Dreaming of a second act as a variety show cheat code with encouragement from 'Yun-eunim.' Comedian Yang Sang-guk has emerged as a promising comedian in variety shows thanks to his activities on Hangout With Yoo. We asked him directly about his impressions and aspirations after suddenly becoming the 'crown prince of Gimhae.'
Yang Sang-guk is recently regarded as one of the biggest contributors to the second heyday of the MBC variety program Hangout With Yoo (abbreviated Hangout). He first appeared in the "War on Crime" episode, appearing as the younger brother who had just come to the city from Heo Kyunghwan's hometown, delivering big laughs with every line. Thanks to that, he not only reappeared but also made a big impact as the 'crown prince of Gimhae.' We met Yang Sang-guk on the 8th at the OSEN office in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
When asked whether he had seen the enthusiastic viewer reactions, Yang Sang-guk said, I can't say I've seen all of it, but I watch a lot. I watch as much as possible. What surprised me most was that the 50-second preview video usually doesn't get comments and isn't watched much, but even that had more than 1,000 comments. I've never seen a 50-second video get that many comments, so I thought people were paying attention, and I was moved.
He emphasized, What I'm most grateful for is that in that first video, it seemed like a few people commented, but the one that got the most likes was 'Yang Sang-guk looks like Prince Charles.' That seems to have extended my life as the 'crown prince of Gimhae.' I'm most thankful for that comment. I'm thankful for all the other comments, but that comment helped me appear in even one more episode, so I'm very grateful. That made me thankful.
About his activities on Hangout, Yang Sang-guk said, Recently I did variety shows like Men on a Mission and Radio Star, but other programs have some degree of scripted play. There are pre-interviews and a lot gets added from those, but Hangout had none of that. It was literally raw reality, he said, shaking off his nerves.
He confessed, And the others were regulars, and although Heo Kyunghwan wasn't a regular at first, he had appeared continuously for months and had a sense of the flow. But I suddenly appeared alone as a guest, so I wondered, 'Is this okay?' I thought if I couldn't do anything there, there would be no reason to call me. With no choice, I focused on my part and did my best, and I was really relieved that good reactions came back.
Especially, Yang Sang-guk expressed gratitude, Isn't Hangout the program that films with 'Yun-eunim'? That alone is nerve-racking, but the senior really accepted whatever was thrown at him. When I evaluate myself, I'm not much different whether it's on YouTube or terrestrial TV. That's actually a fine line, but because the senior accepted everything, it seemed to burst into big laughter.
He said, Saying things like 'Yu Jae-suk!' normally would never happen. My actual personality is so quiet that I could be 99% I on the MBTI. But in front of the camera, I don't want to bother others, so I make comments, and even after throwing out a line I was worried about how the senior would react. I was very anxious. But he accepted everything, so I was truly grateful, and actually if I had just said 'Mr. Yu!' and stopped, it would have been a disaster, he laughed, explaining that because the senior reacted, it became funny and people even responded that who would do that to senior Yu Jae-seok.
He added, Honestly, I did it with my life on the line. It was an opportunity that might not come again for me, and I trusted the production team thinking they would edit it well, and the power of editing was definite. But senior Yu Jae-seok seems to see the big picture. He seems to instinctively know how viewers will receive it depending on how he reacts to what I say, so while I'm in over my head, I was inwardly amazed, he said, clicking his tongue.
He said, After the Hangout recording ended I couldn't bring myself to contact him. By nature I'm only like that in front of the camera and quiet after it's over, quietly greeting and leaving. Saying 'I'm sorry about the recording earlier' felt too apologetic, and before seeing viewer reactions I was still wondering 'Is this right?' But after watching the broadcast the senior contacted me first. 'Sang-guk, it was so funny. Let's meet again,' he said. He always sent that message after the shows I appeared in, and I was so grateful. More than any message from many women, a single text from the senior made my heart flutter, he laughed heartily.
Beside Yang Sang-guk, who performed brilliantly on Hangout, was his KBS 22nd class public recruitment peer and close older brother Heo Kyunghwan. Yang Sang-guk said, Heo Kyunghwan always calls sometimes. Even after I first appeared on Hangout, I was worried because it was all ad-lib and I wondered 'Is this right?' but he instead said, 'Thanks for doing well.' He joked, So what can I do. I don't have a regular on any show, while adding, Even with this back-and-forth, Kyunghwan and I always support each other, he laughed. He continued, Because we're really close we can say things like this without hiding them.
Above all, Yang Sang-guk expressed his respect, Among us comedians there is a definite recognition of Kyunghwan. It would be a lie to say none of the comedians want a regular spot. But 'gag' and 'variety' are different. Kyunghwan, while being a comedian, has for more than 10 years not lost that color and has appeared as a variety guest, he said, showing his respect.
He added, But can I catch up with just Hangout? Still, people immediately saw the image of a variety performer in me, so it felt like Kyunghwan was seeing what he had done for over 10 years up close in me, and I was grateful and very happy. However, he emphasized, I know it's not easy. I always think it could vanish in one shot.
Of course, comparisons with Heo Kyunghwan from those around him could not be avoided. Yang Sang-guk joked, Kyunghwan's HERDAK is doing so well that he has leeway in variety shows. Oh, of course he does his best. But the laugh of someone who feels pursued and the laugh of someone who is at ease are different, and tension can also be read as a character. Hyung is someone who enjoys life, he quipped.
Regarding the reactions of fellow comedians, he said, They tell me, 'You're better than Heo Kyunghwan,' but those people are not only close to me but also to Kyunghwan. Everyone knows how hard he worked in variety for more than 10 years. He struggled for months on Hangout and became a regular. Many comedians dream of being variety performers, and he opened that opportunity, didn't he.
Coincidentally on the day of the interview, news was also announced of Heo Kyunghwan joining another MBC variety program, Choi Woo-soo-san. Yang Sang-guk joked, I can't have that. Heo Kyunghwan, I'll grab you, while saying I want to support him and that they should cheer for each other as a win-win relationship.
But Yang Sang-guk expressed a strong desire for a stable 'regular appearance' even beyond Hangout. He honestly acknowledged the realistic limits, saying it would be a lie to say I don't want a regular spot. But will it happen all at once?
He said, I'm grateful to the Hangout PD and it's surprising that after Park Myung Soo and Jung Jun-ha, Heo Kyunghwan and I were a make-or-break choice. Even if Kyunghwan is a member who could become a regular at any time because he kept appearing, using me as a guest there felt like a real challenge. Honestly, at first I thought there were other guests besides me, but there weren't. So I was more nervous, and after watching the broadcast I thanked them during the second taping for editing me well, he said.
In reality, Yang Sang-guk, who shouted 'Mr. Yu!' boldly toward Yu Jae-seok on Hangout, actually has an incredibly quiet personality. Laughing, he said, I also think I'm a bit crazy, and added, But the reactions around me changed suddenly within a month or two, so I'm more surprised. I'm thinking maybe the time is coming.
Yang Sang-guk said, Three months ago, 'What are you doing these days?' was a greeting. But now it changed to 'I only watch you,' and things changed in an instant. So I'm also very worried about suddenly fading away. I'm getting a lot of offers now, and senior Yu Jae-seok has also given me advice separately, which I listen to with gratitude.
He continued, I don't think I'm in a position to be selective yet. But some people thought I was funny only because of my dialect, but in reality I have confidence that my ad-lib lines are not bad. Dialect is just a way of speaking, and I want time to properly show that I have comedic sense, wit, and quick thinking. Thankfully, some people comment calling me a 'variety cheat code,' and if that keeps being used, won't my own regular program appear someday? Essentially, comedians are people who must make others laugh. Thinking of every time as a test, I want to find my own place, he added.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Ji Hyung-jun, provided by MBC.
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