Kim Byung-man
South Korean comedian (born 1975)
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Kim Byung-man (Korean: 김병만; born July 29, 1975) is a South Korean comedian,[1] best known for his slapstick and acrobatic stunts as a Master in Gag Concert, and survival skills in Law of the Jungle as he acts as the Chief of the show. In November 2015, he entered a new program on SBS titled 'Shaolin Clenched Fists', where Kim Byung-man and a group of other celebrities visit the Shaolin Monastery to learn the traditional martial arts from Shaolin Masters.
Biography
Kim was born into a poor family with an older sister and two younger sisters in Jeonju,[2] Wanju in North Jeolla Province. His father was an alcoholic, because of his bad luck in business. This caused his family to be in chronic debt. His mother tried to make a little money working at odd jobs, such as working at a restaurant. Kim also tried to help raise money for the family by doing manual labor. Wanting to be a comedian, he left his home and moved to Seoul to go to an apartment with other aspiring comedians. After three failed auditions on KBS and four on MBC, he was finally accepted by KBS in 2002. He starred in Gag concert on the Master show as a Master, his most famous role, in which he performs difficult tasks, showcasing his ability to acquire new skills quickly.[3]
Kim made his first appearance in the movie called "Gift" (선물) in 2002. He was also the runner-up on Kim Yuna's Kiss and Cry where famous entertainers learn how to figure skate from professionals.[4]
Up till 2012 he was signed under Castle J Entertainment, and on 19 September, it was announced that he has signed exclusive contracts with SM C&C, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, along with Lee Soo Geun.[5]
Personal life
In May 2022, Kim's mother died in a flood and a private funeral was planned.[6]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Last Present | Comedian | |
| 2004 | The Magic Police | Himself | |
| 2005 | Baribari Zzang | Himself | |
| 2006 | My Wife Is a Gangster 3 | Ssogari | |
| 2007 | Three Kims | Third child | Supporting role |
| 2008 | Radio Dayz | Truck driver | |
| 2011 | Battlefield Heroes | Guard for Cave 1 | |
| Super Monkey Returns | Son Oh-gong |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | S Clinic | Gae Jak-doo | |
| 2008 | The Lawyers of The Great Republic Korea | Jeon Yi-man (Jjajangmyun delivery guy) | |
| One Mom and Three Dads | French cook | Cameo (Episode 7) | |
| 2008–2009 | General Hospital 2 | Oh Young Bum | |
| 2009 | Jolly Widows | Moon Goon (Yoon-jung's auto mechanic) | Extended cast |
| Hometown Legends | Angel of death | Episode 7 | |
| 2010 | Boy Meets Girl | Himself | Drama Special |
| Dr. Champ | Im Ki Man | Cameo | |
| 2010–2011 | Athena: Goddess of War | Himself | Cameo |
| 2012 | Ohlala Couple | Himself (expert who specializes in catching cheating spouses) | Cameo (Episode 2) |
| What's the Deal, Mom? | Himself | ||
| I Remember You | Lee Deok-soo | ||
| 2013 | Chief Inspector Choi ll-Joo | Detective Ma Yong-hee | |
| The Queen of Office | Himself (seasoned raw crab master) | Cameo (Episode 3) | |
| 2017 | Introverted Boss | Himself | Cameo (Episode 6) |
| 2019 | The Light in Your Eyes | Byung Man | Cameo (Episode 5) |
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002- | Gag Concert | Himself | |
| 2011–2013 | Running Man | Himself | Guest Member - Ep 28, 145 |
| 2011–2021 | Law of the Jungle | Himself | Permanent member |
| 2014 | Clenched Fist Chef | Himself | Along with Henry Lau, Kangin, Victoria Song and Rose Motel's Yook Joong Wan |
| Eco Village | Himself | Permanent member | |
| 2015–2016 | Shaolin Clenched Fists | Fixed cast member | Episodes 1-13 |
| 2018 | Galileo: Awakened Universe | Himself | Permanent member |
| 2018 | Master in the House | Himself (as a Master) | Episodes 39-40, 98-99 |
| 2022 | The Law of Coexistence | Main Cast | with Bae Jung-nam and Park Gun; Season 1–2[7][8][9] |
| Great National Holiday | Cast | MBN Chuseok Special[10] | |
| 2024 | Zombieverse | Journalist Kim Sal-man | Season 1 Episode 5-6[citation needed] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Most Outstanding Award: Variety Category | Law of the Jungle | Won | |
| Netizen Popularity Award | Kim Yuna's Kiss & Cry and Law of the Jungle | Nominated[11] | ||
| 2012 | Top Excellence Award (Variety) | Law of the Jungle | Won[12] | |
| 2013 | Best Variety Performer - Male | Won | ||
| Daesang (Grand Award) | Won | |||
| 2014 | 41st Korea Broadcasting Awards |
Best Comedian | Won | |
| 2015 | Daesang (Grand Award) | Won | ||
| 2017 | PD Award | Won | ||
| 2022 | 2022 SBS Entertainment Awards | Eco-brity Award[13] | The Law of Symbiosis | Won |
State honors
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes | 2013 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 36th | [18] |
Notes
- Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[14][15] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[16]
