Kim Ki Yeol reveals why he left 'Gag Concert': Confronted PD over junior comedians' screen time

Comedian Kim Ki Yeol has revealed the circumstances behind his departure from KBS's flagship open comedy program, 'Gag Concert'. He explained that he directly protested to the production team after the screen time of his junior comedians was edited down, leading to a conflict with the PD in charge and ultimately resulting in his exit from the program. Ironically, the juniors he tried to protect continued their work on 'Gag Concert' and went on to pursue their own successful paths.

During an appearance on the 'People with Lots of Anger' special of the KBS variety show 'Malja Show' aired on the 31st, Kim shared an anecdote from his 'Gag Concert' days while discussing his personality. The broadcast featured Kim, a comedian from the 21st class of KBS, and Magic Park, who works as a dentist, magician, and internet broadcaster, as guests.

On this episode, a female audience member shared a story of how she protested on behalf of her friends who were victims of personal attacks, only to find herself distanced from those same friends as a result. She expressed concern over how to fix her tendency to step up for others.

Kim Young-hee, who shared a similar experience, said, "I have also spoken up and fought on behalf of my friends many times. However, there were cases where the person involved would say, 'I was just venting, why are you making such a big deal out of this?' and the relationship would sour." She explained that as time passes, the original parties often reconcile, while she, the one who intervened, ends up being seen as the problematic one.

Based on this experience, Kim advised, "Unless the person involved wants it, it is better not to take the bullet for them and instead just comfort them by listening to their story."

In this discussion, Kim Ki Yeol was identified as someone who cannot stand injustice. He confessed that he has actually suffered significant losses due to his personality, citing the editing of junior comedians' screen time on 'Gag Concert' as a representative example.

Kim explained that there was an instance where the screen time of rookie-level juniors, who were preparing sketches together at the time, was edited out. Those juniors included Im Woo-il and Kwak Beom, who have since become prominent figures in the broadcasting industry.

At the time, the juniors expressed their grievances to Kim, saying, "The reaction on set was good, but isn't it because we are rookies and have no influence that we are being edited out?" They requested help from their senior, asking him to question the production team directly.

Kim did not turn a blind eye. He went directly to the PD in charge and asked, "Why did you edit it?" During the discussion regarding screen time and editing standards, the conflict with the production team escalated. Ultimately, the conclusion was unexpected.

Kim revealed, "While we were exchanging words, in the end, I was the only one who ended up not doing 'Gag Concert'." His attempt to convey the juniors' positions resulted in his own departure from the program.

Jung Beom-gyun summarized the situation, saying, "He ended up quitting 'Gag Concert' because he fell out with the PD while speaking up for his juniors." Kim added a bittersweet yet humorous recollection, noting, "I thought those friends would follow me out, but they kept doing well. They've become very successful since then, haven't they?"

Kim's anecdote illustrates the broadcasting atmosphere of that era, where the production environment of open comedy programs and senior-junior relationships were deeply intertwined. For a long time, 'Gag Concert' acted as a gateway for rookie comedians, and the editing of sketches and broadcast duration had a significant impact on a performer's presence and future career. Since a few seconds or a few lines of dialogue could determine a rookie's next opportunity, editing issues were often treated as highly sensitive matters.

Kim is one of the representative comedians who rose to fame through 'Gag Concert'. Having debuted as a KBS 21st class official comedian, he gained recognition for his unique, relatable characters and situational sketches. Since then, he has solidified his position as a broadcaster by expanding his work into various media, including performances and online content.

The most striking part of this confession is that Kim did not frame his actions as a successful choice. While admitting, "I suffered a lot because of that personality," he did not express particular regret for stepping up for his juniors.

Ultimately, Kim's departure from 'Gag Concert' was the result of a clash between his personal character and the dynamics of the production site. Despite no direct benefit to himself, he voiced the grievances of his juniors, a decision that led to him leaving the program.

Ironically, the juniors he sought to protect eventually established themselves in the industry. While Kim remarked that he expected them to follow him out, their ability to continue their careers suggests that his decision to speak up may have helped pave the way for their continued presence in the industry.

Reflecting on the event years later, Kim shared the story not as a record of serious conflict, but as an episode that prompts him to reflect on his own nature. However, the fact that a senior comedian directly challenged the production team over a few seconds of edited footage serves as a reminder of how much a single episode of 'Gag Concert' meant to a comedian's career during its heyday.