Kim Jun-hyun (; born 16 November 1980) is a South Korean comedian. He joined KBS as a comedian for the 22nd open recruitment in 2007 and appeared in KBS's , Gag Concert, The Star Who Will Be Big, and Roller Coaster 2. He is currently hosting Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend, and he won the grand prize at the 2023 KBS Entertainment Awards.
He signed an exclusive contract with SM C&C in 2024.
Early life and education Kim Jun-hyun was born in Chuncheon on 16 November 1980 and raised in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. He graduated from Gwangmyeong High School in 2001 and later attended Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Yongin Campus), where he studied philosophy.
During his military service, Kim aspired to become an announcer or producer, influenced by his father, a former announcer and director at KBS. Following his discharge, he initially prepared for media employment examinations. However, after successfully hosting a dormitory song festival at his university, he redirected his career focus toward comedy.
Career Following his graduation in 2005, Kim began his career as an aspiring actor at the Daehakro Small Theater. He unsuccessfully auditioned for the Daehakro Theater Company's comedian recruitment in both 2005 and 2006.
Later in 2006, Kim and Kim Young-jo participated in auditions for the KBS2 program Gag Hunt in Yeouido, Seoul. They performed a military-themed skit personifying various food delivery items; however, the performance failed to impress the judging panel, and they were not initially selected for the program.
Despite his initial audition failures, Kim was eventually cast in a segment for rookie performers on a program featuring established comedians. He initially struggled with the lack of formal training and the demands of scriptwriting. During this period, he considered leaving the industry due to professional setbacks and discouraging feedback. However, an accident involving another aspiring comedian made him reconsider, and he decided to approach the production team of the program. After a reconsidering his career path following an incident involving a fellow performer, Kim sought guidance from the program's production team, which included producer Seo Soo-min and writer Choi Dae-woong. With their support, he continued his career and made his official television debut in 2006 on the KBS program . He appeared in the segment "Mr. Aristocrat," a role characterized by his signature "Cheers" catchphrase.
Kim was officially selected through the 22nd KBS public recruitment for comedians in 2007. It was a year noted for a significant increase in applicant competition, where passed applicants debuted through the KBS2 flagship comedy program Gag Concert after completing their a month of training. During his early years as a trainee, Kim was part of a cohort of six performers who reportedly earned an initial annual salary of 1.5 million won. Although he initially held minor roles, Kim gained widespread popularity through the segment "Emergency Response Committee." His performance in the segment, characterized by the catchphrase "Whale~?" (Korean: 뭐~?), established him as a prominent figure in the show's lineup.
In 2008, Kim joined the rock band Overaction as a guitarist. Formed by through the Mnet program Moon Hee-jun's Music Rebellion, the group's initial lineup included Kim, Yoon as main vocalist, Kim Young-min on bass, Oh Kyung-soo on drums, and Jacob on keyboards. The band debuted with the single "Run! Run! Run!" and later released the Queen Biho Project Album, which included the autobiographical track "Let's Earn Like a Dog."
Overaction performed at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival on 23 July 2010. By this time, the lineup had evolved to include guitarist Lee Kyo-won of the band Burette. Their setlist included original tracks such as "Android" and a cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." On 23 September 2011, the band appeared on the KBS2 music program Music Bank, performing the single "Taewon." The televised performance featured the core lineup of Yoon, Kim, and Kim Young-min, supported by Lee Kyo-won and session drummer Oh Kyung-su.
In January 2012, Kim joined the Gag Concert segment "Four Things" (Nagasaji), which featured comedians satirizing various social stereotypes. Kim's role focused on self-deprecating humor regarding his physical stature, a persona that remained a consistent element of the segment throughout its run. His performance popularized several catchphrases, including a comedic rationalization for his appetite: "Of course, I thought about it for a moment, but..." Through these performances, Kim established himself as a leading comedian in South Korea, known for signature gestures and catchphrases that achieved broad cultural recognition.
In 2015, he became a founding cast member of the food-themed variety show Delicious Guys. The program significantly contributed to his public image as a "foodie" entertainer. After six years with the show, he departed the production in 2021.
Personal life Kim is a Roman Catholic. He has cited his father, Kim Sang-geu, a former KBS announcer and director, as a major influence on his life and career.
In September 2011, Kim publicly announced that he was in a relationship. On 20 April 2013, he married Oh Jung-joo, his girlfriend of six years, in a ceremony in Seoul attended by many of his colleagues in the comedy industry. They had their first daughter, Kim Tae-eun, in December 2016. Their second daughter was born on July 6, 2018.
Filmography Television show
+ Year Title Roles Notes 2006–2008 Laughter Club 2 () Cast member 2007–20142020 Gag Concert () 2011 Big Star () 2012 Sponge () 2012 Roller Coaster Season 2 () 2012–2014 Crisis Escape No. 1 () 2013–2015 The Human Condition Pilot, episode 1–922014 Co-host 2015 Animals Host What's Wrong with My Age? Machohouse Always Cantare Season 2 Same Bed, Different Dreams Fixed panelist (Episode 28–44, except episodes 42–43)2015–2021 Co-host with Yoo Min-sang, Kim Min-kyung and Moon Se-yoon 2015–present Saturday Night Live Korea Cast member 2015–2017 Baek Jong-won's Three Great Emperors Host (Episodes 1–93) 2016–2017 Trick & True Co-host with Jun Hyun-moo and Lee Eun-gyeol 2016–2019 Life Bar Host 2017 Fantastic Duo season 2 Co-host/panel team leader with Jun Hyun-moo and Kim Bum-soo 2017–2021, 2022–present Welcome, First Time in Korea? Host 2019–2020 Battle Trip 2020–present Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend Host 2021 Son Hyun-joo's Simple Station MC with Lim Ji-yeon and Son Hyun-joo~~ 2021 Why Is Classical (Season2) Host 2021 The Great Home Cooking Research Institute Main Host 2021 Chicken Wars Host 2022 One Tree Table Cast Member Heart Beats 38.5 Host Day to Eat Outwith Lee Myung-hoon Let's Eat GO Cast Member 2023 City Sashimi Restaurant Muk Pro Going to Court Host 2023, 2024 Cast Member with Moon Se-yoon
Television series + Year Title Role 2012 My Husband Got a Family Variety show PD (cameo, episode 12) 2013 The Queen of Office Construction worker (cameo, episode 1) 2015 All About My Mom President Kim (cameo) 2016 Ugly Miss Young-ae 15 Martial arts dojo director (cameo, episode 12) 2018 The Beauty Inside Cameo, episode 1 2019 Hotel del Luna Cameo, episode 6
Films Year Title Role 2010 Nutcracker 3D Rat King (Korean dub)2012 A Letter to Momo Iwa (Korean dub) Yak: The Giant King Tossakan/Big Green (Korean dub) Marrying the Mafia V Cameo
Accolades Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryNominated work(s)Result48th Baeksang Arts Awards2012Best Variety Performer - MaleGag Concert11th KBS Entertainment Awards2012Top Excellence Award in Comedy (Male)Gag Concert: Discoveries in Life, Four Men12th KBS Entertainment Awards2013Top Excellence Award in Comedy (Male)Gag Concert: Just Relax, Goosebumps15th KBS Entertainment Awards 2016Excellence Award in Talk ShowTrick & True17th KBS Entertainment Awards 2019Top Excellence Award in EntertainmentBattle Trip 2022 KBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Top Excellence Award in Show and Variety Category Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend 39th Korea Broadcasting Awards2012Comedian AwardGag Concert: Emergency MeetingKorea Cable TV Awards2016Delicious Star20th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards2012Comedian AwardGag Concert: Discoveries in Life20th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards2014Comedian AwardSBS Entertainment Awards2015Excellence Award in Talk ShowBaek Jong-won's Food Truck SBS Entertainment Awards 2016 Top Excellence Award in Talk ShowBaek Jong-won's Food Truck PD AwardBest Couple Award (paired with Baek Jong-won) SBS Entertainment Awards 2017 Excellence Award in Talk Show Fantastic Duo 2
State honors +Name of country, award ceremony, year given, and name of honorCountryAward CeremonyYearHonorSouth Korea 5th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2014 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Commendation
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2013 Korea Power Celebrity 2014
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