The 14th Busan International Comedy Festival (BICF, hereinafter 'Bukope') has unveiled the week one performance lineup ahead of the full-scale festival opening.
The 14th 'Bukope' will be held across Busan for 10 days from Aug. 21 to 30. Beginning with a spectacular opening performance on the 21st, domestic and international comedians will gather to present a variety of shows. From stages that encompass the past and present of the comedy scene to overseas performances that cross borders, an all-time great lineup has been announced, raising expectations.
First, a special stage looking back on the history of Korean comedy will be prepared. "Kim Hak-rae Lee Yong-sik grand talk show" retraces the footsteps of Korean comedy centered on behind-the-scenes stories of the late master of Korean comedy, the late Goo Bong-seo. Kim Hak-rae and Lee Yong-sik will use their characteristic wit to tell vivid stories from the era when Korean comedy began and reached its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, offering the audience both laughter and memories.
A stage honoring the late Jeon Yu-seong will also be prepared. "A Jeon Yu-seong show without Jeon Yu-seong" features junior performers who had a close relationship with the late comedian, including Lee Hong-ryul, Shin Bong-Sun, Kim Shin-young, and Zoltan (Lee Jae-hyung, Han Hyun-min, Jung Jin-wook). Presented in various formats such as talk, show and sketches, this performance is expected to deliver both laughter and poignancy through the juniors' memories of Jeon Yu-seong.
Korea's representative open comedy program "Gag Concert" is also coming to Busan. Veterans from "Public Trial," including Park Young-jin, Park Joonhyung, Park Sung-ho and Jung Beom Kyun, along with the main figures who lead "Gag Concert," will take the stage to provide laughs that people of all ages can enjoy. In particular, a special corner that could not be seen on broadcast has been announced, raising expectations for special fun available only at the venue.
"B-grade hearing," featuring Choi Seong-min, Nam Ho-yeon and Kim Seung-jin, will also meet audiences with unabashed wit. As a popular talk show with about 500,000 subscribers has been moved to the stage, it is expected to present humor that is more vivid and raw than on broadcast. A mysterious special guest will join as well, stirring curiosity about what kind of chemistry will form.
A stage where you can directly encounter legendary gags from memories has also been prepared. In "Galgali Gag Concert: return of the legends," representative corners that led the golden age of Korea's open comedy — including "Galgali three brothers," "everyday dialect," "Raincoat triplets," "Mabbak-i," and "Bongsunga Academy" — will return to the stage. The return of these legendary corners marking their 30th anniversary will offer a special time to experience not only the nostalgia of the past but also the original form of open comedy.
A mime performance that transcends language barriers also draws audience expectations. "Woo Seok-hoon comedy short pieces" will present 12 mime shorts that deliver laughter and emotion through gestures alone, without dialogue. Moments when everyday movements expand into imagination, unexpected twists and warm emotion will combine to showcase the unique charm of comedy.
International comedy performances cannot be missed. Comedy magic show "Double(Double)," featuring FISM world magic champion Norbert Ferré, European magic champion Charlie Mag, and Korea's representative comedy magician Kim Min-hyung, stimulates the audience's imagination.
France's top visual comedian Patrick Cotet Moine's "Mime de Lyon (MIME DE RIEN)" will also deliver laughter that transcends borders. Through gestures and expressions that communicate despite language differences and original performances, it is expected to showcase the unique appeal of overseas comedy.
[Photo] Provided by the Busan International Comedy Festival organizing committee
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