The 13th Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF) has kicked off the festival by summarizing a more interesting lineup for the first week of performances.
With just three days to go until the opening, the 13th Busan International Comedy Festival (hereinafter 'Bukope') will be held from Friday, Aug. 29, to Sunday, Sept. 7, for ten days throughout Busan. 'Bukope,' which has completed a glamorous theater lineup, will showcase high-level performances that live up to the reputation of Asia's largest comedy festival, raising the quality of the festival. Veteran comedians who have led Korea's comedy scene, fresh creators, and cheerful comedy artists from around the world will gather to welcome the audience with a more diverse and abundant stage.
First, Korea's only No. 1 public comedy show, 'Gag Concert,' has united for 'Bukope.' The 'Gag Concert with Bukope' team, consisting of comedians Shin Yun-seung, Jo Soo-yeon, Song Pil-geun, and Na Hyun-young, presents a lively experience with new stages that families can enjoy together and that cannot be seen on broadcast. Attention is drawn to what the performance, usually watched on TV and smartphones, will look like in the theater.
The hit comedy prepared by Eom Ji-yoon, titled 'I Transferred to Love,' is also anticipated. YouTubers Kim Won-hoon and Jo Jin-se are set to appear to support Eom Ji-yoon, providing strong assistance to the production. They are expected to showcase fantastic chemistry through the play, delighting the citizens of Busan with laughter.
The sizzling 19-and-older comedy show 'Byun Ki-soo's Water Show,' featuring the linguistic magician Byun Ki-soo and top comedians Kim Seung-jin, Kim Sung-won, along with popular rapper Batchigi, has upgraded its lineup. Additionally, Korea's top talk show 'Communication King Malja Halmae SHOW' is set to make a splash at 'Bukope' for a fresher and hotter communication than on-air. The anticipated contributions from Kim Young-hee and Jung Beom-kyun, set to make people laugh deeply whether they have worries or not, are much awaited.
The 'Story Episode' team, previously only seen on the online platform SOOP, will meet the audience directly through an open studio at Busan BEXCO Auditorium. Comedians Lee Won-gu, Lee Kwang-seob, Jo Hyun-min, and streamer Kim Soon-ji will join, promising big laughs along with surprising guests. The best popular team 'Mandan Assemble @ Bukope,' which continues the myth of selling out in one second, will captivate the audience with only their witty banter over a single microphone. The comedy performances involving Bbangsongguk, Snacktown, Bota, Yusdesk, Ttuksadae, and Bbangwon guarantee laughter in the most thrilling meta-comedy genre. Currently, the respective performances have sold out 'GagPay' seats, proving the high level of interest.
Meanwhile, 'Ahn Young-mi: General Audience (Sseum) Show,' which is gaining attention as Ahn Young-mi's comeback after childbirth, is set to be even more powerful than the existing 19-and-older shows. From the sweet first love of her teenage years to spicy life talks as she ascends to the top, various delightful stories stemming from Ahn Young-mi's unfiltered remarks, previously edited due to network censorship, are expected to bring joy. Previously, Ahn Young-mi stated at a press conference, "I will share many stories that I could not say on air and kept in my heart." The first-week team for the honest and stylish stand-up comedy show 'Seoul Comedy Allstars' includes comedians Kim Dong-ha, Son Dong-hoon, and Song Ha-bin, who are ready to deliver humor beyond imagination with only their microphones and wit, prepared to provide laughs greater than anything conceived.
On the other hand, the visually delightful lineup of international performance teams has become even more powerful. The imaginative puppet show 'Bunktopia,' featuring popcorn parachutes and dancing snails, is captivating attention, and the musical comedy 'Wok 'n' Woll,' which crosses over classical and rock, is also awaited by the audience. 'The Ultimate Japanese Comedy Show,' which has captivated the world beyond Japan through 'Britain's Got Talent,' will also feature top comedians presenting unique comedy in three different styles, delivering laughter that transcends borders.
Tickets for the 13th 'Bukope' performances are currently on sale through NOL Interpark Tickets.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by the Busan International Comedy Festival Organizing Committee
[OSEN]