Actor Kim Jung-hyun's Hilarious Debut on Variety Show 'Gaojeong'

Actor Kim Jung-hyun finds himself in a comical situation during his first appearance on a variety show.

KBS 2TV's 'Gaojeong' is a unique variety show where a group of celebrities delivers a mobile convenience store to a rural village, spending the night and sharing stories. In the premiere episode airing on May 16, the 'Jeong Siblings' (Lee Min-jung, Boom, Ahn Jae-hyun, Kim Jung-hyun, and Kim Jae-won) head to Hyojado to spread warmth and camaraderie.

Upon arriving at Hyojado, the group quickly transforms a 3.5-ton truck into a convenience store. They then inform the local residents about their business and efficiently divide tasks among themselves. As they begin operations, the unexpected happens, leaving the group in shock.

As the first customers flood in, the 'Jeong Siblings' find themselves overwhelmed. Even the residents of Hyojado, visiting the convenience store, express concern, noting, "They look flustered," and "Their faces are turning red."

In the midst of this, a peculiar incident occurs as Kim Jung-hyun becomes the center of attention. The residents call out for "Ironing Brother," but Kim, engrossed in his tasks, keeps disappearing. This earns him the nickname "So Jung-hyun" from the production team and his fellow cast members.

Kim's sudden appearances and disappearances turn the set into a laughter-filled scene. At one point, he vanishes entirely, even from the production team's view. When the reason for his disappearance is revealed, everyone bursts into laughter once more. Where did Kim Jung-hyun go, and why did he vanish from the camera's view?

The 'Gaojeong' production team commented, "Kim Jung-hyun showcased his unique charm within just 10 minutes of his first fixed variety show appearance. We've never seen a character like this before. We hope viewers will look forward to the hardworking 'So Jung-hyun' Kim Jung-hyun's performance."

Meanwhile, Kim Jung-hyun was embroiled in controversy in 2021 over allegations that he altered scripts and direction and eventually left the MBC drama 'Time' (2018) due to demands from his then-girlfriend, Seo Ye-ji.

Text messages revealed that Seo Ye-ji referred to Kim as 'Kim Ddakk-ddakk' and instructed him to act coldly towards co-star Seohyun. This led to a controversy over his behavior at the 'Time' press conference, where he refused to link arms with Seohyun and maintained a sullen demeanor.

Kim Jung-hyun later apologized at the KBS Drama Awards, saying, "Receiving this award and expressing gratitude is something I should do, but true gratitude cannot be achieved without reflecting on the past. I have hurt many people with my bad behavior and actions that should not have been done. I sincerely apologize through this opportunity."

Catch the premiere of KBS 2TV's 'Gaojeong' on Friday, May 16, at 9:50 PM.

Reported by Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr