Kim Ki-yeol [KBS2 'Malja Show']
Kim Ki-yeol [KBS2 'Malja Show']

Comedian Kim Ki-yeol has said he was removed from the KBS comedy program "Gag Concert" after confronting the production team on behalf of his junior colleagues.

Kim made the revelation Monday on the KBS2 variety program "Malja Show."

Host and fellow comedian Kim Yeong-hui introduced him by saying, "There is no one more associated with speaking up for what's right than Kim Ki-yeol — he simply cannot keep a sense of justice bottled up inside." Comedian Jeong Beom-gyun added, "He never stays silent when he sees something unfair."

Kim acknowledged the characterization, saying his outspoken nature had cost him dearly, and went on to share an episode from his time on "Gag Concert."

"I was doing a segment with some rookie-level juniors, and their footage got edited out," Kim said. "I figured editing was the producer's call, so I let it go — but my juniors came to me upset, saying, 'The live audience loved it, but we're rookies with no clout, so we think we got cut. Please say something for us, sunbae.'" When asked who those juniors were, Kim hesitated briefly before naming Lim Woo-il and Kwak Beom, among others.

"I went to the producer in charge and asked why the footage had been cut," Kim said. "We went back and forth, and ultimately I was the one who ended up off 'Gag Concert.'"

When Jeong Beom-gyun asked whether he had fallen out with the producer while speaking up for his juniors and that was what led to his departure, Kim confirmed it was. He added with a laugh, "I thought they would follow me out — but they kept going strong. Didn't they both go on to do really well?"

Asked whether his juniors had shown their gratitude since, Kim said, "They've forgotten all about it. When I bring it up, they go, 'Oh, right!'" He added, "We get along so well that there's really no need to bring it up — but if I'm being honest, I was the only one who took a loss. It's not like I could go around telling people about it either. I'm only saying it now because I have a moment like this to do so."


paq@heraldcorp.com