Shim Hyung-rae Recalls Peak Era with Over 100 CFs... "The Apartment I Bought for 78 Million Won is Now Worth 3 Billion Won"

Comedian Shim Hyung-rae reflected on the glorious records of his past peak era along with the winding journey of his life as a comedian. In the video for TV CHOSUN JOY's 'Star Documentary My Way' released on October 5, 2026, Shim Hyung-rae calmly shared his past glory and hardships, as well as his bond with his juniors.

"The days of filming over 100 CFs... Apartment price jumped to 3 billion won"

Explaining his past popularity, Shim Hyung-rae revealed that his level of activity at the time was immense. In the video, Shim Hyung-rae said that in the past, when he attended events or fan signing sessions, traffic would be paralyzed, and he led such a busy schedule that he would handle ten events in a single day or simultaneously film new broadcast programs and movies. In particular, regarding his commercial (CF) activities, he mentioned, "There are almost over a hundred CFs," recalling his income of about 80 million won per film at the time. He conveyed the economic scale of that time with specific figures, saying, "The apartment I bought for 78 million won back then is worth 3 billion won now."

Regarding his acting style, he explained, "I am the type of person who throws out words and then works to death until they are executed." He also said that as an actor, he feels great reward when the audience believes "he is a real fool" rather than feeling "that is acting" while watching his performance. He further compared the movements and timing of slapstick comedy to a 'musical score,' explaining, "The timing of entering the correct part of the movement, the timing of falling, is in a way like a musical score or an orchestra." He added the artistic view that these elements must harmonize to complete a single work.

"At 19, I was the number one candidate to be fired from the station... Laughter protected by juniors"

Behind the glamorous peak, there were also memories of his difficult early days. Recalling the time he entered as a comedian at the young age of 19, Shim Hyung-rae confessed, "From the time I was nineteen, the broadcasting station considered me the number one person to fire." He also shared the memory of leaving the station in tears while experiencing the crisis of being expelled. However, he did not forget that he received help from his seniors during this process. Shim Hyung-rae expressed gratitude to the seniors who took care of him during difficult times, saying, "The older brothers took care of everything. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here now." In particular, he recalled the affection of that time, sharing an anecdote of walking across Hannam Bridge carrying hairtail for his mother while staying at a boarding house in Hannam-dong, and how a senior's mother thought he was admirable.

Furthermore, he defined his relationship with his juniors as 'family.' Sharing an anecdote of receiving help at a senior's house during the hard times when he came up from the countryside, he emphasized that juniors are more than just colleagues, but exist like family. He then conveyed his heart as a senior, hoping for the re-establishment of great comedy, saying, "The laughter of South Korea must be the responsibility of the juniors."

A boy who dreamed of music, until receiving national love through 'Ureume'

Shim Hyung-rae also mentioned his original dream of pursuing music before becoming a comedian. He stated, "Originally, I liked music so I intended to go out through music," but explained that he chose the path of a comedian because opportunities were not favorable at the time. He added an episode from that time, saying that because he mainly performed fool acting, "people didn't really believe him when he said he played the electric guitar."

Shim Hyung-rae also mentioned the influence his upbringing and religious background had on his acting career. He stated that due to his mother's influence, he frequently attended early morning mass, and through the help of someone he met in that process, he was able to enter as a comedian in 1984. He also recalled the memory of first encountering movies at the cathedral, explaining the motivation that led him to expand his footsteps into the film industry. He looked back on the meaning that the animations and movies he participated in left with the public, saying, "If there is Star Wars in the United States, there was our country (Ureume Series) in South Korea."