Comedian Yang Sang-guk Reflects on 10-Year Hiatus and Newfound Success

Comedian Yang Sang-guk opened up about enduring a 10-year hiatus in his career.

On the September 29th episode of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' Yang Sang-guk made a guest appearance.

Yang shared, "My peers have done well. Park Sung-kwang, Park Young-jin, Kim Won-hyo, and the late Park Ji-sun are all my peers." When asked if he felt anxious seeing his peers succeed, Yang candidly replied, "I was happy for them but also envious. I questioned, 'Why am I not succeeding?' and blamed myself. I haven't had any major breakthroughs for 10 years." He continued, "While my successful peers became MCs and appeared on variety shows, I was envious. But in a way, I'm grateful for the 10 years without broadcasting because I had nothing to lose, so I didn't feel anxious."

Now enjoying a resurgence in popularity, Yang stated, "Having endured 10 years without fame, I can endure another 10 years." He humorously added, "People like Heo Kyung-hwan, Jang Do-yeon, and Kim Jun-hyun couldn't last 10 years without work. Only those who've endured can persevere. I've endured."

Despite his rising popularity, Yang currently has no fixed programs. He expressed his disappointment, saying, "They use me once and then not again." He appealed to variety show producers, "Trust me a bit more. Don't just use me once; use me two or three times, and you'll see the real deal. I'll be loyal to the first director who gives me a regular spot," bringing laughter.

For Yang, the 10-year hiatus was a period of self-strengthening. He said, "With no major broadcasts coming my way, I was grateful for any opportunity, regardless of the platform or pay, believing that a chance could come at any time. I gave my best wherever I went." He added, "Eventually, word spread that using Yang Sang-guk was like having a cheat code."

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr