K comedians, with the ambition to turn the sea of Busan into a sea of laughter, graced the blue carpet in Busan.
On the evening of the 29th at 7 p.m., the glamorous curtain was drawn for the '13th Busan International Comedy Festival' (hereafter referred to as 'Bupokpe'), the first and largest international comedy event in Asia, at the Busan BEXCO Auditorium. This year, it moved indoors for the first time from an outdoor venue, marking a more comfortable start for 'Bupokpe.' The 2,700 seats were sold out quickly.
The opening performance began with the blue carpet, symbolizing 'Bupokpe.' The blue carpet MC, Kim Dong-ha, noted, "We sincerely welcome everyone who has come to 'Bupokpe.' The blue carpet symbolizes the sea of Busan and embodies the meaning of turning the sea of Busan into a sea of laughter. It is an honor to be the blue carpet MC for 'Bupokpe,' a friend of the international festival that is establishing itself on a global stage."
International teams such as BUNGTOPIA, Work & All, Hyungyang Japan Comedy Show, WES-P, and Ichikawa Koikuchi were the first to step onto the blue carpet. Following them was the 'Gag Concert' team. Jeong Beom-kyun and Kim Young-hee from Malja Halmae, along with Defconn's Jo Soo-yeon and Shin Yoon-seung, added a lively touch to the couple photo time. The team from Simgo Police Station, including Song Pil-geun, Park Eun-young, Lee Soo-kyung, Yoo Yeon-jo, Seo Seong-gyeong, and Yoon Jae-woong, along with acquaintances Na Hyun-young and Yoon Seung-hyun, beautifully decorated the blue carpet.
The representatives from the sea of yellow, including Oh Min-woo, Jang Hyun-wook, Son Min-gwa, and the people from 'Seongnan,' Kim Jin-gon, Park Min-seong, along with the great struggle's Lim Seong-wook, Song Jae-in, Lee Hyun-jeong, Shim Moon-kyu, Lee Se-jin, Oh Jeong-yul also made a grand entrance. The appearance of KBS's 34th comedians, Kang Ju-won, Kang Myung-sun, Jo Jin-hyung, Oh Yeong-jin, Ahn Hyun-woo, Seo Yu-gi, Han Soo-chan, Kim Ga-eun, Son Yu-dam, and Hwang Hye-seon received a bigger round of applause and cheers.
The Man-Dam Assemble, consisting of Lee Chang-ho, Kang Hyun-seok, Lee Jae-yul, Kim Won-sik, Jo Da-hyun, Gu Jeong-mo, Yoo Young-woo, Shin Bong-su, Woo Da-on, Park Seong-sun, Jeon Ye-won, Yang Hye-won, and Kim Jin-kyeong, created a wonderful harmony as their name suggests. Oh Young-mi from 'The Oh Young-mi Show,' along with Seoul Comedy All-Stars Song Ha-bin, Moon Ji-wan, and Kim Ju-hwan, also showcased their presence on the blue carpet.
From the Beach Show, Byeon Gi-soo, Kim Seong-won, Song Yeong-gil, Jeong Seung-jin, Kim Tae-won, and the Batchki team, including Lee Kwang-seob, Lee Won-gu, Jo Hyun-min, along with the Ongals team, Jo Soo-won and Choi Gi-seob, greeted everyone warmly. Park So-ra, who was introduced as a beautiful comedienne, along with Hwang Jeong-hye, Hong Ye-seul, Choi Hee-ryeong, and her close comedian friends Kim Jae-woo and Kang Wan-seo, smiled cheerfully with their poses.
Kim Soo-yong, Heo Kyung-hwan, Jo Yoon-ho, and Kim Ji-ho, who came together as 'Gae Avengers,' celebrated the 13th opening of 'Bupokpe' with their juniors. Kim Hak-rae, Kim Song-hee, Bae Yeong-man, Ji Yeong-ok, Lee Seon-min, and Lee Hong-ryeong, who attended representing the Comedy Association, also sent cheers and applause for their juniors' comedy festival.
The blue carpet event concluded with the attendance of Denis Damianos, the general director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Jo Kwang-sik, deputy executive chairman of the BICF Organizing Committee; Hong In-kyu, chief; Song Jin-hong, deputy chair of the BICF Advisory Committee; Commissioner Eom Hye-gyeong; Commissioner Lim Mi-jeong; Choi Hae-wook, a member of the National Assembly; and Lee Kyung-shin, the chairman. Additionally, Lee Dae-seok, deputy chairman of the Busan City Council, and Kim Dae-hee, director of the BICF Organizing Committee, wrapped up the event.
The '13th Bupokpe' will kick off its full theater performances from tomorrow (30th) starting with today's opening ceremony. A diverse array of comedic performances crossing genres, including 'Gag Concert with Bupokpe,' 'I Transferred to Love,' 'Man-Dam Assemble @ Bupokpe,' 'Seoul Comedy All-Stars,' 'The Oh Young-mi Show: All Ages (Sseum) Show,' 'Comedy Market,' 'Byeon Gi-soo's Beach Show,' 'Communication King Malja Halmae Show,' and 'Sseol Episode', are expected to delight audiences throughout Busan.
The '13th Bupokpe', showcasing the essence of K-comedy, is set to unfold from today, August 29 (Friday), until September 7 (Sunday) over the course of ten days throughout Busan.
[Photo] Lee Seok-woo, reporter
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