[24] Comedian Kim Hyun-young and singer Mo Jeong-ae, who are clearly like sisters, have a special friendship.
Kanbu. It is a slang term that is commonly used to mean ‘on the same side’ or ‘between people who can share everything no matter what.’ Even if you have everything in your life, can you say that you have lived a good life if you do not have lifelong friends with whom you can share healthy relationships? It is said that good human relationships have a positive effect on health. Introducing the ‘value of togetherness’ that blooms among Kanbu.
![Singer Mo Jeong-ae, who brought the hidden ‘national turtle’ comedian Kim Hyun-young back to the world. [유재영의 전국깐부자랑]](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2025/01/10/130831507.1.jpg "Singer Mo Jeong-ae, who brought the hidden ‘national turtle’ comedian Kim Hyun-young back to the world. [유재영의 전국깐부자랑]")
Kim Hyun-young, the ‘nation’s turtle’ comedian, was the ‘comedy queen’ of the 1990s. I remember his bright smile that showed off all his healthy teeth and his ability to brightly portray an ugly character without being ugly at all. I thought he would still be doing well because he was so popular, but hearing about his life story makes me sad beyond regret. This isn’t the first time I’ve had my fortune collapse. You are brave enough to hold on. Who wouldn’t say she’s a comedian? She uses difficult times from her past as a source of comedy and makes it funny. It hurts more.
Kim Hyun-young debuted in 1990 through the 6th KBS comedian recruitment process. It went well. As a rookie, he played a significant role in ‘No. 1 Humor’, the most popular comedy show of the time. In the corner ‘No one can stop Donggungmama’, she became known as the ‘ugly Musuri’ who is always scolded by big star Shim Hyung-rae, who appears as Donggung (東宮). Donggung, who is an idiot, openly ignores him, but he accepts it in a funny way and makes use of his immature favorite comedy point in an amazing way.
She has a lot of freckles and moles on her face, and when she laughs and sings “Donggungmama” anxiously, Shim Hyung-rae pushes her face away. I burst out laughing at the funny facial expressions I make when I hold on to not be pushed. The number of people who recognized it increased, and then the ‘Bag of Memories’ section hit the mark (meaning its popularity increased significantly). She appeared as the poor girlfriend of the main character of this corner, Lim Ha-ryong (played by Lim Hae-ryong), and her single-mindedness despite being mistreated gave another big laugh.
She has become a leader in the next generation of comedians in broadcasting. Even children loved it, imitating his tone of voice and facial expressions. The nickname ‘Ninja Turtles’ arose from the title of a popular Hollywood movie at the time. The turtle nickname is like the origin of a celebrity. Even though he has a very cute face, he gratefully accepts this nickname and promotes it as his character wherever he goes. I shot a lot of commercials and made a lot of money. I also went to concerts with other singers, comedians, and stars to comfort overseas Koreans. It seemed like the path to living happily and comfortably while making others laugh had opened up.
However, the world did not leave Kim Hyun-young in peace. In my late 30s, I was introduced to the wrong man and got married, which was the root of my misfortune. It was no different from the fraudulent marriages you only see on the news. The more my husband dug, the more his debt increased. After paying off this and that debt, it got to the point where I couldn’t afford it. I was not treated properly as a wife. Her husband told her to go to the U.S. to make money, but her child also miscarried. I couldn’t bear it. I decided to divorce after hearing that my husband had more debt. Only then did she realize that she was the man’s fourth wife. Only big scars remained.
Even my mother, who I depended on during my uneasy marriage, passed away. It was the mother who raised Kim Hyeon-young, who lost her father when she was three years old, to be envious. Because of the great shock, I stopped all my activities and almost cut off all ties with the world. I suffered from social phobia and even depression. It took a lot of time to empty my mind little by little, thinking that I would sell all of this.
I think the saying, ‘There is no law telling you to die’ is true. I wonder how I would have survived if Mo Jeong-ae (real name Lee Sook-hee), who debuted in 1990 with the song ‘Women’s Tears’ and became famous as a disco and trot medley singer, was not by my side. Mo Jeong-ae, the older sister he met in society, helped Kim Hyun-young heal his deep wounds. It gave me some breathing room in my frustrating life.
Mo Jeong-ae is a stage name given by the late Bae Sam-ryong, the godfather of Korean comedy, saying, “You are just like a mother.” As fate would have it, I am now playing the role of Kim Hyun-young’s mother. Kim Hyun-young survived by relying on her older sister, who was like a mother. It’s getting stronger. I am meeting my mother Jeong-ae and regaining my ‘lost Kim Hyeon-young’. I’m still carrying a heavy burden… .
● Sister who embraces her younger brother without calculation
Kim Hyun-young and Mo Jeong-ae have been in a relationship for about 15 years. We only exchanged greetings a few times at various events, but we became lifelong partners at a volunteer event for the disabled.
“Even though Hyunyoung didn’t know me, I know her and have heard about how she’s been doing. I felt sad and pitiful. I wanted to be nice to him for no reason. When I look at Hyunyoung’s face, strangely, I think of my eldest son. I thought it was a special relationship. When I first saw Hyunyoung, I had a feeling that she was really pretty on the inside. “I naturally embraced him as ‘my person.’”
Mo Jeong-ae’s eldest son suffered from meningitis at the age of six and lost his hearing. There is a feeling of guilt in my heart that it is my fault for not taking good care of my son. As I took care of Kim Hyun-young, the burden on my mind was eased little by little.
Mo Jeong-ae took Kim Hyeon-young, who was hesitant to come back into the world, to her events and made her the stage MC. We held a ‘Senior Volunteer Concert’ at Nakwon Shopping Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul for a long time, and Kim Hyun-young was able to unleash her hidden talents.
“My sister supported me because I had no work. I received about 200,000 won as an appearance fee, but my sister took the money out of her wallet and put it in my pocket, saying, ‘You should get this much.’ It’s not easy. The money that fans give me at the event is distributed to people doing hard work on site or to singers coming from the countryside. In the end, your wallet is empty. “My sister is not rich.”
Every time she stood on stage, her older sister Mo Jeong-ae announced to the world that the ‘national turtle’ had come out.
“My sister dominates the audience within 3 or 4 seconds on stage. You can control the atmosphere freely. It’s not easy for even most comedians to do that. I started laughing when my sister asked me, the MC, ‘Are you sitting or standing?’ Even though I’m short, if I say ‘I’m sitting down’ or ‘I’m standing up’, they respond well. It shows my presence, which is ‘the same whether I’m sitting or standing.’ “Thanks to you, I was able to make eye contact with my fans again.”
Mo Jeong-ae, who has a strong fan base, shares die-hard fans with Kim Hyun-young. ‘Mo Jeong-ae’s fans are Kim Hyun-young’s fans.’ Mo Jeong-ae said, “Hyun-young has become a ‘natural presence’ to our fans. I am grateful that Hyun-young follows me without hurting her pride, calling me ‘Mo Jeong-ae’s assistant.’”
“When I meet fans frequently, there are times when I get stressed and I can’t say everything I want to say. But Hyunyoung keeps the balance between me and the fans well. It helps resolve difficult relationships and creates a good atmosphere. “Hyeonyoung is my health medicine.”
● “Hyunyoung, let’s not go to Switzerland now.”
I think about it even while I sleep or eat. If it weren’t for Mo Jeong-ae, where would I have stayed and how long would I have stayed in this world? Just thinking about ‘my sister not being next to me’ makes me dizzy and suffocating. Kim Hyun-young’s life has improved, but it is still difficult and uncomfortable. She is in a position where she cannot yet live as a ‘complete Kim Hyun-young’.
Kim Hyun-young is so heartbroken that she cannot do anything and lives at home taking care of her older sister. I can’t go out or do activities comfortably. Kim Hyun-young is taking care of both of their livelihoods. There is no time to even plan a second life for yourself. However, I cannot openly share my concerns with others. I don’t want to cause any harm or worry.
Only when he meets Mo Jeong-ae can he confess his situation. My sister accepts the ‘No Horse Grand Banquet’. Whether there is a bone in her words or not, all of Kim Hyun-young’s pleas and pleas are repeated like a broken radio.
Mo Jeong-ae said, “I have no life. Kim Hyeon-young, who says, “There is no hope,” is often given a boost of self-esteem. Kim Hyun-young always says, “I’m happy when Jeong-ae calls me.” Then the older sister embraces the younger sibling more. I hope you don’t feel weak anymore.
“Hyunyoung. Taking care of someone is happiness in itself. It’s not easy for you to become your real sister’s hands and feet and get along with her. That means he’s still healthy.”
Last November was harsh for Kim Hyun-young. There was no future in sight. The disturbing days continued. Just when things seem to be getting better, difficult times come. As this happened over and over again, I was quite tired. It was difficult to maintain composure. I asked Mo Jeong-ae to go to Switzerland with me. Switzerland allows euthanasia and assisted suicide under some laws. I was thinking about death. As a listener, I wonder if it would have been so difficult for her to even think about that. Still, he repeatedly softens his brother’s feelings.
“Hyeonyoung, it’s our first time living like this for you and me. When it’s your first time living, it can be difficult to deal with difficult times. But people around you are also going through painful things. “You should never talk about going to Switzerland.”
This year, Mo Jeong-ae decided to hug Kim Hyun-young’s weary heart more gently during her difficult day with small, warm words.
● Together unconditionally… “I want to bring my brother’s broken dreams back to life.”
‘life’
Lyricist Kim Min-woo
Composed by Kim Wook
song mojeongae
Is it the wind, clouds, or river water?
Round and round, I’m here, I’m here
Where are you going and what are you going to do?
don’t ask me
Life is like the wind, life is like the clouds
That’s how it goes
Don’t think you’re good, you’re mistakenHydra
Let’s live with an empty mind and not complain about the world.
What do you have and what do you have to throw away?
don’t ask me
Life wanders and scatters with the wind
It’s just a piece of cloud
Where are you going and what are you going to do?
don’t ask me
Life is like the wind, life is like the clouds
That’s how it goes
―Is this a song you want to sing to your younger brother Kim Hyun-young?
“yes.”
They say that everything they want to say to Kim Hyun-young is contained in these lyrics. People’s lives are all there. If possible, let’s talk about something more hopeful. I emphasize that the talk about going to Switzerland should stop now. I am happy just to have met a friend who is like-minded and a good friend, but Kim Hyun-young is the older sister, Mo Jeong-ae, who gives me a taste of life. I hope my younger brother knows how I feel. I hope my younger brother gains the strength not to be swayed by his own weak feelings.
Kim Hyun-young is serious, but she seems to be a comedian by nature. Change the mood by saying that you want to sing. She says she envies her sister who can say what she wants to say and express her emotions through songs. He says he wishes he had his own song.
“If I have my song, I can stand on stage forever. I have to work hard to release a song. haha. I know I’m tone deaf, but I’m trying to cheat. A singer who sings with AR (song accompaniment recorded with vocals) but does not receive an encore. ha ha ha.”
“Hyunyoung, I only sing as a hobby. Try singing, but don’t just say you’re a singer. Even when he sings, he’s funny. haha.”
Kim Hyun-young thinks that even if she doesn’t sing, if Mo Jeong-ae does well, it will be a rewarding life for her.
“I have my sister’s YouTube live music channel (@Mojeongaelivetv2561, currently streaming live on ‘Sing Sing TV’). A few years ago, I took requests for songs of all genres and sang them for over an hour. How many people in Korea can sing all the song requests? That’s incredible skill. However, my sister’s career as a singer has not yet taken off. This channel needs to come back to life and become more popular. I think it will float if I can catch the wind right next to it. haha.”
When I look at these two people, I think of values such as ‘companionship’ and ‘togetherness’ that cannot be sustained without loyalty. Kim Hyun-young hated meeting people and even wrote a will because she didn’t want to go back to her past life. How did you feel holding your younger brother’s hand like that?
“I hoped that I could be of some help to Hyeonyoung. If I had made any calculations when I met Hyeonyoung, I don’t think I would have come this far. It wasn’t a ‘conditional meeting’ like ‘I helped Hyunyoung a little, so she will help me too.’ Just like now, I will continue to treat you with the mindset of ‘I will take care of you’ unconditionally. Hyunyoung, let’s live with the thought that this time we are holding hands is ‘the happiest moment.’ “It’s holding up well.”
“There are times when I see my sister as a man. This is the ideal type I only pictured in my head. If my sister were a man, I would have dated her right away. “There is no special sense of general.”
What should I do if Kim Hyun-young’s younger brother becomes sick, worried, and wandering alone again? I believe it, but I’m not worried. I think I will feel at ease if I somehow keep it next to me. My younger brother wants to spend more time with his older sister so that he doesn’t feel anxious. I want to rely on and be indebted to more.
“When I go out with my sister, I always feel like I’m running out of beans. If you say, ‘Hyunyoung, wow,’ something material or anything will fall out. haha. If my sister asks me to go somewhere, I won’t ask or argue. “Even this time today, when I came to see my sister, is very precious and I am grateful.”
“When I’m with you, Congo fish comes to mind. “Hyeonyoung, let’s pick things up together for the rest of our lives.”
Thanks to Mo Jeong-ae, Kim Hyun-young started saying here and there, ‘If you’re happy today, you’ve lived well.’ I have some free time. I try to believe that any pain will pass someday. It seems like we can see Kim Hyun-young again, who can ‘remit’ fun and laughter in abundance. Mo Jeong-ae will continue to pull Kim Hyun-young to re-enter that life.
“Hyeonyoung, don’t worry. “The dream you dream with me will eventually become your life.”
“Sister, thank you for remembering my shattered dream. “I will nurture my dream with my sister and make it come true.”