Comedian Kim Won-hoon exposes harsh hazing culture in comedy industry

Comedian Kim Won-hoon has shed light on the severe hazing and disciplinary practices prevalent in the South Korean comedy industry. In a recent YouTube appearance on the channel 'Egennam Swing,' Kim recounted experiences of unexplained physical abuse and rigid formations during his early days as a comedian.

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Back then, for reasons I don't understand, there was beatings for trivial matters. There were also assemblies.

"Back then, for reasons I don't understand, there was beatings for trivial matters. There were also assemblies," Kim stated. He detailed the demanding posture required during these assemblies, where comedians had to keep their chins pressed to their chests, causing significant neck pain. "You had to keep your chin on your sternum. It hurt so much my neck felt like it would break," he explained, noting that as a newcomer, he initially questioned if his own body had issues when others seemed to endure it better.

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You had to keep your chin on your sternum. It hurt so much my neck felt like it would break.

Kim also recounted a specific incident where he challenged the harshness. "While the seniors were scolding me, I suddenly raised my hand and asked, 'Excuse me, but can I look up at the sky for just five seconds?'" This act of defiance led to intense backlash, with seniors questioning his behavior and calling him names. "They asked, 'Are you a troublemaker?', 'What kind of XX are you?' and all the arrows flew at me," he recalled.

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While the seniors were scolding me, I suddenly raised my hand and asked, 'Excuse me, but can I look up at the sky for just five seconds?'

He attributed his difficulty in adapting to the comedy environment to his background in theater, as he initially aspired to be an actor. Despite the strict discipline, Kim acknowledged that the atmosphere becomes incredibly free and creative during actual comedy performances. He mentioned that seniors often advised them to be professional but also to embrace freedom and use everything for comedic effect, highlighting the paradoxical nature of the industry.

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They asked, 'Are you a troublemaker?', 'What kind of XX are you?' and all the arrows flew at me.