Kim Jun-hyun grew visibly emotional as he revisited his early days as an unknown comedian.
The March 13 episode of ComedyTV’s variety show Tasty Guys (episode 556) serves as the second part of the "A Tour of Ddung’s Neighborhood" special. The episode follows Kim Jun-hyun, Moon Se-yoon, Hwang Je-seong and Kim Hae-jun — collectively the Ddung-chins — as they return to Daehangno, Seoul’s theater district, a place tied closely to Kim’s past.
At the top of the show, the group shared personal memories of Daehangno, long considered a comedy mecca. Kim Hae-jun recalled pooling money with fellow aspiring comedians to stage shows before his debut. Kim Jun-hyun pointed around the neighborhood and said he had performed everywhere there to build his nerve, reflecting on the intense years of striving to become a comedian.
The Ddung-chins wandered Daehangno’s alleyways, stopping at spots that sparked memories. Hwang Je-seong remarked that the area is overflowing with Kim’s memories, and Moon Se-yoon joked, "5 steps, 1 memory."
The group then visited an earthenware stew restaurant Kim Jun-hyun frequented about 20 years ago. He recalled scarfing down a quick bowl during the 15-minute breaks between shows in his small-theater days. He even took the initiative to arrange permission for filming inside the restaurant.
Once inside, Kim Jun-hyun appeared overcome with nostalgia; his eyes welled up, a moment that drew attention on the program. Tasty Guys airs at 8 p.m. that evening.
Separately, Kim recently faced criticism after a clip circulated showing him walking past fans at a broadcast entrance without acknowledging them, then smiling and greeting a staff member. The video prompted backlash from some netizens, while others defended him, arguing that a brief clip isn't enough to judge someone's character.
Tae Yu-na, TenAsia reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr
