South Korean comedians discuss KBS seniority culture

South Korean comedians have shared accounts regarding the harsh seniority culture and power dynamics experienced during their trainee years at KBS.

Comedian Ahn Sun-young revealed on her YouTube channel that senior comedian Lee Kyung-sil once defended her against criticism from other seniors. Ahn noted that while she faced scrutiny for her busy schedule and perceived lack of etiquette, Lee publicly reprimanded others for not being accommodating, effectively shielding Ahn from further workplace hostility.

In a separate discussion on the YouTube channel ‘1010 Works’, members of the 18th class of KBS comedians, including Oh Ji-heon and Kim Billy, detailed instances of physical discipline and strict hierarchy. They specifically addressed allegations regarding a peer, referred to as ‘A’, who had been accused of enforcing strict discipline. The group claimed that rather than leading such gatherings, the individual often avoided attendance and relied on senior comedians to shield them from accountability.