'The 13th Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF)' is making waves in Busan with performances across various genres.
'The 13th Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF)' (hereinafter referred to as 'Busan Comedy Festival') successfully entertained audiences with the theater performances 'Comedy Book Concert,' 'Showmen,' 'Seoul Comedy All-Stars 2nd,' and the side event 'Comedy Street,' where artists perform on the streets, on Sept. 6 (Saturday).
First, at Dongseo University's (Centum) Design Idea Lab, the second 'Comedy Book Concert,' planned by the first generation of Korean comedy and BICF Honorary Chairman, Lee Yoo-sung, was held. Authors Lee Hong-ryeol and Jeong Sun-hee each gave lectures, sharing delightful stories about their books with the audience. Lee Hong-ryeol gifted the audience with his book 'What's Life,' while also showcasing a magic show to create a special moment. He captured the audience's attention with his unique autobiographical stories. Meanwhile, Jeong Sun-hee continued her lecture based on the audience's real-life concerns, saying, 'Design your stress.' She translated the book 'Three Lines a Day, Mind Management' by Japanese author Kobayashi Hiroyuki, adding her personal story to convey a valuable message to the audience. After the talk concert, Lee Hong-ryeol and Jeong Sun-hee shared signed books through a lottery, creating precious memories. This comedy book concert not only provided laughter but also delivered emotional depth and authenticity, concluding successfully.
The theater performances, guaranteed to induce laughter, continued. 'Showmen' featuring Park Sung-ho, Kim Jae-wook, Jeong Beom-kyun, and Lee Jong-hoon, with a combined 100 years of public comedy experience, took the stage at the Baekyang Cultural Arts Center. 'Showmen', created by the best comedians in Korea, is a live variety comedy show filled with vibrant performances, appealing to audiences of all ages. They elevated the atmosphere with dialects and used props to perform songs, eliciting roars of laughter with their diverse segments. Laughter echoed throughout the venue, and particularly, the first and second performances of 'Showmen' recorded sold-out shows. It received great responses from family audiences, fostering emotional resonance and communication with the citizens.
Following the explosive response from the 'Seoul Comedy All-Stars 1st' last week, the stand-up comedy show 'Seoul Comedy All-Stars 2nd,' featuring talented comedians such as Kim Dong-ha, Danny Cho, Lee Je-kyu, Park Cheol-hyeon, and Yeo Jun-young, was successfully held. This performance, hosted by Park Cheol-hyeon, took place at the Busan Bank Main Branch Ocean Hall, opening with his introduction, followed by appearances from Yeo Jun-young, Park Cheol-hyeon, Lee Je-kyu, Kim Dong-ha, and Danny Cho, capturing the audience's laughter with just their mic and wit. Their unfiltered honesty and sophisticated sense of humor struck a chord with the audience, proving once again why it is a representative 19+ stand-up comedy show.
Lastly, the highlight of this 'Busan Comedy Festival,' 'Comedy Street,' has been held since the 4th (Thursday) with the guidance of BICF Chief Programmer Jo Yoon-ho at Gunam-ro in Haeundae, involving the citizens. A total of 15 teams participated, including domestic teams 'Magic Jo,' 'The Happening Show,' 'Runel,' 'Breakers,' 'Crayon Yong,' 'Jundia,' 'Fire Album,' 'Wansul Theater Group,' '231 Show,' 'La Show,' 'Busan Comedy Club,' 'Laughing Magic Show,' 'Ara Girls,' and international teams such as Pedro Tochas and Duo Full House. For the first time, a 'Participatory Project (Fringe)' program was included, adding significant meaning.
The juggling performance by 'Pedro Tochas' captured the audience's attention instantly as he engaged with them, while the breaking circus 'Breakers' exuded explosive energy, delivering a rare and fresh performance. Additionally, various street performances centered around comedy, including mime, puppet shows, music, dance, and magic, provided citizens with unforgettable moments, infusing vitality into the festival. The participating teams actively communicated with the audience, regardless of nationality, and the 'Busan Comedy Festival' organizing committee enhanced the festival's quality by distributing water to help attendees cope with the heat and collaborating with the Haeundae Police Station to ensure a safe street environment, thereby increasing the festival's overall value.
Meanwhile, on the 2nd and 3rd, 'Comedy Open Concerts' were held at Yurari Square and the APT. Community Center in Jangsan Village, respectively. The variety of street performances and programs unfolding across Busan showcased the remarkable growth of the 'Busan Comedy Festival.'
On the final day of the festival, the 7th, a closing performance featuring popular comedy content creators active on YouTube and comedians will be held, culminating in 'Comedy Exchange' and the hybrid stage 'I am a Dog Singer,' featuring representative comedians from Korea. 'Comedy Street' will also continue today, promising audiences a comprehensive enjoyment package until the very end.
[OSEN]