Plain-looking, an awkward way of talking, funny gestures and an unfashionable hairstyle and clothing are the best ways to describe Ahn Uh-bung. He is one of the most popular characters who appear in the KBS comedy series Gag Concert. But just what is it about him that makes everyone from kids to the elderly to fall in love with him? Talking with Ahn Sang-tae, the comedian who plays the character, it became clear that the 27-year-old comedian is not just funny but also tremendously hard-working and sincere. Now, it's time for you to be taken aback by his charms!
Question: Have you realized that you've become a star?
Ahn: Yes, sort of. I have a hectic schedule almost every day. Also, I've done some TV commercials, something that I thought only a big star can do (laughs).
Q: You seem to be full of creative ideas. Where do you get those ideas from?
Ahn: For the Gag Concert home shopping corner, I select an item. Then I keep playing with it and developing ideas. And in this way, original ideas form in my head.
Q: What's your personality like in real-life?
Ahn: I'm a pretty positive person. I always try to look at the bright side of things and think positively.
Q: Have you thought about doing any other things apart from comedy?
Ahn: I've wanted to do the sitcoms since I was in college. I was quite a quiet person during my freshman year. But when I came back to school after I finished my military service, I joined a college acting club. And I enjoyed acting a lot. Since then, I told myself and everybody around me that someday I will do a sitcom.
Q: You studied electronic engineering at university. What made you decide to become an entertainer?
Ahn: I was rather a quiet person. But I got the opportunity to act in a play while I was in college and that was when I realized my potential. I realized that I was a good actor; I didn't have many lines, but I upstaged the lead actor. Also, people found me really funny and they were falling about laughing. That gave me the confidence to seek a career in the entertainment business. And I knew that it would be better to become a comedian rather than an actor considering my appearance (laughs).
Q: I have heard that you experienced some tough times before you made your TV debut. How did you overcome those difficulties?
Ahn: I performed in the streets for three years and at a little theater in Daehakno for a year. Even though life was very tough, I was able to live through it by telling myself that I was on the right path to becoming a talented comedian. For me, that was just part of process of reaching where I am now. I have never considered quitting.
Q: What do you do to develop your sense of humor?
Ahn: My experience of performing at the theater and in the streets for years helps a lot. I am confident that whatever the situation and whoever the audience, I can make them laugh.
Q: Do you have any role models?
Ahn: I want to be an entertainer who is a cross between Shin Dong-yup and Yoo Jae-suk. But I am not interested in becoming an MC. I want to act in sitcoms and movies.
Q: What would you be doing now if you hadn't become a comedian?
Ahn: I would probably lead quite an ordinary life. I probably would have become an office worker like most other people.
Q: Do you have any regrets?
Ahn: Not at all. Who would complain of doing what they like and being popular at the same time? I'm happy with what I am doing now.
마데 인 개콘, 안상태
plain-looking 평범하게 생긴 / awkward 어눌한 / way of talking 말투 / describe 묘사하다 / appear in ~에 출연하다 / the elderly 노인 / fall in love with ~와 사랑에 빠지다 / tremendously 엄청나게 / hard-working 열심히 일하는 / sincere 성실한 / be taken aback by ~에 깜짝 놀라다 / charm 매력 / realize 깨닫다 / hectic 정신 없이 바쁜 / commercial 상업 광고 / creative idea 독창적인 생각 / select 고르다 / play with 가지고 놀다 / original 기발한, 독창적인 / personality 성격 / in real-life 실제 생활에서의 / positive 긍정적인 / look at the bright side of things 긍정적인 사고 방식을 갖다 / apart from ~이외에도 / freshman 대학 신입생 / military service 군복무 / acting club 연극 동아리 / electronic engineering 전자공학 / potential 잠재력 / lines 대사 / upstage ~보다 인기를 얻다 / lead actor 주인공 / fall about laughing 폭소를 터뜨리다 / confidence 자신감 / seek a career ~로 진출하다 / entertainment business 연예계 / considering ~을 고려해볼 때 / appearance 외모 / make one's debut 데뷔하다 / overcome difficulties 곤경을 극복하다 / perform in the streets 길거리에서 공연하다 / a little theater 소극장 / be on the right path to ~가 되기 위해 올바른 방향으로 가고 있다 / talented 재능 있는 / quit 그만 두다 / develop sense of humor 유머 감각을 개발하다 / audience 청중 / role model 역할 모델 / a cross between A and B A와 B를 합쳐 놓은 듯한 것 / be interested in ~에 관심 있는 / lead an ordinary life 평범한 삶을 살다 / probably 아마도 / office worker 회사원 / regret 후회 / not at all 전혀 아니다 / complain 불평하다
기사제공: The Teen Times
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