Korean-American entertainer suffers brain bleed

Johnny Yune / Courtesy of Twitter

By Kim Da-hee

Famous Korean-American comedian Johnny Yune, whose Korean name is Yune Jong-seung, is receiving treatment for a brain hemorrhage, the state-run Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said Wednesday. His health is not bad enough for surgery, it said.

Yune, 80, has served as a standing auditor of the KTO since 2014.

“He collapsed last week due to a brain hemorrhage,” a KTO official said. “He has since been treated at the Asan Medical Center. He is not in a critical condition. He shows a strong will to return to work as soon as possible.”

Yune went to the United States in 1959 and earned fame on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

He returned to Korea and performed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

In 1989, he hosted the “Johnny Yune Show,” the first American-style talk show in Korea, gaining popularity in the country. He obtained Korean citizenship in 2013.