Comedian Kim Dae-beom Opens Up About Financial Struggles and Personal Battles

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Kim Dae-beom, a comedian known for his role in 'Gag Concert' and the character 'Mabbaki,' has revealed that he lost his entire fortune and faced severe financial difficulties.

On October 16, the YouTube channel 'Special World - The People of That Time' re-released an episode featuring Kim Dae-beom, originally aired in August 2024, drawing significant attention.

In the video, Kim is seen living with the lights on all night. He expressed his psychological distress, saying, "When I try to sleep, fear overwhelms me, and it always overcomes my drowsiness."

His struggles began with severe atopic dermatitis, which worsened into social phobia. Despite his peak popularity, he had to live in seclusion for over two years. Later, he experienced sudden seizures while driving and was diagnosed with panic disorder, leading to a complete upheaval of his daily life.

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Kim Dae-beom debuted as the top comedian in the 19th KBS open recruitment in 2004, creating a sensation with his 'Mabbaki' character. He was so outstanding that he won the Rookie of the Year award, surpassing notable peers like Yoo Se-yoon and senior Lee Soo-geun.

His earnings were also extraordinary. Kim recalled, "There were days when I received 50 million won in a single day from event and advertisement fees."

However, behind the glamorous success lay darkness. He became a target for scammers seeking to exploit his fame. "When you're doing well, many scammers approach you. I got involved in stocks, and the money I painstakingly saved during my obscure years vanished in an instant," he confessed, adding that he drowned his sorrows in alcohol.

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His trials continued with family hardships. Three years ago, his mother was simultaneously diagnosed with dementia and lower body paralysis. She remembers Kim as an elementary school child, which deeply saddens him.

Despite the challenges, comedian senior Park Jun-hyung was a significant source of support. Park encouraged him, saying, "I hope you continue doing the comedy you love," and Kim considers him a lifesaver.

"To endure the financial hardships, I took to the streets," Kim said, taking on day labor jobs and even distributing flyers with his face on them to attract customers. At the time of the broadcast, he was preparing to re-enter the world as a solo media creator. Kim expressed his earnest desire to "overcome the pain and bring laughter to people again."

Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia Reporter nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr