Comedian Heo Kyung-hwan reveals he is enjoying a shocking second prime, powered by a viral catchphrase.
The July 15 episode of MBC variety show Radio Star will feature Kim Sung-ryung, U-Know Yunho, Heo Kyung-hwan, and Poongja in a special titled "Da~ ssibeoppusyo~ Big Eaters."
Marking his 12th appearance on Radio Star, Heo says he has finally shed the label of an "icon with no updates" who guested even without major news. These days, he is bouncing between variety shows and can truly feel his rising popularity.
Still, Heo candidly admits, "I’m actually more anxious because life is going too well." He explains that while it once felt like bare-knuckle fighting, now it’s as if he’s suddenly been handed a weapon — and with higher public expectations comes the pressure to deliver fresh laughs.
He also opens up about the resurgence of his "Unbalance" dance. A clip he once considered a dark past was reborn as a remix challenge and took off among elementary school students. He recalls kids recognizing him outside a convenience store, lining up one by one, then breaking into a group dance. The unexpected reaction from young fans made him truly feel this second boom, drawing laughs.
He revisits a moving moment from the 'Pinggye-go' awards. When a question about his signature catchphrase came up, he saw Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, and Lee Dong-wook huddling seriously in the back to figure out the correct answer. "Watching that scene, all the years I’d pushed my catchphrase alone flashed before my eyes," he shares.
Heo will also unveil, for the first time, a brand-new catchphrase aimed at the latter half of the year. He says he even lost sleep the night before to prepare — but, according to insiders, the MCs delivered some ice-cold reviews.
On top of that, he plans to share a behind-the-scenes story about how his appearance on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block felt like a nationwide job interview, plus a self-analyzed anecdote about his "height gene." The episode airs on the 15th at 10:30 p.m.