[120208] Behind fad of satirical comedy

Behind fad of satirical comedy

What made a young comedian to speak up for political and socio-economic topics

Satirical comedy is enjoying a renaissance in South Korea. In the center of the latest popularity is Choi Hyo-jong, a young comedian who has made a meteoric rise to fame recently.

“Gag concert,” the country’s most popular sketch-comedy show on KBS aired Sunday evening, has been boasting high viewer ratings of above 20 percent for more than a dozen consecutive weeks since last October. One of the outstanding contributors is undoubtedly Choi, who plays a leading role in the “Samagwi Yuchiwon,” or Mantis Kindergarten, among others.

Choi Hyo-jong has emerged a star comedian recently, as a lot of
ordinary people sympathized with his satires, mockeries and 

parodies. Seen above are video footage of Samagwi Yuchiwon,

a flagship segment of Gag Concert on KBS. 

While performing a dull moneylender, the 26-year-old comedy star tries to give people some simple, best tips of life – which the audience can easily understand is a plain sarcasm about the bitter reality.

“Wanna have your own house? It’s so easy,” he opens his face a bit naughtily. “Let’s say you earn 2 million won every month and save them for 10 years without doing anything but breathing, you can find a small jeonse (long-term lease) apartment house – though the inflation is not reflected here. Isn’t it so simple?”

Choi picks up the hottest topics for each week’s episode from high inflation to disgraced politicians, which generate a bond of sympathy with most of the ordinary citizens. His mockery of legislators even led to a lawsuit – though it was dropped later – by a lawmaker who has been struggling to regain public attention after being troubled with sexual harassment scandals (Related article by The Hankyoreh).

As Gag Concert of KBS has hit the jackpot with the satirical features, other major broadcasters such as MBC and SBS, and some cable TV channels as well, have swiftly moved to follow suit, creating their own versions in the genre of political satires and parodies.

Critics ascribe the phenomenon largely to the “lack of communication” under the incumbent Lee Myung-bak administration. Fed up with established channels such as news media, which have failed to function properly, people seem to find a moment of satisfaction from mockeries, sarcasm and parodies.

Even so, Choi must have needed a great courage and guts to touch such sensitive issues in an environment where opposition politicians and even some celebrities have suffered from difficulties. And that’s why his recent moves are seen more praiseworthy and future pitches are more eagerly anticipated.

By pushahead

Wednesday, February 8, 2012