Comedian Kwak Beom shocked viewers by revealing the behind-the-scenes of his celebrity impressions—including the moment actors contacted him directly—and why he stopped certain impersonations after a personal request from Jang Hyuk.
On the March 11 episode of MBC’s variety show Radio Star, actors Jin Seo-yeon, Geum Sae-rok, Joo Jong-hyuk, and Kwak Beom guested for the 'Talented in Every Way' special.
The broadcast even flashed a cheeky slate titled "Kwak Beom’s Mockery Victims Lawsuit List," showcasing the stars he frequently imitates. The lineup—Im Chang-jung, Lee Kyung-young, Kim Jang-hoon, Jung Woo Sung, Song So-hee, Jang Hyuk, Bobby Kim, and more—instantly grabbed attention.
Kwak also confessed he nearly landed in hot water because of his content hustle. After being moved by a shorts clip of traditional musician Song So-hee singing, he shot his own parody. "I loved the video so much I kept replaying it until I memorized the lyrics," he said. "I grabbed a wig and an outfit, headed to Haneul Park in Nanji, and filmed at sunset—wrapped it in 35 minutes and uploaded it."
But when Song So-hee later filmed a music video in Jeju with a similar vibe, it suddenly looked like Kwak had used the concept first. "I met Ms. Song on the radio and apologized, and thankfully, she understood," he recalled. "I promised I wouldn’t imitate her anymore without permission." He added that he later contacted her agency directly, secured approval for the impression, and even performed the song on air.
Kwak further revealed that some of his go-to impressions were halted at the actual stars’ request. In particular, actor Jang Hyuk personally reached out asking him to refrain. "Hyuk hyung got in touch through a connection," Kwak said. "He told me, 'I’m sorry to stop you, but it could make the project I’m about to start feel less weighty.'" Kwak concluded, "So my Jang Hyuk impression is officially off-limits now," drawing laughter.