Park Myung-soo (; born September 27, 1970) is a South Korean comedian,
MC, singer, and songwriter who debuted on television in 1993, appearing on
MBC. He co-hosted the top-rated comic variety programme ''
Infinite Challenge
''Infinite Challenge'' (; abbreviated as ) is a South Korean comedic reality television show that aired on MBC TV from 2005 to 2018. The show was produced by Kim Tae-ho, and starred various entertainers, including Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myung-soo ...
'' and also hosted the ''Date at 2 o'clock'' radio show. He has released several music singles, including "Prince of the Sea", which was covered by
LPG in 2007.
Career
Infinite Challenge
On ''
Infinite Challenge
''Infinite Challenge'' (; abbreviated as ) is a South Korean comedic reality television show that aired on MBC TV from 2005 to 2018. The show was produced by Kim Tae-ho, and starred various entertainers, including Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myung-soo ...
'', Park is "the second-in-command" (2인자), putting him below the host-in-chief
Yoo Jae-suk
Yoo Jae-suk (; or ; born on 14 August 1972) is a South Korean comedian, host and television personality. He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including ''Infinite Challenge'', ''Running Man (South Korean TV series), R ...
, who is "the first-in-command" (1인자). This spawned a running gag in which he often jokes about overthrowing Yoo Jae-suk as leader and becoming "first-in-command" himself. He also called "
Rice Insect" (벼멸구), a rival nickname for Yoo Jae-suk's famous "Grasshopper". He also claimed that his nickname should be "Big Star" (거성/巨星 ''Geoseong''). He sometimes tries to make use of his seniority by lecturing the other members on various matters, such as becoming a star; however, they rarely take him seriously.
Another nickname is "Chicken CEO," in reference to the
Kyochon chicken shop which he formerly operated. He is currently a
Seoul
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
metropolitan manager of
Imsil Cheese Pizza restaurant.
In October 2007, Park acquired another nickname, "worthless elder brother" (하찮은 형) after co-host
Noh Hong-chul
Noh Hong-chul (; born 31 March 1979) is a South Korean entertainer and entrepreneur. He is the co-host of the variety show ''Talents for Sale''. He previously appeared on the television programs '' Infinite Challenge'' and '' I Live Alone''. He ...
referred to him as a "worthless person with a worthless body" (하찮은 박명수님, 하찮은 몸) in comparison to world-class
Figure skater
Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, with its introduction occurring at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic d ...
Kim Yuna. Another related nickname is "Father" (아버지) since he is the oldest among another ''Infinite Challenge'' members and due to his weak stamina and slowly balding forehead.
Park is famous for his "scolding" repertoire (호통개그), in which he angrily and aggressively scolds his colleagues for usually trivial matters. This led to another nickname, "the Son of Devil" (악마의 아들). A related nickname is "Old Devil", based on co-host
Noh Hong-chul
Noh Hong-chul (; born 31 March 1979) is a South Korean entertainer and entrepreneur. He is the co-host of the variety show ''Talents for Sale''. He previously appeared on the television programs '' Infinite Challenge'' and '' I Live Alone''. He ...
's nickname the "Young Devil" received in the "Money Bag" special episode in which te two had stolen a briefcase full of money from
Jeong Hyeong-don and subsequently conspired to take it from each other. Another aspect of his character is his tendency to flub words and to misspeak when scolding, leading other members to take him even less seriously.
His character in the show is also known for arguing and quarreling over petty issues with co-host
Jeong Jun-ha
Jeong Jun-ha (; born March 18, 1971) is a South Korean comedian and entertainer. His well-known motto is "(Whether they) give love or not, (he) always gives love: Jeong Jun-ha" ().
History
Just after graduating Gangseo Senior High school, he e ...
. Park's hot-tempered on-screen persona is very contrary to Jeong Jun-ha's tactless, simple-minded character that occasionally made the former lose his patience. The unique relationship between Jeong and Park has become an occasional segment called "
Ha & Soo". "Ha & Soo" also can be called "Peter & Jonathan" with Park as "Peter" and Jeong as "Jonathan". Another similar nickname is "Red Pepper" (고춧가루) after Jeong joked about him and Park as seasonings ("red pepper and black pepper") for Yoo Jae-suk that being central of the program ("main menu") during ''Infinite Challenge'' "Face-Off" special. The two have also won the "Best Couple" award at the 2011 MBC Entertainment Awards, making them the first male-male couple to have ever won the title.
Radio
Park is also a recognised radio DJ, hosting various radio shows over the past decades. In 2016 and 2021, he received the Best Radio DJ award at the KBS Entertainment Awards for his Cool FM Park Myung-soo's Radio Show.
Music career
Being an avid fan of
electronic music
Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...
, Park, under the pseudonym "Bangbaedong Wildcat", composed a total of six songs in varied genres, including electronic, medium-tempo dance and mystic melodies. These were showcased by his fellow co-hosts of the program during the ''Infinite Challenge'' "Park Myung-soo's How About It" special. Upon the broadcast, his tracks appeared on the real-time music charts for Mnet, Bugs, Naver Music, and Melon, and even ousted out
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piec ...
's newly released "
I Got a Boy" track from the first place on the chart for a period of time. Since January 2013, he has been listed as an official composer by the
Korea Music Copyright Association
The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) is a South Korean non-profit copyright collective for musical works, administering public performance and broadcasting rights, and mechanical recording and reproduction rights. Founded in 1964, it ...
(KOMCA) under his "Bangbaedong Wildcat" name.
Recognitions
Park won his first Daesang, the award given to the entertainer of the year, at the 2012
MBC Entertainment Awards
The MBC Entertainment Awards () is a Korean awards ceremony held annually and sponsored by MBC. The awards ceremony is held at the end of each year and lasts approximately 140 minutes, being broadcast in two parts on MBC.
Hosts
History of wi ...
after 20 years of his career as an entertainer.
Personal life
Marriage and children
On April 8, 2008, Park Myung-soo married his long-time girlfriend, 31-year-old doctor Han Su-min. This was the first time a member of ''Infinite Challenge'' has married since the show's inception. Their first child, Park Min-seo, was born in August 2008.
As of December 2009, with the joint co-operation of its enterprise company, he began his tenure as a CEO of a business called "Mohani" (모하니), which sells wigs in shopping malls.
Mental health and bullying
He confessed that he has suffered from
anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner wikt:turmoil, turmoil and includes feelings of dread over Anticipation, anticipated events. Anxiety is different from fear in that fear is defined as the emotional response ...
since he was young due to being
bullied
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, Suffering, hurtful teasing, comments, or threats, in order to abuse, aggression, aggressively wikt:domination, dominate, or intimidate one or more others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. On ...
severely when he was in school, to the point of being considered a loser by the students who picked on him and to the point where he developed
generalized anxiety as consequence.
Television and radio appearances
Current programmes
Former programmes
Radio programmes
Discography
Studio albums
* ''Change'' (1999)
* ''Dr. Park'' (2000)
* ''Son of Wind'' (바람의 아들) (2002)
* ''Ta La La'' (탈랄라) (2005)
Singles
Ambassadorship
* Ambassadors for Island Day (2022)
Accolades
Awards
State honors
Listicles
Notes
References
External links
Official Fanpage
Official Homepage of Muhan Dojeon
Mohoney Company web page
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Park, Myung-soo
Infinite Challenge members
South Korean television presenters
South Korean male television actors
South Korean radio presenters
South Korean male comedians
South Korean LGBTQ rights activists
People from Gunsan
Musicians from North Jeolla Province
1970 births
Living people
Best Variety Performer Male Paeksang Arts Award (television) winners