Yu Jae-seok

Infobox Comedian


name = Yu Jae-seok


imagesize =
caption =
pseudonym =
birth_name =
birth_date = birth date and age|1972|08|14
birth_place = Seoul, South Korea
death_date =
death_place =
medium = Stand-up, television
nationality = South Korean
active = 1991-present
genre = Comedy
subject =
influences =
influenced =
spouse = Na Gyeong Eun
notable_work= Host-in-chief of "Muhan Dojeon"Infobox Korean name
title = Korean name
hangul = 유재석
hanja = linktext|劉|在|錫
rr = Yu Jaeseok
mr = Yu Chaesŏk

Yu Jae-seok (Hangul: 유재석; born 14 August 1972) is a South Korean entertainer, known mostly for his MC-ing roles and comic routines. He has hosted several variety television shows in Korea, including the hugely popular program "Muhan Dojeon". Nicknamed "The Grasshopper", due to early appearances dressed as a grasshopper, he is now known for his quick wit and likability with most demographics, and has established himself as Korea's top comedians and TV personalities. [ [http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/culturenlife/culturenlife_peoplefocus_detail.htm?No=1733 Comedian Yu Jae-seok rises as Hallyu MC] KBS World, People In Focus article, 2007-06-07]

History

Yu Jae-seok attended the Seoul Institute of the Arts for four years but had been unable to receive his degree due to his busy schedule as a comedian. His television debut was on the KBS Comedian Festival (for college students) in 1991, singing a cover of the song "Step by Step" by New Kids on the Block.Fact|date=February 2008 He hosted the shows "X-Man", which was initially very popular, becoming one of the most viewed shows in Korea. However, due to falling ratings, it was cancelled, and Yu went on to host its replacement shows, "Ancient TV" (in which guests would re-enact classic TV series), and "Haja! Go!" ("Let's Do It") for SBS, which were both cancelled in 2007, due to low ratings on Sunday evening. X-Man has gone on to success in international syndication.

Yu now is a part of the cast of the top-rated comic variety program "Muhan Dojeon" "{ _ko. 무한도전", as the host-in-chief. Initially a six-member cast, Haha left the program as he was drafted to serve his mandatory military service. Yu also co-hosts "놀러와" ("Come to Play") with Kim Won-hee and hosts "Miraculous Gamer" ( _ko. 기적의 승부사) which has a similar concept to his previous program "X-Man". He has signed with MBC for Saturday evening programming. [ [http://www.magazinet.co.kr/Articles/article_view.php?mm=012001001&article_id=46021 "From Jeong Yeon-ju to Shin Dong-yeob"] (Korean), Magazine T, Retrieved on May 31, 2007.]

Currently, he is an outfielder of the Korean entertainer baseball team "Han" (Korean: 한 恨, Incumbent since 2000). Furthermore, since December 2005, he is a founding member of DY Entertainment. [ [http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=143&article_id=0000005547 5 top Korean Entertainers established 'DY Entertainment'] , Kukinews, Retrieved on 6 December 2005]

= Characters on Muhan Dojeon =

On Muhan Dojeon as the Host-in-chief, he leads all Muhan Dojeon members to reach the goal of each episodes. Due to his leadership presented to this programme, a new kind of cult has been created that called "Muhan Jaeseok-gyo" (Korean:무한재석교, "Infinite Jaeseok Cult") [ [http://www.ytnstar.co.kr/_ln/0101_200703021002046638 Who are the followers of 'Yu Jaeseok-gyo'?] (Korean), YTN Star, Retrieved on March 2, 2007] and he becomes as a spiritual leader of this false-religion. The official followers are Ha Ha and Roh Hong-cheol (from the episode of Season 3 Episode 61), and the official motto is "I shall make you laugh" (내가 너희를 웃기게 하리라). [Ibid.] Also during the New Zealand series, he got caught smuggling pornographic videos during the baggage check, which was hidden by the second host in charge: Park Myung Soo. This sketch was well received by the Korean netizens and Yu Jae Seok became "Ero Jae Seok". Even now, over seventy episodes later, he still is made fun of for watching pornographic videos which he really didn't watch.

Television appearances

* MBC: Muhan Dojeon (Infinite Challenge 무한도전) Host-in-Chief(Since 2005)
* MBC: Come to Play (놀러와) Co-Host
* SBS: Real Situation Saturday/Good Sunday - X-Man (실제상황! 토요일/일요일이 좋다-X맨 2003.11.8 ~ 2006.10.29) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Good Sunday - New X-Man (일요일이 좋다-뉴 X맨 2006.11.5 ~ 2007.4.8) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Good Sunday - Haja Go! (Let's Do It!) (일요일이 좋다-하자고! 2007.4.15 ~ 2007.6.10) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Good Sunday - Ancient TV (일요일이 좋다-옛날TV, 2007.6.17 ~ 2007.11.04) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Good Sunday - Miracle Contestant (일요일이 좋다-기적의 승부사 2007.11.11 ~ 2008.2.3) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Good Sunday - Miracle History (일요일이 좋다-기승史(사) 2008.2.10 ~ 2008.6.8) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Good Sunday - Family is Coming (일요일이 좋다-패밀리가 떴다 since 2008.6.15) Host-in-chief
* SBS: Yu Jae Sok's Truth Game (유재석의 진실게임 2005 ~ 2007) Host
* KBS2: Happy Together - Tray Singing Room (Karaoke) (해피 투게더 - 쟁반노래방 2004 ~ 2005) Co-Host
* KBS2: Happy Together Friends (해피투게더 프렌즈 2005.5.5 ~ 2007.6.21) Co-Host
* KBS2: Happy Together Season 3 (해피투게더 시즌3 since 2007.6.28) Co-Host
* MBC: !Exclamation Mark - Read a Book! Book! Book! (!느낌표 - 책!책!책을 읽읍시다!) Co-Host
* KBS2: Super TV Enjoy Sunday - Host Big Match (슈퍼TV 일요일은 즐거워 - MC대격돌) Co-Host

Private Life

On June 4, 2008 Yu Jae-Seok has proclaimed he will marry his girlfriend of approximately two years, an announcer named Na Gyoung-Eun (나경은). The wedding is to take place in July 6, 2008. Upon hearing this, many Korean fans expressed their approval. He proposed to her by silently slipping the wedding ring on her finger in his car.

References

External links

* [http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/ent/challenge 'Muhan Dojeon' official Homepage] ko icon
* [http://tv.sbs.co.kr/goodsunday 'Good Sunday X-Man' official Homepage] ko icon
* [http://cafe.daum.net/fanjs Official Fanpage] ko icon ( _ko. Me-Chat-Sa 메찾사)
* [http://www.dyenter.co.kr/00_signpost/dyent02_03.asp Yu Jae Seok's Corporate Homepage] ko icon (from DY Entertainment)
* [http://www.hanbaseball.com/02_member/index_view.asp?idx=48 Profile from the entertainer baseball team 'Han'] ko icon