understand the world around them, especially in moments of chaos and pain. That moment gave me my “why.”

After graduating, I moved to Seoul in 2019 to begin my career in broadcast journalism. It felt like a full-circle moment — returning to the country I grew up in, but this time as a storyteller. I worked at Arirang TV, a Korean international broadcasting company. I covered the COVID-19 pandemic, politics, and human-interest stories.

Eventually, I felt called back to the United States — back to where this journey really started. I returned to Colorado and now work as a TV journalist here, sharing stories that matter to the community I once arrived in as a wide-eyed teenager.

As a Korean journalist, I’m deeply passionate about representation, especially Asian male representation in media. It’s no secret that we don’t see many faces like mine on American television, and I’m determined to help change that. My goal is to not only tell compelling, accurate stories, but also to inspire young Asian students who dream of becoming journalists, and to show them that their voices and identities have a place in this industry.

I’m still growing, still learning, and still working hard. But every day I get to step in front of the camera or into a newsroom, I carry with me the lessons of where I came from — and the hope that I’m helping someone else believe they belong here, too.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been plenty of ups and downs; it has not always been a smooth road. Breaking into the U.S. journalism industry as an Asian male and immigrant has come with its own set of challenges. I’ve noticed a lack of representation in the newsrooms I’ve worked in and have felt pressure to “fit in” with the American style of journalism and stories. Navigating local stories as someone who didn’t grow up in the U.S. was challenging at first, but thankfully, my colleagues and managers have stood by me in support.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Multimedia Journalist at KOAA New5. In my day-to-day work, I pitch story ideas, shoot interviews, write scripts, and edit videos. I cover a wide range of stories from local politics to community-driven issues. I love stories that focus on elevating voices from marginalized communities in creative storytelling. Since my native language is Korean, I have a deep connection to the Korean community in Colorado. That sets me apart from other journalists here.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
For me, taking risks has fostered opportunities to discover who I am and how much I can overcome. Moving back to the U.S. to start my career in U.S. journalism was a risk. I was walking into an unfamiliar media culture, taking a chance on myself in a very competitive industry. That risk ended up shaping my skills in ways I never expected. It allowed me to grow into a better journalist who cares deeply about stories that matter.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/peterwjchoi
• Twitter: https://x.com/peterwjchoi
• Other: https://www.koaa.com/peter-choi