We tell the story of comedian Lee Seon-min, who stood on the stage of his dreams after obscure years and YouTube.
From his trainee days, he performed together with colleagues from the same hometown, showcasing exceptional talent even then.
He pioneered a new platform, YouTube, early on, breaking away from traditional comedy formats. He is considered an example of opening new horizons in comedy by changing his field.
Lee Seon-min, 10 years and 3 months into his debut, experienced a period of wandering after SBS 'Laughing People' was canceled just a year after he was publicly hired.
He joined a theater company for six months, then left and started a new challenge by co-founding the YouTube channel 'Myun-sang-deul' with Jo Hoon.
Seeing successful colleagues after joining Metacomedy became the driving force for his comeback.
Lee Seon-min debuted at 29, lost his job at 30, and spent a difficult period until 32 without money, yet he never lost faith in himself.
He confessed that he persevered with the belief that he could show a good performance as a comedian and the thought that he would regret it for the rest of his life if he gave up.
The desire to prove himself, even in an environment where the stage had disappeared, was the driving force that kept him active.
As a celebrity, he possesses the disposition necessary to attract public attention. He is always grateful to those who recognize him.
He feels a considerable burden when his personal time is invaded. The environment where it is difficult to refuse fan service under the public eye is sometimes a hardship.
Lee Seon-min said he rarely goes to drinking gatherings due to the anxiety of having to maintain his best condition as a celebrity.
He is meticulous in performance management, such as refraining from drinking to avoid disrupting his broadcast activities.
The perception of him avoiding drinking is also something he must endure as a celebrity.
The difficulties he experienced during his trainee days became the foundation for his future philanthropic activities.
He envisions a plan to help nurture and support fellow comedian trainees in difficult situations once he acquires wealth and influence.
However, he said that at present, his livelihood comes first, making it difficult to turn these dreams into reality immediately.
The process of going into filming without fully overcoming the pressure becomes part of the activity itself. His manager testifies that even if the filming doesn't go as intended, that very appearance brings laughter to viewers.
Rather than simply ignoring failed filming, he transforms it into material for laughter. Every step of the filming process is a record that he, as a comedian, endures and accepts.
He had private drinking sessions with Im Si-wan, which began with a past YouTube shoot.
His entertainment industry connections appeared to enable a wide range of activities as a comedian.
He focuses on consistently maintaining and developing his current broadcasting activities rather than coveting large entertainment shows.
He honestly stated that he doesn't believe he would gain greater joy by appearing on other programs.
His ultimate goal is to be remembered as 'someone who sincerely brought laughter to people.'
In the past, many ordinary, hardworking individuals applied to appear. However, with frequent appearances by CEOs and chairpersons of large corporations, an atmosphere has formed where ordinary people hesitate to apply.
There is a call for an environment where anyone can apply with their everyday stories. He recommended Lee Jae-yul as the next guest.
This reflects the public's perception that a comedian's daily life and broadcast may differ.
He performed the full song at the Cultwo Show recording studio for the first time in six years, and Kim Tae-kyun heard Lee Seon-min's song to the end for the first time.
Buoyed by the Cultwo Show production team's praise, he even got a chance to appear live, but still sweats on his nose bridge when standing before legendary seniors.
He recalled an anecdote from Cultwo Show's 19-year live broadcast history where he raised his middle finger during a story, evaluating his own capabilities.
His next schedule is filming 'Paju Shaman Talk.'
As an entertainer and participant, he focused more than anyone else on the actual set to get the fortune-telling right.
The program's authenticity was ensured by maintaining strict security, such as separating participant waiting rooms.
Lee Guk-joo stated that as a colleague, joy and regret coexist regarding Lee Seon-min's recent growth.
He stated his conviction that the happiness he feels on stage now takes precedence over money, and that he will do his best not to inconvenience the staff.
He acknowledges that his current popularity cannot last forever and vowed to work to maintain it with a constantly grateful and humble attitude.
Answers come from the transcript, with the exact spot cited.
Want the next article from 휴먼스토리?
When 휴먼스토리 publishes, we'll write it up like the one you just read and email it to you.
