Comedian Kim Shin-young honors late Jeon Yu-seong with tribute show

Comedian Kim Shin-young took the stage in a familiar outfit – a red hiking vest paired with a red skirt, hiking goggles, and a sparkling pin in her updo – at the 'Jeon Yu-seong Without Jeon Yu-seong Show' held at the Busan Bank main branch on June 22. She appeared as Davi Imo, her "sub-character" and trot singer persona, which debuted on May 1, 2020. Davi Imo, set as Kim's second aunt and born in 1945, is known for her explosive vocals and bold stage presence.

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Jeon Yu-seong's nephew is Professor Shin-young. When I was promoting with Celeb Five in Jeju, Jeon Yu-seong saw me dancing and told me, 'Shin-young, sing a song.' That's how this character came about.

Kim, currently active as her main character on shows like 'I Live Alone' and 'Knowing Bros,' brought back Davi Imo in honor of the late Jeon Yu-seong, who passed away on September 25 last year. The event, a highlight of the 14th Busan International Comedy Festival, was designed as a lighthearted send-off for Jeon. Davi Imo was reportedly Jeon's favorite character among Kim's creations. The show featured an omnibus format with 20-minute sets from Lee Hong-ryeol, Shin Bong-seon (who learned comedy directly from Jeon), Kim Shin-young, and the comedy team Joltan (Lee Jae-hyung, Han Hyun-min, Jung Jin-wook), who were mentored by Jeon.

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Wow, that's funny. I'm watching with interest.

As Davi Imo, Kim explained that Jeon Yu-seong was the reason she debuted as a trot singer. "Jeon Yu-seong's nephew is Professor Shin-young," she said, referring to herself. "When I was promoting with Celeb Five in Jeju, Jeon Yu-seong saw me dancing and told me, 'Shin-young, sing a song.' That's how this character came about." She added that Jeon's first reaction to this character was, "Wow, that's funny. I'm watching with interest."

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I came to show that comedians can release albums and receive love.

Kim performed Davi Imo's debut song 'Jura Jura' and Coyote's 'Now,' stating her purpose was to show that comedians can also achieve success with album releases. She commanded the stage with her powerful voice and energetic performances, prompting the audience to stand and sing along. Veteran comedian Lee Hong-ryeol also shared anecdotes from his friendship with Jeon, which began in 1975. He recalled Jeon's unconventional approach to a drinking session, where Jeon drank his glass and immediately left, surprising Lee. Lee described Jeon as someone whose "paradigm shifts were attached to his whole body." Jeon's son-in-law, Kim Jang-seop, also made a surprise appearance with Joltan, performing balloon magic, a hobby of his father-in-law's. Shin Bong-seon spontaneously invited comedians Kim Dae-hee and Kim Jun-ho from the audience, leading to an impromptu skit where Kim Dae-hee transformed into his 'Gag Concert' character 'Kkondaehee,' and Kim Jun-ho joined as their son.

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I wanted to have a drink alone with a senior I liked. So the meeting was arranged, and Yu-seong drank his liquor in a large glass and drank it all down, then suddenly stood up. Looking at me, he said, 'I'm leaving.' (It turned out) I said 'let's have a drink,' so he only had one drink. It was very fresh for me.