Korean comedy

Korean comedy is the art of comedy, done on stage, or within other media by Koreans, in the Korean language or by overseas Koreans.

Korean comedy has always been central to the culture, and has always been physical comedy. Rudeness and vulgar personal commentary are difficult within the traditionally Confucian culture of Korea, with great care taken in polite social interaction. Thus Korean comedy is most often one where rules are broken, and errors made within social contexts, and impossible situations occur which have funny physical repercussions.

History of Korean comedy

Comic genres

Comic genres divide into four areas along historical class and religious lines as well as chronology.

Out of shamanism and the common people came physical comedy and "maskwork" or funny faces and funny facial expressions as well as slapstick "push and shove" humour. Elements of this are most often seen in popular films, and particularly in commercials on television for popular products. Particularly strong in the middle of the country and the southern coasts, and again a rural and a provincial form.

Out of the Buddhist farmer and merchant class came verbal comedy including everything from puns and wit in conversation through contemporary jokes, and comic story telling. Elements of this feature in comic lines within comic strips and in cartoons; as well as on morning radio. Again a rural and provincial form.

Out of the yangban Confucianist scholarly class, came written comedy, comic allegories, comic novels, short stories, and political satire. Elements of this feature in editorial cartoons and visual political satire by graphic artists in newspapers. This style of humour is primarily based in Seoul and the universities.

In recent times, Korean Christians, a rich upper middle class American educated business minded group centred in Seoul, have used the topic of confession, forgiveness, and redemption, in the Christian sense, for their influential Korean comic films and domestic television series; and the situation comedies rarely if ever exported abroad.

Contemporary comedy

Most comedy in Korea by 2005 is done on television or in the movies, and is still physically driven. Most newspapers have a political cartoonist who will also heighten attention to current events with comic illustrations.

Pyongyang Broadcasting Corporation in late May 2005, has revived comic folk tales for political commentary, in attempting to satirize American society, and political jockeying for power by using the a form known as "manp'il", or "comic notes" in a short acted dialogue using folkish humour and animal metaphors.

Famous comedians

* Ha Ha
* Jeong Hyeong-don
* Jeong Jun-ha
* Kang Ho-dong
* Kim Ji Woon (comedian, star, director)
* Kim Jong-min
* Lee Su-geun
* Lee Hyuk-jae
* Park Myeong-su
* Park Sang-myun
* Park Joon-gyu
* Roh Hong-cheol
* Shin Bong-seon
* Shin Jung-hwan
* Yu Jae-seok

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*Korean art
*Korean culture
*Contemporary culture of South Korea
*Muhan Dojeon

External links

* [http://www.subwaycinema.com/frames/archives/kfest2001/foulking.htm The Foul King, a wrestling comedy]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4599109.stm PBS airs successful radio satire in "manp'il", or "comic notes" form]