Comedian Jung Bum-kyoon recounts being slapped by senior for making mistake

During a broadcast of KBS2's 'Malja Show' on the 2nd, Jung Bum-kyoon revealed he was slapped by a senior colleague for making an NG, an incident where Kim Won-hyo had already lowered his hand to avoid the physical punishment.

Comedian Jung Bum-kyoon has exposed the violent disciplinary culture that was once widespread in the comedy industry. He revealed that he was slapped by a senior colleague simply for making an NG (no-good) during recording. Even more absurdly, he recounted how Kim Won-hyo, who had made the mistake alongside him, lowered his hand, leaving Jung to face the physical punishment alone.

During the broadcast of KBS2's 'Malja Show' on the 2nd, the strict lifestyle rules and the disciplinary culture formed between seniors and juniors in the comedy industry became a topic of conversation. Song Jun-geun mentioned the atmosphere of the time, stating, "Comedians even have rules regarding their attire in their daily lives." When Kim Won-hyo's past mistakes were also brought up, Jung Bum-kyoon shared his experience of being scolded by a senior.

Recalling the incident, Jung Bum-kyoon said, "We were scolded a lot if we made an NG," adding, "One day, Kim Won-hyo and I made an NG." At the time, a senior instructed, "Raise your hand if you made an NG," and Jung raised his hand without much thought. However, instead of a reprimand, he received a slap. He surprised the cast by revealing, "I raised my hand, and then I was suddenly slapped in the cheek."

What Jung Bum-kyoon found even more absurd was Kim Won-hyo's reaction immediately after the assault. Kim, who had made the NG with him, had already lowered his hand. Jung's revelation that "I got hit, and when I turned my head, Kim Won-hyo had his hand down. I was the only one who got hit," turned the scene into a fit of laughter.

Kim Won-hyo explained the situation as if defending himself. "Why would you proudly raise your hand for making an NG?" he asked, explaining, "The atmosphere was strange, so I was debating whether I should raise my hand, but then Jung Bum-kyoon shouted 'Me!' and raised his hand, so the senior saw him and slapped him hard." He added that after seeing Jung get hit, he thought, "Oh my," and lowered his hand, noting, "I'm a human being too; I couldn't exactly say, 'I raised my hand too, so please hit me as well.'"

While the two discussed the situation with their characteristic comedic wit, testimonies regarding the violent hierarchical culture in the comedy industry continue to emerge. On the 25th of last month, Jeong Gyeong-mi, Kim Kyung-ah, Oh Na-mi, and Jo Seung-hee appeared on the YouTube channel 'Gag Women' and shared experiences of being unable to join seniors' meals, forced to eat leftover food or sneakily eating in bathrooms. The revelation of practices where juniors were excluded even from basic meal settings drew sympathy.

In July, comedian Jung Cheol-gyu also revealed an experience of being assaulted by a senior. He recalled on the YouTube channel 'Namu Miki Detective Agency' that a senior called him out while he was having a meeting with a writer. According to Jung Cheol-gyu, the senior asked, "Who is going to give you 30 million won?" before putting him in a car. He thought they were going somewhere because the senior even fastened his seatbelt, but once the engine was turned off, the assault suddenly began.

"He slapped me with his palm," Jung Cheol-gyu recalled. "He kept hitting only one side, so it hurt so much that I turned my head, but he said, 'What are you looking at?' and kept hitting the other side." Along with Jung Bum-kyoon's anecdote, as testimonies continue that violence was exercised in the comedy industry under the pretext of senior-junior relationships, questions are being raised again about why irrational hierarchy and corporal punishment were tolerated within an organization that promotes laughter and creativity.

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