Koo Bong-seo, the godfather of Korean comedy, passed away on Aug. 27 leaving in his wake a lifetime of smiles and laughter. The comedian was 90-years-old.
Along with his contemporaries, the late Bae Sam-ryong and Seo Young-choon, Koo represented the first generation of Korean comics.
In his will, he said, "Don't stop the funding, even after I'm gone." He was referring to his 37-year sponsorship of the Shin Man Ae Orphanage in the small town of Mungyeong, in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. As the orphanage's first sponsor when it was founded in 1954, Koo became the sponsor with the longest track record of donations.
To his colleagues, Koo was a paragon of comedy. He starred in every episode of the beloved TV program "Smile and Luck Will Come" (웃으면 복이 와요) from August 1969 to April 1985, for total of 786 episodes. People who remember him from those years still chuckle when thinking back on his acts.
Aside from his TV appearances, many also recall Koo from an instant noodle commercial that parodied a scene from his movie "You First." He also starred in countless ads and was invited to guest star in over 980 radio shows. In 1956, Koo debuted as an actor, playing the lead role in "The Wave of Love." He went on to star in movies like "Obuja" (1958), "Miryang Arirang" (1961), "Golden Chariot" (1970) and "You First" (1980). A movie from 1969, "School Excursion," won an award for best picture at the Tehran International Festival of Films for Children and Young Adults.
Born in 1926 in Pyeongyang, Koo joined the Taepyeongyang Opera Company (태평양 가극단) in 1954 as a musician. Little did he know that this move would ignite his career as a comic actor. His strict father had told him he could try it for just four days, but he went on to find his calling in comedy. Koo was still just a musician in the company when, one day, an actor disappeared right before the show was about to begin. Koo was unwittingly sent up on stage to entertain the audience for a few minutes. The lines he improvised on stage made the audience roar with laughter, and from that day on, Koo found his calling as a comic.
Along with his contemporaries, the late Bae Sam-ryong and Seo Young-choon, Koo represented the first generation of Korean comics.
In his will, he said, "Don't stop the funding, even after I'm gone." He was referring to his 37-year sponsorship of the Shin Man Ae Orphanage in the small town of Mungyeong, in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. As the orphanage's first sponsor when it was founded in 1954, Koo became the sponsor with the longest track record of donations.
To his colleagues, Koo was a paragon of comedy. He starred in every episode of the beloved TV program "Smile and Luck Will Come" (웃으면 복이 와요) from August 1969 to April 1985, for total of 786 episodes. People who remember him from those years still chuckle when thinking back on his acts.
Aside from his TV appearances, many also recall Koo from an instant noodle commercial that parodied a scene from his movie "You First." He also starred in countless ads and was invited to guest star in over 980 radio shows. In 1956, Koo debuted as an actor, playing the lead role in "The Wave of Love." He went on to star in movies like "Obuja" (1958), "Miryang Arirang" (1961), "Golden Chariot" (1970) and "You First" (1980). A movie from 1969, "School Excursion," won an award for best picture at the Tehran International Festival of Films for Children and Young Adults.
Koo Bong-seo, godfather of Korean comedy, passes away on Aug. 27 at the age of 90. In 2013, Koo (pictured) was awarded an Order of Cultural Merits at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Award Ceremony.
Born in 1926 in Pyeongyang, Koo joined the Taepyeongyang Opera Company (태평양 가극단) in 1954 as a musician. Little did he know that this move would ignite his career as a comic actor. His strict father had told him he could try it for just four days, but he went on to find his calling in comedy. Koo was still just a musician in the company when, one day, an actor disappeared right before the show was about to begin. Koo was unwittingly sent up on stage to entertain the audience for a few minutes. The lines he improvised on stage made the audience roar with laughter, and from that day on, Koo found his calling as a comic.
Koo Bong-seo (left), along with his partners Bae Sam-ryong (center) and Seo Young-choon, led the Korean comedy scene from the 1960s through to the 1980s. The trio starred together in the movie 'You First,' released in 1980 (poster pictured).
When he was still alive, Koo often talked fondly about his time on the show "Smile and Luck Will Come." He once said that, "I feel blessed to have been given the chance to bring joy and laughter to our people, during a time of hunger and hardship. I feel happiest when I see others bursting with laughter." In countless interviews, he emphasized that comedy was his destiny. He said, "I laughed so much working in comedy."
Koo never stopped thinking about his junior colleagues, even in his final moments. "Many fellow comedians are struggling to make ends meet, so don't accept any condolence money at my funeral. What I want is for them to come, enjoy the food and have a good time," he said. Koo wanted his funeral to be an occasion for comedians to come together and enjoy each others' company.
By Jeon Han, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Yonhap News
hlee10@korea.kr
Koo never stopped thinking about his junior colleagues, even in his final moments. "Many fellow comedians are struggling to make ends meet, so don't accept any condolence money at my funeral. What I want is for them to come, enjoy the food and have a good time," he said. Koo wanted his funeral to be an occasion for comedians to come together and enjoy each others' company.
By Jeon Han, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Yonhap News
hlee10@korea.kr
