The funeral bier for the late Jeon Yu-seong, the "lend" of the comedy world, has been set up. His daughter Ms. Je-bi and a granddaughter were registered as mourners, and the funeral procession will be held on the 28th.
On the 26th, the funeral bier for the late Jeon Yu-seong was set up in funeral hall room 1 at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. His daughter Ms. Je-bi and a granddaughter were registered as mourners.
The late Jeon Yu-seong passed away on the 25th due to worsening symptoms of pulmonary emphysema. He was 76.
The Busan International Comedy Festival said, "A great star of Korea's comedy world, teacher Jeon Yu-seong, has left us. He coined the term "gagman" himself, introduced Korea's first public comedy stage and experimental gag concert stage, and opened a new horizon for Korean comedy. He was always a pioneer of Korean comedy, constantly charting new paths with the descriptor "first." Through laughter he brought people together and offered consolation and hope to those living through difficult times. His footsteps will remain long in the history of Korean comedy. We express deep respect and gratitude to the teacher who will now quietly watch us from behind the stage, and we offer our sincere condolences to the deceased."
Born in 1949 and 76 this year, Jeon Yu-seong is regarded as a figure who left an unparalleled legacy across multiple fields, beyond being a simple gagman: a broadcast writer, performance planner and film director.
He majored in theater at Seorabeol Arts College and first entered the entertainment industry as a comedy writer who wrote scripts for Kwak Gyu-seok, then the top MC of the time. In the 1970s, he built his reputation as a writer by scripting TBC's popular show "Show Show Show," and he is also famous for being the first to propose and popularize the term "gagman" instead of the word "comedian."
Jeon Yu-seong, who was active on top comedy programs of the time such as KBS's "Humor No. 1" and "Show Video Jockey," employed "slow gags" and "intellectual gags" that made audiences laugh after reflection, charting a path distinct from the then-dominant slapstick comedy. Especially, true to his nickname "the idea bank of the comedy world," he provided decisive ideas for many juniors' segments.
Jeon Yu-seong's achievements did not end there. He played pioneering roles in various areas for the development of Korean comedy. In 2007 he established the country's first theater dedicated to comedy, the "Cheolgabang Theater," in Cheongdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and served as the honorary chairman of the Busan International Comedy Festival, Asia's first comedy festival, working to introduce Korean comedy to the world.
He also devoted effort to nurturing juniors. With a keen eye that had already discovered people like Lee Moon-sae and Joo Byung-jin in his 20s, he is famous for spotting singer Kim Hyun-sik and encouraging him to pursue a career as a singer. It was Jeon Yu-seong who discovered comedienne Paeng Hyun-sook, and while serving as a professor in the comedy department at Ye-won Arts University he trained disciples such as Cho Sae-ho and Kim Shin-young. He was also the person who discovered and debuted actress Han Chae-young.
Meanwhile, the funeral procession for the late Jeon Yu-seong will be held at 7 a.m. on the 28th. The burial site is Inwol-myeon, Namwon.
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