Comedian Kwak Beom explained why he continues doing comedy despite gaining popularity.
Recently, Kwak Beom met with OSEN at the Metacomedy building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and gave an interview reflecting on his active work this year.
Kwak Beom, who debuted as a KBS 27th class open-recruit comedian in 2012 and made his debut on the Gag Concert stage, gained great popularity by creating the YouTube channel "BbangSongGuk" and showcasing his distinctive B-grade sensibility. Currently he is appearing in YouTube web variety shows such as "Open for business", "Husbands in Action", "What to do without annual leave", "MeMeotMe", "Popular restaurant", and "Looking for party members", as well as appearing in TVING original "Comedy Short League" and Wavve original "Piui GameX", showing new charms.
Usually, when many comedians become known through broadcasts, they often stop appearing in comedy programs except for fixed programs that highlight their strengths. This is partly to give younger colleagues more experience and partly a measure to prevent excessive image wear.
However, Kwak Beom still exchanges close communication with the public through "BbangSongGuk" and "Comedy Short League." When asked the reason for this, he said, "I think it's my conviction. I started as a comedian, and going too far in one direction... people might think I'm arrogant for saying this, but when comedians debut and succeed, it seems being an MC on broadcasts is portrayed as the mark of a successful comedian," he said.
Kwak Beom said, "That should be done too, but I think even if you succeed as a comedian and are exposed on broadcasts, you should continue doing comedy. Senior Yu Jae-seok is a national MC, but like how he still does sketches on "Hangout With Yoo," that seems right. A comedian seems coolest when doing comedy."
When asked whether he plans to challenge serious acting after comic acting, Kwak Beom said, "I was very grateful that a real role in a drama seemed to make it to the final stages. It was an important role, but the timing realistically didn't work out. I couldn't possibly take off four to five days a week to shoot for three to six months. Realistically, I declined because of that reason," he said.
However, Kwak Beom said he is open to serious acting, adding, "I want to try it, and actually I really want to make a true comedy film. The movie "Mandan," which I made with Lee Chang-ho while appearing in it, won an award at the Osaka Horizon International Film Festival in Japan. It won an award in the documentary category, and I said I wanted to go receive it, but they said they would give the award online. I originally planned to go to Osaka. I was going to visit the secretariat, but they said they wouldn't give it," he said, drawing laughter.
When asked about his future goals, Kwak Beom said, "Concrete plans don't go well for me. There's nothing I absolutely must do, but I just want to do something as a comedian. "Mandan" started with Chang-ho and now many juniors are doing it. I want to do something like 'that was started by Kwak Beom,'" he admitted.
He continued, "I haven't mapped it out concretely, but I hope the start of that will be Kwak Beom. I hope something like 'the original is Kwak Beom' emerges. I originally didn't have ambition. I thought I couldn't be that kind of person," and added, "When I was unknown I once dreamed of becoming a radio DJ, but back then I thought it was a fanciful dream. But now it's been five years since doing "Cultwo Show." I even received offers to be a name-brand DJ," he said.
Kwak Beom emphasized, "The important thing is that something that seems impossible may actually be possible. Many people are recognizing me, and I want to do something that people will associate with me the way someone's signature program might be "Infinite Challenge" or "SNL Korea.""
[Photo] provided by Metacomedy
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