Korean comedy is the art of comedy, either enacted on stage, or within other media forms in the Korean language. It is not limited by country, so long as the actor has Korean roots.
First modern form of comedy plays started in 1913 by the Hyoksin troupe.which gave performances along with sob dramas.[1]
The first tv comedy show in south korea is traced back to 1969 with the comedy show,"Blessings come your way when you smile", which aired on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation(MBC).The show was based on the performances of musical play troupes known as akgeukdan(악극단).In 1975, the south korean government tried to ban comedy programs for reasons of comedies that are of low quality, but the attempt was retracted only in two weeks. The first『gag(개그,equivalent to slapstick comedies)』comedies are traced back to the show『Smile a little(살짜기 웃어예)』aired on Tongyang Broadcasting Company in 1974.The show reflected the comedy trends that were popular in south korean universities.In the 80s, there were debates among comedians who base their comedy in comedy plays and the aforementioned "gag" comedies, with gag comedians often being derided as "stuff that would be more fitting for a school talent show", and comedians often derided as lacking creativity.However, after the 80s, comedy styles birthed by the gag comedians are the mainstream style of comedy, in the form of comedy skits, in shows such as Gag Concert and Comedy Big League.[2] Most newspapers have a political cartoonist who will also heighten attention to current events with comic illustrations.
Jaedam(similar to traditional korean comedy Mandam) is a comedy genre that is similar to standup comedy,wordplay or puns.[3]
Chongeuk is north korean sketch comedy.
North korean circuses similar to slapstick comedies.
Man p'il is a satirical essay that was improved in north korea in 1961 by O Hong taek.In 1978, after the publishing of the manp'il,"What has been really grown so highly?(무엇이고도성장되였는가?)" by O Hong taek,Kim Jong il instructed the creative directions of the essay, airtimes , types and content.[4] in late May 2005,the Pyongyang Broadcasting Corporation has revived comic folk tales for political commentary, in attempting to satirize American society, and political jockeying for power by using the a form known as manp'il, or "comic notes" in a short acted dialogue using folkish humour and animal metaphors.[5]
Satirizing north korean leaders are banned.[3] Dr Dima Mironenko studied how the first romantic comedy film in north korea has no records remaining due to people being involved in the production being purged.[6]
In 2013, north korea aired a comedy show that imitates president Obama and south korean figures.[7]
