Veteran comedian Chun Yoo-sung dies at 76

연합뉴스 / 2025-09-26 09:11:02

▲ This photo of South Korean veteran comedian Chun Yoo-sung, widely regarded as a mentor and "godfather" of Korean comedy, is provided by his agency. Chun died on Sept. 25, 2025, after his pneumothorax condition worsened. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Veteran comedian Chun Yoo-sung, widely regarded as a mentor and "godfather" of Korean comedy, died Thursday after his pneumothorax condition worsened. He was 76.

According to the Korea Broadcast Comedians Association, Chun passed away at 9:05 p.m. at a Seoul hospital. He had suffered from pneumonia in the past and struggled with lingering aftereffects of COVID-19. He recently underwent surgery to remove part of his lung due to pneumothorax but was hospitalized as his condition deteriorated.

Born in 1949 in Seoul, Chun studied theater directing at Sorabol College of Arts and began his career as a comedy writer, preparing scripts for comedian Kwak Gyu-seok. He debuted in 1969 as a writer for TBC’s "Show Show Show" and later gained fame as a comedian on "Humor No. 1" and "Show Video Jockey" with his sharp, witty style.

In the 1990s, he created the competition segment "Make Chun Yoo-sung Laugh" on SBS’ "Good Friends" and was recognized as one of the founding figures of KBS’ long-running comedy program "Gag Concert."

Chun also staged various performances, including "A Concert Where Nobody Gets Angry Even if Children Make Noise" and "Dog or Not Concert," which combined comedy with music and everyday themes. In 2011, he opened Korea’s first comedy-only theater, the Iron Bag Theater in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, and later served as honorary chairman of the Busan International Comedy Festival.

He was widely respected for supporting aspiring comedians, with stars such as Choi Yang-rak, Lee Yoon-seok, Kim Shin-young and Hwang Hyun-hee crediting him for their careers. He is also known for coining the now-common term "gagman" in the early 1980s.

Chun authored 17 books, including "Exploring Others’ Cultural Heritage" and "Life Is Fun If You’re Slightly Cowardly." He retired from broadcasting in 2007 and later lived in Namwon, North Jeolla Province.

He married singer Jin Mi-ryeong in 1993 but later divorced. He is survived by a daughter.

His funeral will be held as a comedians’ funeral, with a memorial service near KBS, where he was most active. The mourning altar has been set up at Asan Medical Center in Seoul.