Jeon Yuseong, Korea's First Comedian, Laid to Rest in the Rain

Ritual Held at KBS... Portrait Placed on "Gag Concert" Stage
Junior Comedians Tearfully Pledge, "We Will Carry On His Legacy of Laughter"

Comedian Lee Hongryul is carrying the portrait at the funeral ceremony for Jeon Yuseong held on the 28th at the KBS New Building 'Gag Concert' studio in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Jeon Yuseong, known as the "first comedian" and a foundational figure in Korean comedy, passed away on the 25th at the age of 76. After undergoing a pneumothorax procedure in June, his health deteriorated, and he died while receiving treatment at Chonbuk National University Hospital.

At the funeral ceremony held on the 28th at Seoul Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, family members and junior comedians bid their tearful final farewell. The funeral was held under the auspices of the Korea Broadcast Comedians Association.

Rain fell during the final farewell. The funeral hall was filled with somber voices remembering the late comedian. Kim Hakrae, president of the Korea Broadcast Comedians Association and head of the funeral committee, paid tribute, saying, "He elevated the status of our profession by coining the term 'comedian' at a time when comedy was associated with traveling theater troupes."

Kim Shinyoung wept as she said, "He was the first teacher to truly recognize comedy," while Kim Jeongryeol gave a cheerful send-off by performing the "Soongguri Dangdang" routine, which the late Jeon Yuseong had loved during his lifetime.

Jeon Yuseong's final stage was "Gag Concert," a symbolic space in the history of Korean comedy. At the ritual held that day at the KBS Public Hall in Yeouido, more than 100 junior comedians and numerous cultural figures attended to pay their respects. As the portrait of the late comedian was carried around the recording studio and placed at the center of the stage, the junior comedians stood up from their seats and bowed their heads in a moment of silence.

Lee Hongryul said, "He was an innovator on stage and a mentor off stage. He proved that laughter is not just entertainment, but the very air of society." Choi Yangrak mourned his senior with tears, shouting the catchphrase "Bongiya." Paeng Hyunsuk sobbed, saying, "Thanks to Jeon Yuseong, I met Choi Yangrak and became who I am today."

Park Junhyung said, "He was the one who made it possible for us to have more than 1,000 episodes of public comedy," and suggested a round of applause in gratitude, to which the juniors responded with tearful applause. The junior comedians pledged, "We will honor your legacy by bringing laughter to the people," sending him off with applause through their tears. At Kim Hakrae's suggestion, "Let us not hold back our tears for one minute here, but cry our hearts out and send him off joyfully," the hall was filled with sobs for a while.

Comedian Lee Hongryul is holding a portrait photo at the funeral procession of Jeon Yuseong held on the 28th at the Seoul Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Born in Daegu in 1949, Jeon Yuseong entered the broadcasting industry in 1969 as a scriptwriter for TBC's "Show Show Show" after studying at Seorabeol Arts High School and Seorabeol Arts College, majoring in theater and film. Later, he took to the stage himself and proposed the term "comedian" to broadcasters, establishing a new title at a time when "humorist" was the dominant term.

The late Jeon Yuseong participated in KBS's "Humor No. 1," MBC's "Youth March," and SBS's "Show Video Jockey," all of which became iconic comedy programs of their eras. "Gag Concert," which established the tradition of public comedy stages, also originated from his ideas. Jeon Yuseong expanded the boundaries of Korean comedy by moving beyond simple, passive laughter to combine social satire, everyday humor, and intellectual wit.

He also played a leading role in discovering and nurturing junior comedians. Many comedians, including Lee Kyungkyu, Choi Yangrak, and Paeng Hyunsuk, became stars under his guidance. As a professor in the Department of Comedy at Yewon Arts University, he passed on stage experience to younger generations.

He was also active as an author. His books, such as "If You Try for a Week, You Can Be Like Jeon Yuseong," "Life Is Enjoyable If You're a Little Bit Cowardly," and "Jeon Yuseong's Tall Tales of the Three Kingdoms," are remembered for capturing his philosophy of laughter and outlook on life.

Jeon Yuseong established comedy as a "profession" and developed it as a "culture" in Korea. He constantly experimented with stage formats and created a space for public comedy that engaged with audiences. His sayings, such as "Everything you're told not to do is fun," are regarded as more than mere jokes, containing both social satire and insights into life.

He will be laid to rest in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, where he had lived since 2018.

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