The Top Comedians in the Biz

As we’re celebrating laughter this month as our Theme of the Month, all we really want to do is hope to make you smile and maybe, just maybe LOL in your seats.

But while we hope to be successful, today we’ll be celebrating a few people weknow have made you laugh before.

Check out our roundup of the comedians and comediennes who have dedicated their lives to making Korea just a little bit funnier.

Yoo Jae Suk

Ah, the true Nation’s MC. When this grasshopper hopped onto the scene, no one actually expected the skinny awkward man to blow up the way he did. Yoo Jae Suk floundered, working as an unknown comedian for nine years, but once he got his big break – boy did that grasshopper leap.

Now, it’s hard (if not impossible) to find anyone in the country who doesn’t know Yoo Jae Suk, at least by name. He’s hosted a slew of programs, including the internationally popular X-Man, Running Man and Infinity Challenge, and has the ability to subtly shift a program’s focus to suit the various guests.
Of course it helps when you’re friends with nearly all the major players in the Korean entertainment world – celebrities fight to be part of the ‘Yoo Line’, which almost guarantees breakout stardom.

And of course, who could forget about his 100 percent commitment to staying in character?

Meet Yoo Hyuk – the hottest dancer in town.

Haha

Just saying this guy’s name will make you laugh – literally. Comedian and musician Ha Dong Hoon is so committed to laughter, he’s renamed himself Haha.

Haha broke onto the scene as a musician, first with Zikiri and then with Taw & Haha, and has made attempts to return to his musical roots, but it’s undeniable that Haha is recognized first and foremost as a funnyman.

Thanks to his explosive appearances on X-Man, Haha was quickly pushed into the comedy spotlight, appearing as a sub-MC on several hit shows, which eventually led to Haha becoming the main MC on programs including Haha’s 19TV Mutiny. He’s currently on both of Yoo Jae Suk’s hit shows, Running Man and Infinity Challenge, making him firmly part of the ‘Yoo Line’, which, as we said, guarantees success.

Of course it helps that Haha is a little bonkers, a little unpredictable and genuinely dedicated to going all out. His popularity skyrocketed even higher with another success in his personal life – his marriage to singer Byul.

But even though he’s a happily married man now, we’ll always appreciate what endeared (and come on, kind of creeped out) him to the public – his neuktastic, greasy playa playa ways.

Shin Bora

Shin Bora is a rare case of a comedienne using her musical talent to rise to the top, rather than a singer utilizing his/her funny chops to return to the spotlight.

While she was a KBS comedienne, few knew who Shin Bora was until she joined the Harmony Mass Choi as part of KBS’ Qualification of Men – Choir Special.

Thanks in part to the fact that the special was a major hit, and in part because Shin Bora stood out for her beautiful voice, Shin Bora quickly climbed the ranks and became a standout gag woman.

As part of her role on Gag Concert, Shin Bora is part of two of the most popular skits – the Brave Guys, with whom she has released an album, and a recurring segment where she introduces a new boyfriend each week. Ironically, the latter segment is where she met her actual boyfriend.

But that probably won’t stop her from flirting with the boys each week – she’s even been declared ‘Miss Right’ by the idol group Teen Top, and who could forget when she had the SHINee members fighting over her?

Relive it all here:

Noh Hong Chul

There’s something just kind of crazy about this guy. Known as the Dol+I, the Elevator Guy, and several other nicknames that don’t even begin to encompass the wackiness that is Noh Hong Chul, the entertainer stands out in the sea of crazy as quite possibly the most abnormal of them all.

But don’t get us wrong – while we may sometimes feel overwhelmed by Noh Hong Chul’s rapidfire way of speaking and his crazy outfits, there’s something so inherently likeable about Noh Hong Chul, that it makes sense that even conservative Korea has grown to accept the oddball character.

Noh Hong Chul is also a member of Korea’s top variety program, Infinity Challenge, in which he’s taken on challenges to make ‘chocolate abs’ (failed) and sing with now-international sensation Psy.

The friendship with Psy has proved to be most beneficial, as Noh Hong Chul appeared in Psy’s video for Gangnam Style, doing his trademark dirty dance as the ‘Elevator Guy’, elevating him to meme status.

But while the world may know his elevator dance, we’re particularly fond of his attempt at rhythmic gymnastics.