[Seomideum's Book Talk] Comedian Kim Taegyun "Escaping Obsession... Now Just Trying to Enjoy"

Kim Taekyun working in the recording booth at 'Storytel'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] Kim Taegyun, a representative comedian and radio DJ of South Korea. He has been active as a radio DJ for 16 years this year. His show, the number one rated ‘Escape at Two o’clock Cultwo Show.’ He was often called kind, and indeed he was diligent. In 16 years, he has never been late for a radio show even once. He liked reading and writing, so during his military service, he devoted himself to writing and published an essay, joining the ranks of writers. He also became a bestselling author with the publication of ‘Enjoying Prenatal Education,’ a prenatal diary. And now, no longer telling others’ stories but his own, he published ‘Now I Just Want to Enjoy.’ On the 10th, we met him at Kim Taegyun’s hideout ‘Big Bar Lab.’

'Bigba Studio,' the workspace of Kim Taegyun, is where the book I'm Just Going to Enjoy It Now was created.

The book mainly deals with stories of the obsessive compulsions he suffered that others did not know about. He was obsessed with the idea that he must not live life carelessly as a DJ of the program called life. He always did something as if being chased, and even in moments of stillness, his thoughts were pursued. “The standard for the desire for recognition was others,” and he was always struggling with ups and downs. He considered memories like stealing a bicycle as a child and staying at a motel as shameful, and always “built walls” around people. He suffered from the “obsession of not being able to reveal such a life,” and strangely, he was “sensitive even to small criticisms.” It would have been fortunate if he had vented appropriately, but the problem was that he was too “kind.” He suffered alone.

In a corner dedicated to cherished items set up on one side of 'Bigba Studio,' a cushion printed with a photo taken with his mother occupies a spot.

The trigger for escaping from such obsession was the death of his mother 10 years ago. Having lost his father early and with his mother fulfilling the father’s role as well, her absence brought many changes. He was devastated for a while by the loss of such an irreplaceable existence, but at some point, he thought, “Let me live doing what I want.” He also thought, “People are less interested in me than I think.” Then broadcasting became fun. He confessed, “Actually, I started enjoying broadcasting about 8 years ago.”

It was not without pressure. The expectations of the audience who came full of curiosity were heavy, and he became solemn when someone reconsidered life and death after listening to the broadcast. “If I had known that weight from the beginning, I wouldn’t have started as a DJ.” But the daily life that gradually melted in bit by bit created the life he has now. It was the result of facing life diligently.

Even now, it is hard to say he is completely free from obsession, but he is “in the process of escaping.” Like the lyrics of singer Jang Giha’s song ‘You Just Need to Stay Still, Why Do You Keep Trying to Do Something,’ which is the entire lyric, he said he lives like that.

Writing was one of the ways to stay still. At first, facing himself was not easy while writing the book. When he sent the manuscript, the publisher’s president requested, “The writing is very good, but please tell a deeper story about yourself.” It meant writing from the depths of his bones, which was very difficult. He even thought about giving up writing... But in the end, he succeeded, and looking back, “the writing got much better then.” Stories like ‘Escape from the Motel’ and ‘Bicycle Thief’ in the first chapter of the book were born that way.

Because of the enthusiastic response from readers, recently, the audiobook service company ‘Storytel’ released an audiobook. Although it was quite long, there were no ups and downs. He finished recording in 6 hours over 3 days, 2 hours each day. When asked if there were any behind-the-scenes stories or difficulties during recording, Kim Taegyun smiled playfully and said, “Except for a few NGs, there was nothing special,” and laughed, “Because I’m just that good.”

Kim Taegyun, who is experiencing the happiest period of his life. Through writing this book, he had enough conversations with himself and organized many parts of his life. Then, how is his relationship with his son, who is the same age as Cultwo Show (16 years)?

His son, a professional gamer, almost went through adolescence but passed safely, and now they have a truly harmonious family. The book ‘Now I Just Want to Enjoy’ also contributed to this. “My son came to understand his father a lot through the book,” he said. Since then, communication started. When it was hard to speak, he told his son to write, and he sometimes confessed himself in “long, detailed, and desperate writings.” In this way, the family became one, and they are spending happier days than ever.

Leading Cultwo Show while “keeping boundaries well so as not to feel rude despite being comfortable,” he said he has nothing more to wish for. He said, “The standard of happiness is recognizing your own needs and fulfilling them,” and expressed gratitude for already having abundant luck. In the book, he said he wants to work until 55 and then stop, but he said that is not something he decides. “I want to do my best until the last moment the listeners want me to.”

Then he listed what he wants to do. “I want to continue writing as much as I’ve fallen in love with the fun of writing.”, “I want to do musicals this year.”, “Recently, I did a solo standing concert called ‘Honsert,’ and I want to keep doing that.”, “I want to further activate my YouTube channel Kim Taegyun TV. My wife orders a lot of delivery, so I’m thinking of doing content where I secretly unbox them.” Although he said earlier that he was deeply impressed by ‘You Just Need to Stay Still, Why Do You Keep Trying to Do Something’... this person cannot stay still. Then he said, “It’s important to understand the limits of what I can do. Understanding the subject is important. (laughs).”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.