The 13th Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF) is turning Busan into a sea of laughter, led by Ahn Young-mi and Um Ji-yoon.
The 13th Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF), hereafter referred to as 'Bukope,' gifted audiences an unforgettable day with high-quality performances, including 'Gag Concert with Bukope,' 'I Transferred Here to Love,' 'Ahn Young-mi Show: All Audiences Welcome Show,' 'Stand-up Assemble @ Bukope,' the international performance team 'Bangktopia,' and 'Work and All,' on the 30th (Saturday).
'Gag Concert with Bukope' proved to be popular by selling out all seats even before the opening. This performance, held at Dongseo University's Sohyang Theatre, featured popular segments such as 'Hwanghae,' 'Defconn,' 'Shimok's Police Station,' 'Fun People,' and 'Battle of the Century,' which received a great response. In particular, the 'Chatflix' segment, hosted by experienced comedians like Park Sung-kwang and Song Jun-keun, showcased even more authentic and bold comedy by interacting directly with the audience.
Each time a segment from 'Gag Concert' was featured, audiences excitedly shouted catchphrases, causing the performance hall to erupt with energy. Laughter echoed each time the cast made a remark, and in return, the 'Gag Concert' team continued with an additional show for over 30 minutes, reaffirming it as the only number one public comedy program in Korea. Additionally, two teams from Dongseo University's Musical Department, who took comedy academy courses, took the stage and left a deep impression on the audience.
The stage for the play 'I Transferred Here to Love,' featuring Um Ji-yoon, Kim Won-hoon from Short Box, Jo Jin-se, Lee Seon-min from The-Mian-Sang, Jo Hoon, Lee Kyung-won, and Hwang Kyung-hwan, captivated the audience at the Ocean Hall of Busan Bank Main Office. The intense rivalry among five male students to win over the heart of Uhm Chae-ah (played by Um Ji-yoon), the first female student to transfer to Minhwa High School, piqued the audience's interest. In the process, dance battles, challenges, and the latest memes poured out, and their comedic performances and witty chemistry sparked enthusiastic responses.
At Shinsegae Department Store's Centum City Cultural Hall, the 'Ahn Young-mi Show: All Audiences Welcome Show' unfolded. Ahn Young-mi, making a long-awaited return to the stage, instantly grabbed the audience's attention with her signature raunchy humor. She candidly shared stories about her sex life with her husband, romantic tales, and anecdotes about her mother, turning the venue upside down, and offered unrestrained laughter through interactive communication with the audience via an open chat room. During the process of selecting the 'Top 3 19+ Creators,' comedian Kim Soo-yong drew attention on stage, and Lee Soo-ji, who secretly visited the venue, made a surprise appearance, further heating up the atmosphere. Ahn Young-mi's '19+ performance' unfolded not only on stage but also in the audience, bringing mature laughter to adult viewers and excitingly warming up the venue.
'Stand-up Assemble @ Bukope,' continuing the myth of selling out in 1 second, was held at the Busan Citizens' Hall Small Theater in a comedy pay format. The comedians from Bbang Songguk (Lee Chang-ho, Kwak Bum), Youth Desk (Gu Jeong-mo, Yoo Young-woo), Dduk Sa Dae (Park Sung-sun, Woo Da-on), Bota (Kim Won-sik, Jo Da-hyun), Bbang Won (Jeon Ye-won, Yang Hye-won), Distime (Kim Young-gu, Song In-ho), Monkey Belt (Kim Jin-kyung, Oh Ji-taek), and Snack Town (Kang Hyun-seok, Lee Jae-yul) created laughter through various situational dramas while engaging with the audience. Kwak Bum, who could not attend due to injury, appeared via video call before the performance to alleviate the audience's disappointment. Notably, it was confirmed that the audience who laughed the most laughed over 1,000 times, astonishing everyone. The members' vibrant energy and cheerfulness added refreshing laughter to the hot summer night in Busan.
The performances by international teams also captivated the audience. Jeff Arktem from 'Bangktopia,' held at KT&G SangSangMadang, showcased an enchanting display of light and shadows while delivering well-timed humor, making the audience burst into smiles. The direction, which naturally drew the audience into the performance, made the play even more thrilling. From visual devices to an engaging story that everyone could immerse in, the performance was filled with the power of laughter that transcended language barriers. 'Work and All' provided a different kind of laughter through the marvelous blend of music and comedy. Cordian Heretinski and Pierre Damien Pizner showcased a splendid performance and perfect comedic timing.
Meanwhile, following the event yesterday, the 'Ultimate Japanese Comedy Show' will be held today (31st). Additionally, theatrical performances such as 'Seoul Comedy All Stars' at Busan Bank Auditorium and 'Communication King Maljahalmae Show' at Busan Citizens' Hall Small Theater will take place, along with various events like 'MICF Roadshow in Busan,' comedy street shows, and open concerts starting from September 3rd (Wednesday). The upgraded performances for audiences at the 13th 'Bukope' will be held across Busan until September 7th (Sunday).
[Photo] Lee Seok-woo, reporter
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