MC Ding Dong, biggest star hosting live shows

By Kim Jae-heun

There is always a hidden hero behind every show. MC Ding Dong is everywhere, from TV shows to K-pop showcase events, either as a warm-up act or host.

MC Ding Dong, 38, currently hosts most K-pop idol press meetings and appears on three TV shows.

Although he is not well-known by his name yet, people who have been in studio audiences for “Saturday Night Live Korea” (SNL Korea) or “You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” can easily recognize his face. The emcee has been appearing in scenes for over four years to entertain audiences and give studio audiences instructions before the TV show shooting begins.

“I can be a TV show host or I can be an emcee on stage,” said MC Ding Dong during an interview with The Korea Times on June 20 in a cafe near Hongik University, western Seoul. “I do serve as warm-up comedian for shows, but it doesn’t mean that I am no longer a host when the shooting begins. I do more talking than the actual show hosts like Shin Dong-yup or You Hee-yeol.”

It seemed like only a matter of time until the emcee rose to stardom. He won first place in the SBS competition for new comedians in 2007. However, the popular TV series ended a year later and he found himself with nowhere to go.

MC Ding Dong’s annual salary was only 600,000 won ($519.71) until he was 31 and he ran every small and trivial event he could get, from wedding ceremonies to banquets. He almost quit, planning to return to his home outside the city, but he realized he didn’t even have enough money for a bus ticket. It was then, when Shin called upon MC Ding Dong to take the role of warm-up comedian for SNL Korea.

“Resentment kept me going,” said MC Ding Dong. “I told myself at least one person will recognize my effort. But most importantly, I did what I liked doing. It doesn’t matter whether audiences came to see me or not. In the end, they come to me and ask to take photos together.” The emcee distinguishes himself from other show hosts in that he does heavy research into the school or corporation that is hosting or holding the event.

“I try to study the most popular restaurant nearby or karaoke to communicate with people at the event that I am hosting,” said MC Ding Dong. “I can be talking about their rivals in a funny way. Of course, I don’t have to be rude and I will be talking pleasantly.”

In the first half of this year, the emcee has already hosted 20 showcases for K-pop idols and 29 fan meeting events.

He now runs the emcee agency Happy ComFunny and has three emcee understudies.

“My ultimate goal is to start a talk concert soon and turn my company into a production agency,” he said. “I will be running an emcee academy and I am even thinking about making a Ding Dong online channel.”