[Preview clip from MBN's 'Teukjong Sesang']
[Preview clip from MBN's 'Teukjong Sesang']

Comedian-turned-pastor Pyo In-bong has revealed he has been baking bungeoppang — fish-shaped pastries filled with sweet red bean paste — outside Seoul Station.

MBN's "Teukjong Sesang," a current-affairs entertainment program, released a preview clip Wednesday teasing Pyo's upcoming appearance on the show. The segment was titled "Why is comedian Pyo In-bong baking bungeoppang at Seoul Station?"

In the footage, Pyo tends a bungeoppang griddle near Seoul Station and greets customers. A line of people stretches so far it appears to have no end.

Pyo places the pastries into paper bags and cheerfully tells customers, "Enjoy. Please pick up your fried chicken over here."

Pyo was among the first class of comedians recruited through SBS's open audition system and became widely popular playing a nurse in the SBS sitcom "Sunpung Obstetrics and Gynecology." He also formed the comedy group Tintin Five with fellow comedians Hong Rok-gi, Kim Gyeong-sik and Lee Dong-u, enjoying an active career in entertainment.

He later grew disillusioned with the entertainment world, however, and was ordained as a pastor in 2018. His bungeoppang giveaways are believed to be part of his volunteer work.

Earlier, Pyo shared footage last month of himself handing out freshly baked bungeoppang to homeless people at Seoul Station. He said his wife had suggested the idea, telling him the homeless would be happy to receive warm pastries straight from the griddle.

In a subsequent interview, Pyo opened up about his change of path. "There were news reports that I was earning 50 million won ($35,300) a day at my peak," he said, "but I felt no satisfaction in the direction my life was heading. The more I had, the more empty I felt."


bbo@heraldcorp.com