Jeon Yu-seong was a figure who established the identity of Korean comedy and the main person who first proposed and popularized the word "gagman." The stars he discovered also draw attention.
He laid the foundation for broadcast comedy and had a major influence on the birth of programs such as "Gag Concert" and "People Looking for Laughter." As a result, the talents he discovered are countless.
From his 20s, Jeon Yu-seong had an exceptional eye; he paid attention to Lee Moon-se and Joo Byung-jin when they were rookies, and he never held back advice to the late Kim Hyun-sik that "you should go out as a singer," which helped produce a great singer in the music world. Jeon Yu-seong was also the person who recognized actress Han Chae-young's talent and led her to debut.
There are too many younger comedians he mentored to count. Paeng Hyun-suk, Choi Yang-rak and Shin Dong-yup also took the stage after passing through his hands, and while serving as a professor in the comedy department at Ye-won Arts University, he raised students who represent the comedy world such as Cho Sae-ho and Kim Shin-young, putting effort into training juniors.
Especially last year, a story was revealed on a broadcast that Shin Dong-yup told Jeon Yu-seong "thank you for debuting me on broadcast" and sent him a large sum of money, which warmed hearts. In response, Jeon Yu-seong, while embarrassed, said, "I used to give pocket money to my seniors, but it felt strange to be the one receiving it," and accepted his student's feelings wholeheartedly. Choi Yang-rak also expressed gratitude, saying, "Senior Jeon Yu-seong pushed juniors forward with sincerity, not money," and "I benefited the most from that."
Before he died, Jeon Yu-seong advised Cho Sae-ho, "If you make a lot of money, build a theater, not a building. Raising juniors is the truly valuable thing." This shows he was not just a senior gagman but a life guide and mentor for his juniors.
Netizens have also expressed condolences, saying, "A great senior who raised so many stars," "You can feel the gratitude of the juniors who said thank you for debuting me," and "A person who set the roots of Korean comedy, rest in peace."
At the funeral hall of Seoul Asan Medical Center on the 26th, where the late Jeon Yu-seong's wake was set up, numerous juniors and acquaintances have continued to visit. The deceased passed away on the 25th due to worsening symptoms of pulmonary effusion, ending his life at the age of 76.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]