Top 9 Most Famous MCs in South Korea You Might Want to Know

2. Jung Hyung Don

Jung Hyung Don born on February 7, 1978, is a South Korean comedian and artist under FNC Entertainment. He, along with rapper Defconn, became the main host for MBC's Every Weekly Idol in 2011. In June 2015, Jung Hyung Don officially signed a contract with FNC Entertainment. Jung made his first TV appearance on the sketch comedy show Gag Concert in 2002. In the show, he performed a sketch called 'Do-Re-Mi Trio,' where he and two other comedians sang excerpts from famous songs, adding humorous punchlines along the way. In 2005, Jung joined the cast of a new variety show called Infinite Challenge. Although the show initially had low viewership ratings, it became a hit, and some songs that Jung recorded for the show's regular 'song festival' made it into the top 10 music charts in South Korea.

Jung Hyung Don joined the cast of the first season of the virtual marriage program We Got Married in 2008. Initially, he was paired with TV personality Saori until she left the show. He was then paired with Girls' Generation singer Taeyeon. The match stirred up excitement among Girls' Generation fans, partly due to the 11-year age difference between the two artists. In 2011, Jung and rapper Defconn became the hosts of the reality TV show focusing on new idols, Weekly Idol. In November 2015, Jung's management company, FNC Entertainment, announced that he would temporarily halt all activities due to his anxiety disorder. At that time, he was an actor or host on various TV shows, including Infinite Challenge, Weekly Idol, and Please Take Care of My Refrigerator. Jung officially left the cast of Infinite Challenge in July 2016. He returned as the co-host of Weekly Idol in October 2016, concluding an 11-month hiatus from TV activities.

Haha born on August 20, 1979, is a piano artist with a Ph.D. Haha graduated from Daejin University, where he earned a master's degree in Performing Arts and Fine Arts. He then became a trainee at Seoul Records and debuted as a singer and rapper in 2001 with the boy band Z-kiri. Despite much promotion, Z-kiri was not successful and quickly disbanded. In 2002, Haha became a co-host for the program What's Up YO! along with MC Mong and Jerome To. The trio became known as the 'What's Up Trio' due to their strong friendship on screen. Haha later joined the main cast of the third season of Nonstop, a sitcom about a group of university students, friends, and their families. He remained part of the cast until 2003, earning recognition for his acting and comedic skills. Haha then became a producer and host for his own radio show with MC Mong, called Haha and Mong's Journey, in 2004 on SBS Power FM.

After leaving Nonstop, Haha spent two years alongside singer Taw, preparing and recording for his debut album titled 'The Beautiful Rhyme Diary.' The album was released on February 18, 2005, along with his debut single, 'Love Song,' but it failed to chart or gain popularity. Eventually, he made a guest appearance on X-man on May 22, 2005, and gained fame by imitating his close friend, Kim Jong-kook. His sudden popularity allowed him to become a regular guest on X-man, considered the biggest variety show at the time. Thanks to his increasing fame, Haha was added to the cast of MBC's Infinite Challenge in December 2005 when the show's format changed under the new PD, Kim Tae-ho. By the time Season 3 aired in 2006, the concept and format of 'variety and reality show' became very popular, and Infinite Challenge became the precursor to many similar or related programs that followed. Since December 2, 2006, the show has received the highest ratings for its time slot on Saturday evenings. In the last episode before his military enlistment, Haha performed at an underground concert in Yeouido Park secretly organized by fellow organizers.

Shin Bora born on March 17, 1987, is a South Korean comedian, singer, and actress. Shin Bora is a rare case of a comedian using her musical talent, rather than a singer with a humorous twist. As a comedian on KBS's program Qualification of Men - Choir Special, Shin Bora showcased her excellent vocal skills and quickly gained fame as a humorous and talented woman.

She made her entertainment debut as a comedian on the Gag Concert variety show in 2010. Shin is also a member of the Brave Guys band and has released several singles as a solo artist. In 2014, she took on a supporting role in the television series Trot Lovers. In June 2019, Shin married her non-celebrity boyfriend of the same age, and in July 2021, Shin announced that she was pregnant and expected to give birth in the fall.

Noh Hong Chul, born on March 31, 1979, is a South Korean entertainer and entrepreneur. He is the co-host of the variety show Talents for Sale. Previously, he appeared on television programs like Infinite Challenge and I Live Alone. He made a guest appearance in the famous 'Gangnam Style' music video, showcasing his signature pelvic thrust dance moves. Noh Hong-chul studied mechanical engineering at Hongik University. After completing his mandatory two-year military service, he founded the online fashion hub Nohongchul.com and the Dream and Adventure Hongchul-Land Corporation, offering a variety of party essentials. Noh Hong-chul also operates Hongchul Tour, providing cost-effective travel services in China, sometimes personally guiding his customers on these trips.

The television debut of Noh Hong-chul was on Mnet in early 2004 when he hosted the cable TV show Dr. No's Pleasure Street. Following the show's success, he joined the free-to-air MBC program Come to Play as a business panelist. In April 2005, he became a founding member of the variety show Infinite Challenge. He appeared in an advertisement for GM Daewoo Matiz. Noh Hong-chul made a brief cameo in Psy's music video for 'Gangnam Style.' He showcased his pelvic thrust dance moves or jeojil dance while standing above Psy rapping in the elevator. His seven-second appearance in the video became a 'sensation within a sensation' worldwide, and he, along with Psy, was invited to appear on U.S. television.

Kim Je-dong, born on February 3, 1974, is a South Korean comedian who hosts diverse shows and talk shows on television. Kim is also renowned as one of the few 'socialtainers' in Korea, garnering overwhelming public support for his social awareness initiatives. He has called for votes, invested in community-funded political films like 26 Years, participated in protests for university tuition reduction and carbon dioxide emission cuts, contributed to flood damage recovery efforts, and spoken out on online threats, the reinstatement of laid-off shipbuilders at Hanjin Heavy Industries, the Yongsan tragedy, and the labor strike at Ssangyong Motors. He is also known for being a vegetarian and advocating for environmentally conscious long-distance walking and cycling. In 2011, Yonhap News listed him as the second most reliable political tweeter (71.8%) in a survey of 'regular' contributors to charity.

Kim Je-dong started an independent program in 2009 at a small theater in Daehak-ro. Called a 'talk concert,' Kim has since organized these sold-out performances across South Korea and even in the United States, sharing his perspectives on societal and political absurdities, blending humorous anecdotes and insightful observations with biting social commentary. One of Kim's famous segments is 'Kim Je-dong's Quotes,' where he delivers witty remarks on advertisements while performing live, responding instantly to questions from the audience. To prepare, Kim mentions he reads various newspapers for 70 minutes daily, sticking editorial snippets into a scrapbook and jotting down his own opinions. When asked about the secret behind his fame, he says, 'viewers feel I am relatable and comfortable.'

Kim Gura, born on October 3, 1970, known by his stage name Kim Gura, is a South Korean MC, comedian, and radio personality. He consistently plays the antagonist role in the reality shows he participates in, achieving significant success in his career due to his eloquence. He made his television debut in the 1990s on comedy programs and skits. Kim faced harsh criticism in the South Korean media for openly criticizing Moon Hee Jun, a member of the music group HOT, regarding his music style, fashion, and hairstyle on his radio show, although they later formed a duo when hosting together. He is also recognized as one of the main MCs of the popular Korean variety show Line Up.

Kim Gura is also one of the main hosts of well-known Korean programs like Quiz that Changes the World, Radio Star, and The Moments of Truth Korea. He is famous for his straightforward yet humorous hosting style on television. He has appeared as a guest on A Table for the Gods. His son, Kim Dong-hyeon, has also appeared on television in Bungeoppang and other shows, most notably Star Golden Bell and in the MBC TV series 'May Queen,' playing a younger version of the lead female character (stepsister). In April 2012, Kim withdrew from eight entertainment shows he hosted, following controversy over a 2002 audio clip from a radio show where he casually discussed encounters with sex workers. He returned to television in January 2013, hosting the new variety show Men's Stuff with Lee Sang-min on the JTBC cable channel.

You Hee-yeol , born on April 19, 1971, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and the host of Sketchbook with You Hee-yeol. Born in Seoul, he attended Kyungbock High School and graduated from the College of Music at Seoul National University with a major in composition. He made his mark in the local pop music scene by winning a major award at the fourth You Jae-ha Music Competition in 1992 with the song 'The Moonlight Song.' In 1994, he formed the band Toy as a duo with Yoon Jeong-oh. However, after releasing Toy's first album, Yoon left the band for overseas studies, and You joined the navy to fulfill his mandatory military service. Since 1996, Toy continued as a solo project with You as the sole member.

After completing his military service, Toy's second album, Fairy Tales for Adults, was released, featuring the hit song 'Remember I Was Next to You' performed by Kim Yeon-woo. Since then, You has rarely sung songs on his own albums, instead collaborating with guest singers like Kim Yeon-woo, Kim Hyung-joong, Lee Jang-woo, Yoon Jong-shin, Kim Jang-hoon, Jinu (also known as Hitchhiker), and Byeon Jae-won. He has also produced albums for K-pop artists including Lee Seung-hwan, Yoon Jong-shin, Lee Sora, and Lee Moon-se.

In 1997, he founded the record label Antenna Music, later known as Toy Music. In July 1999, You published an illustrated book titled Ahead of a Familiar House. The album of the same name includes instrumental tracks in various genres. Since 2009, You has hosted the popular K-pop live music show You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook on KBS 2TV. He was also a judge on K-pop Star 3 (2013 - 2014) and joined the cast of Saturday Night Live Korea in September 2013. In 2015, he appeared in the music video for Psy's single 'Daddy.' From 2015, he became a co-host with Yoo Jae Suk on Two Yoo Project Sugar Man.

Jeong Jun-ha, born on March 18, 1971, is a South Korean comedian and singer known for his gentle, cheerful personality and a love for food. Immediately after graduating from Gangseo High School, he dove into the South Korean entertainment industry, serving as the official manager for comedian Lee Hwi-jae. His television debut was in MBC's 'Theme Theater' in 1995, appearing as a guest on several episodes. Overcoming struggles with depression in his career, he featured in a segment of the new comedy show 'Comedy House - No-brain Survival' (MBC, 2003 ~ 2005). This segment parodied the 'Brain Survivor' segment on Sunday Sunday Night, portraying him as a comically challenged individual, creating trendy misspoken words like 'This is like, kill me twice.'

In his later career, Jeong Jun-ha became a leading comedian in South Korea, appearing in numerous entertainment programs. In the winter of 2006-2007, he starred in The Full Monty (as Dave). He also participated in various sitcoms and South Korean films, including High Kick! (as Lee Jun-ha) and Marrying the Mafia II (as Jong-myeon). Following the tremendous success of 'No-brain Survival,' he officially became a member of the top-rated comic variety show Infinite Challenge in March 2006. As the second prominent member, he was positioned as the 'third in command,' ranking below the chief director Yoo Jae-suk and co-host Park Myung-soo. Immediately after, he rebranded his character as 'Super-Fatty,' contrasting with his previous 'Fatty' persona and his long-time colleague in the program.