From Hongdae busking to 5,000 fans: Lee Sang-joon's rise

Comedian Lee Sang-joon calmly recounted his winding career on stage. Stepping onto a music program stage primarily dominated by singers, he spoke cautiously, expressing concern that the audience might be disappointed to see a comedian.

Marking his 20th year since his debut, he recalled failing the comedian recruitment exam eight times in 2006. While he faced frustration during those repeated failures, he eventually began his career through a special recruitment process. However, he felt a thirst for something more than just performing a fixed script. Captivated by stand-up comedy—which requires reading the room and connecting with the audience—he discovered a new dream while watching American comedians enchant entire stadiums.

From being ignored in Hongdae to cheers from 5,000 fans

The journey toward his dream was not smooth. After deciding to pioneer stand-up comedy in Korea, he worked tirelessly to build an audience. Initially, he held shows based on submitted stories, but due to no-shows, only 30 out of 1,000 applicants actually attended. He later attempted to transition to paid ticketing, but faced the ordeal of selling fewer than 10 tickets in a 70-seat venue.

In a desperate move, he turned to busking on the streets of Hongdae. However, passersby often ignored his performances, and he even faced criticism online. Realizing that giving up meant the end, he sought out a small venue operated by his university seniors, performing six times every weekend to hone his craft. After steadily expanding from 70 seats to 100, 200, and 400 seats through a streak of sold-out shows, the performances he launched last June achieved a miracle, drawing 5,000 spectators by December.

The charm of stand-up: connecting with the audience

On stage, Lee showcased the unique communicative style of stand-up comedy. He commanded the atmosphere by engaging in direct dialogue with audience members. While maintaining humorous banter with a spectator from Incheon, he also demonstrated professional poise by adjusting his tone out of courtesy when he noticed a pregnant woman in the crowd. His ability to move beyond a set script and react instantly to the audience proves why he is carving out a unique path as a stand-up comedian.