Kim Ji-min skips BuCoFe opening, says she is 'still angry'

Comedian Kim Ji-min piqued curiosity by offering a short and cryptic reason for her absence from the opening ceremony of the Busan International Comedy Festival (BuCoFe), led by executive chairman Kim Jun-ho. Stating she "hasn't cooled down yet," Kim, who recently announced her pregnancy, made remarks that seemed to target her fiancé, Kim. While the comment triggered laughter at the scene, attention is focused on what might have happened between the couple.

On the 22nd, BuCoFe released a video on its official YouTube channel titled "Everyone,, why didn't you all come,,?" Following the opening ceremony of the 14th Busan International Comedy Festival held on the 21st at the BEXCO Auditorium in Haeundae, Busan, the video humorously introduced the reasons for the absence of various comedians who could not attend the event.

Heo Kyung Hwan brought laughter by using his signature catchphrase in a video message, saying, "I'm not doing it today, it's too much."

The reasons for the absence of several other comedians, including Jang Do Yeon, Jung Yi-rang, Im Woo-il, and Oh Na Mi, were also revealed in succession.

In particular, Im Woo-il spoke candidly, saying, "If I go to Busan, I have to spend money," and Oh Na Mi drew laughter by stating she chose her daily life immediately after marriage, saying, "Newlywed life is more important."

Kim Ji-min's remark stood out most among them. Without any further explanation, she stated, "Still angry." This was followed by a close-up of Kim Jun-ho's face watching the video, adding a directed touch that implied he was responsible, which triggered bursts of laughter.

This scene garnered even more attention given that Kim Ji-min recently announced her pregnancy with a son from Kim. However, it cannot be confirmed from the released video alone whether Kim is actually angry about a specific incident. Considering the characteristic variety-style direction of BuCoFe, there is a possibility that this is humor utilizing the couple's relationship rather than an actual conflict.

Song Eun-i also shared news of her absence through a video message. Song said, "Jun-ho. I have an important meeting. I have an important meeting with Shin Bong Sun," but Shin Bong Sun actually attended the venue, creating another moment of laughter. This highlights the BuCoFe production's direction, placing the reasons for the absentees between real situations and variety-style exaggeration.

Kim Ji-min and Kim Jun-ho have been colleagues for a long time before developing a romantic relationship and have continued their public dating with marriage in mind. Their relationship has consistently garnered attention on variety programs as it combines the unique jokes of comedians with their realistic dating life. Recently, following the news of their marriage, they have also shared news of their pregnancy, looking forward to the birth of a new family member.

The Busan International Comedy Festival, with Kim Jun-ho serving as the executive chairman, has established itself as an international comedy festival that encompasses overseas comedy performances beyond the stages of domestic comedians. Since its first launch in 2013, it was founded with the goal of expanding the foundation of the domestic comedy industry and promoting international exchange, with Kim leading the festival as the first executive chairman.

In particular, it became a hot topic when it was revealed that Kim had even invested his own personal funds to cover the insufficient event budget during the first year. Since then, BuCoFe has grown into a representative international festival for Korean comedy, expanding its scale every year with the participation of domestic and international comedians.

In that sense, this opening ceremony is drawing attention not only for the festival's outward appearance but also for the variety-style narrative surrounding the relationship of the engaged couple, Kim and Kim. While it is unknown whether Kim's single remark, "Still angry," signifies an actual conflict, at the very least, by utilizing it as comedic material, BuCoFe has once again brought the couple's unique realistic dating comedy to the public's attention.