“I’ll Repay the Debt the Late Comedian Left Behind” Lee Hong-ryul and Kim Shin-young to Donate All at “Jeon Yoo-seong Show” on the 22nd

A mark of respect for a ‘legend of comedy’… a stage of 100% talent donation by younger performers

The 14th ‘Busan International Comedy Festival’ (hereafter BUCofe) will present a special tribute stage for the comedy veteran Jeon Yoo-seong, a kingpin in the comedy world who helped lay the foundation of Korean comedy. With long-time juniors announcing that they will say, “I’ll repay the debt I owe my senior,” and donate their entire appearance fees, attention is focused both inside and outside the cultural community.

The BUCofe organizing committee announced in an official statement on the 11th that all performers of ‘Jeon Yoo-seong Without Jeon Yoo-seong Show’, to be held in Busan on the 22nd, have decided to return all performance proceeds and appearance fees to meaningful places. The event is not meant to convey a misinformed idea of mourning. Instead, it is a project designed as the highest tribute to a “living master” who spent a lifetime advancing the development of comedy in the Republic of Korea.

As one of this year’s biggest expectations, this show—held from the 21st through the 30th of this month—brings together top-tier juniors, including Lee Hong-ryul, Shin Bong-sun, and Kim Shin-young, as well as the comedy team Zoltan (Lee Jae-hyung, Han Hyun-min, Jung Jin-wook).

The performances will unfold in an omnibus format, with each team taking charge of a 20-minute stage. The show is expected to deliver a different level of fun to audiences, as it turns the respect for a senior into laughter and wit unique to comedians. Building on the heated energy, the organizers have also confirmed an extension of the show in Namwon after Busan.

The organizing committee said about this donation drive, “This is a sincere repayment from younger performers to a pioneer who carved out the Korean comedy ecosystem that had been barren.” It added, “We hope that many viewers will join the moving stage honoring the master and enjoy the true value of laughter.”