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I am MC Yoo Hee-yeol.
I am MC Haha.
I'm Yang Se-hyeong. I came out of a comic book.
Look at that confidence. He's a star.
I'm not the agricultural Yoon-G. I'm NS Yoon-G.
I've been a rising star for eight years now.
- That's long. - It's great.
It's a self diss.
I'm Che Sa-jang, the national writer.
So you say, but I don't know who you are.
Who are you? I know I asked you before but...
(In a few minutes...)
(The buskers are relentless.)
(They're without mercy.)
(They talk ruthlessly.)
(If I knew that, I'd have gotten popular already.)
(A man who sold 1,100,000 copies.)
Did you make a lot?
(He reveals his profit.)
(It will start in a few minutes.)
The courageous have come out to talk.
- On Wednesday night, - Busking with words,
- this is As I Say! - this is As I Say!
Say! Say!
Don't. This place is high class.
No, stop it. This place is high class.
- Tone it down a little and be more high class. - Okay.
Today, we aren't shooting in a studio.
- Instead, we're shooting our show in an unfamiliar place. - Yes.
He's right. To be able to meet with the citizens faster...
To be able to be closer to the citizens, we came here to...
- Look. - Wait, there were more people before...
There were a lot more people before.
Everyone scream!
(Screaming)
Only just two people...
It's the first time ever in As I Say to have "A Little More Closer" special.
- Yes. - Yes.
We don't use the word "special" here lightly.
No, we don't.
That's why today's episode is very important.
- You two probably think this show is a huge hit. - No, no.
That's why you're thinking of making special episodes here and there...
Lately, Yang Se-hyeong is the hottest celebrity around.
Before I knew it, people started to say I'm trending.
- But "in trend" is a very scary word. - Why?
I've never seen anyone "in trend" keep their success forever.
- He confessed this while we were out for a drink together. - Confessed what?
"I'll have to surpass Yu Jae-seok one day."
When did I say that? When?
When did I say that?
- Please refrain yourself from exaggerating too much. - I understand.
For today, let's just calmly discuss various topics together.
- Okay. - Okay.
All right, NS Yoon-G.
It's been such a long time.
- Have you been well? - What have you been up to?
I had trouble with my health...
- and there were rumors going around about me retiring... - Yes.
So I needed a lot of courage to come out here today.
It's been a year and half since I last stood in front of a camera...
so I'm really nervous right now.
- It's been too long... - Yes.
- It's an honor to be sitting here together with you guys. - With us?
Haha and I were already in the car...
when Yoon-G came in and Sa-jang came in after.
But because I didn't know,
I thought to myself the CEO of her agency looked really kind.
I thought he was so caring about his singers.
But when they told me you were a writer, I thought my heart would stop.
While we're on that topic,
can you tell us what you do?
It's probably your first time seeing my face...
but you've probably heard of my books.
Before, I wrote "Various Knowledge Needed for An Intellectual Conversation".
- Have you heard of it? - Now, I wrote a series...
I actually know about this book.
It's an easy-to-learn humanities book.
So, you were the one who wrote that book?
- You introduced yourself as the national writer. - That was a bestseller...
- How many? - I heard it sold over a million copies.
Yes. From what I know, it sold over 1,100,000 copies.
Did you say 1,100,000 copies?
- Yes. - Wow, 1,100,000 copies?
That means you probably made about 1,000,000 dollars in...
No, not really.
I heard from the screenwriters that you lived in Pyeongchang-dong...
You're the Mansour of the writing industry, Chesour.
- That's awesome. - I heard you came here by helicopter.
(He' a national writer on the level of Mansour.)
- He has swag. - I see.
Let me introduce to you our first busker.
It's Yang Se-hyeong.
(The hottest trending comedian, Yang Se-hyeong)
Hello, hello.
Say hi to the back too.
(I have arrived, Hongdae.)
The trending star of variety shows...
This is part of Se-hyeong's charms.
- You're really busy these days. - Yes.
I heard you do everything that pays good money.
(Everyone wants to cast him in their shows.)
- I heard you were difficult to get a hold of... - Because he's so busy...
Why did you agree to appear on As I Say?
The program, As I Say, is like reading a book...
in a short amount of time...
without having to spend any money. That's why I really like this show.
Haha gave me a call not that long ago...
- He called you? - Yes, he called me asking if I could come on As I Say.
- He doesn't usually ask favors like that. - No, I don't.
I told him, "One second. I'll schedule it in somehow." I called the director...
and told him, "Leave my schedule free on the 8th." He responded,
"You don't have anything on the 8th."
(It was his rest day.)
I said that was great. I told him we should schedule in this program for that day.
The director said, "Do whatever you want."
So I said okay and that's how I came to do this program.
- But I started to deeply regret it the very next day. - "Why did I agree to this?"
For me to say something nice and...
encourage people is like...
acting like such a know-it-all.
Se-hyeong, you shouldn't worry too much.
We're always seeing your bright side...
but there's not a lot of venues in which we can hear your stories.
He's right.
- Can you do that "Bari Bari Yang Se-bari" for us? - You should.
You should show it to us.
Wait. You said this was a quiet and calm program...
but you're making me do that...
- I'm a waiter... - Wow.
- I can't help but look forward to it. - This guy's really...
- It'll be so funny. - Since you're asking me...
No, it wasn't supposed to be funny.
Actually, it's supposed to be less funnier than you wearing that scarf indoor.
(He's already making us laugh.)
- He's wearing it because he's sick. - What?
- It's not for show. It's because he's sick. - Really?
It was getting on my nerves how he was wearing that scarf indoors.
- But now that I've said it, it feels much better. - He's this kind of guy.
Yang Se-bari, Yang Se-bari, everybody, shake the body.
Let's party. Come on, party.
Just do it, everybody.
(He gives it his all.)
(Amazed)
- Wow. - Nice.
They love it. Everyone in the back didn't know it was you until you...
did that dance.
They thought he was Lee Se-dol.
(They look the same from the back.)
- My back? - Yes.
That's the first time I've ever heard that one.
Actually, I think Se-hyeong's good points...
lies in how you can't hate him even if he speaks relentlessly.
- That's his good point. - Yes.
- About Hee-yeol... - Yes?
Was there anything you wanted to say to him?
Be blunt.
I actually really like Hee-yeol's...
- sense of humor. - You do?
I really do. Even in "Sketchbook",
I really like the way you speak.
You have a knack for calmly...
bringing down the others.
That is one amazing sense of humor.
Sometimes, I feel really sorry for the singers.
Did they really have to go there...
to be humiliated and...
- and looked down upon? - You're right.
- He criticizes them. - I felt so sad for them when they kept singing.
- He's really scary as a judge. - He is so scary.
Why you little...
(Stands up)
He threatened me just now but it doesn't scare me at all.
He's physically so thin and frail...
- He's no joke. - So I...
- He doesn't even blink. - He's the best.
- Is this something you're born with? Your talent for ad lib... - He's born with it.
I don't think you're just born with it.
When your obsession for that field...
and your passion to do your best come together...
When you keep pushing through, you start to get a...
feel for these things.
Can you give us an example?
When I was watching TV, I saw how Yu Jae-seok...
studied to excel on variety programs.
You would first record the variety show on tape.
When an MC asks a question on the show,
- you press stop... - On the video footage?
Yes. You press stop and think about how you would answer that question.
Jae-seok said that?
I saw him say that on TV when I was little.
- He talked about what he did to get better. - That's why he's so great at it.
- So I also... - You tried doing what he did?
Not tried. I did it everyday.
I did it everyday and...
- in the end, it became very helpful to me. - You're a hard working genius.
If you want to become a trending celebrity,
- you have to be interviewed by Se-hyeong. - That "Shorterview"?
(Only trending stars can be interviewed...)
(up close and personal by Yang Se-hyeong.)
(You won the grand prize 13 times now, right?)
(Yes...)
Only people who have been interviewed by him...
- are in trend right now? - Yes.
When Haha called me, he said all I had to do here was do a busking.
- But he's been making me do everything I do in variety shows. - I'm sorry.
Every single thing.
Are we going to play games and have them pour water over us?
This chair is going to make you fly out there.
- While this opens? - Yes.
Anyway, let's do a short interview.
- Can you interview Hee-yeol? - Please?
I have to do this to become a top star.
Yes, this will make you a trending star.
Can you come lie over here? Come lie down over here.
- You're so lucky. - I have to lie down?
- Yes. - He's going to massage you with his words.
While you're like this, we'll start.
On "Shorterview" today, Yang Se-hyeong will do a short interview...
on one of the top MC, Yoo Hee-yeol.
(Screaming)
(Up close and personal)
Hello. Nice to meet you.
Hello.
- Have you been well these days? - Yes.
Lately, you've been really great.
Out of all the programs you do,
which one is your favorite?
Where are you touching so suddenly?
Why did you have to go on top of me?
Because I have to be up close and personal.
- Which program is your favorite? - My favorite program?
Well, there was this program called "Radio Heaven" that I did a long time ago...
Why are you avoiding my question?
Hey...
That's all we have on "Shorterview" today.
See you next time.
Wasn't that great?
Wow.
How do you feel?
I feel like I became a star.
- Thank you. - He's great.
Because this is a "A Little More Closer" special,
we'll be meeting with the citizens right now.
- All right, Se-hyeong? - Yes?
- What are you still doing here? - I'll go.
- Get out there! - Go get'em, Yang Se-bari!
Look at him go. It's not easy to do this.
Good luck, Se-hyeong. Thanks.
Wow.
(He goes to gather an audience.)
- It's been a long time since we did something like this. - Yes.
It's been too long...
since we last went out on the streets to gather up our audience.
- Hello. - You're so cute!
Please come see As I Say's busking.
We're going to do a busking for As I Say. Come watch.
- You're really cute. - Hello.
- Come see our busking here later. - Okay.
Come see us. I'm going to walk around the block.
Yes.
(The crowds follow him as if they're possessed.)
- He's really popular. - Wow.
They're passing by right behind us.
He's like the "Pied Piper of Hamelin". He's luring so many people.
This is amazing.
- Would you like to see our busking? - Yes!
- I want to tell you a story. Will you listen? - Yes!
Then, please, follow me.
Follow me.
- Wow. - This guy is really...
He's like Forrest Gump.
He is.
It's like a scene out of that show where he interviews people.
- Cute. - Look at him.
He's taking pictures...
He's basking in his popularity, isn't he?
- Hello. - Hello.
(He leads an enormous crowd...)
(into the busking zone.)
In here.
(They crowd in.)
Come in.
I'll be talking up here, so you can all sit around me.
Don't sit too closely but sit there. Yes, perfect.
Sit like that.
Look at that.
(They keep pouring in.)
- That's amazing. - I should use him to advertisement my restaurant.
The people in the middle won't be able to get out so if you need to go, get out now.
Yes.
I'm just joking.
When were you planning to get out?
I have to go see a performance later.
I see. Then, you can sit over there...
and go when you need to go.
They should come inside more.
Make them go inside more, Se-hyeong.
- The people in the back can come sit over here in the front. - Good job.
- He's good at this. - You can surround me like this. Yes.
Speaking to so many people...
about something is...
Honestly,
it feels like I'm acting stuck up...
and acting like such a know-it-all.
So I thought really long and hard about what I would talk about.
But if I were to talk about all the advice and stories I heard before,
I thought it'd be meaningless. You probably all already heard of it too.
So instead, I'll be talking about myself...
About my efforts and struggles...
To start off, when do you think I...
made my debut as a comedian?
Seven years ago?
- Actually, it was 14 years ago. - Wow, that's a long time ago.
I started my comedy acts when I was a sophomore in high school.
My parents worked by putting up wallpapers.
They would always have glue stuck to their clothes.
No matter what kind of clothes they wore to work,
they would come back with white clothes because of the glue.
When they came home,
they wouldn't greet us cheerfully saying, "How have my babies been today?"
Instead, they would already be exhausted...
when they came home from work.
As soon as they came, they'd drink a cup of soju and go straight to sleep.
And in the morning, they'd go to work again.
When I saw that, I felt really determined...
to live differently than how my parents did.
I didn't want to live...
a life for just making money.
I wanted to live an enjoyable life, doing what I've wanted to do.
So I did this after hearing someone say it somewhere.
It'll be great for you to do this as well,
especially if you're still looking for work...
or if you're students.
I would write out all the compliments I hear in a notebook.
Things like "excel at catching frogs", "great at running",
or "great at teasing others".
There's so much to write down.
As you write all those down, you'll be able to feel...
really happy, as if you achieved something great.
At first, I didn't think too much of it...
but I started to realize I had so many compliments.
But when I looked carefully, I realized a great portion of those compliments...
were about my sense of humor.
So, I decided to be a comedian...
and in my sophomore year of high school,
I went to one of those comedy theaters...
in Daehangno without a thought.
Everyone always has that one friend who's really funny in their group.
He's that one friend everyone calls crazy and out of his mind.
I was that friend in Dongducheon.
But when I went to that theater, I was shocked.
In that theater, the funniest person of each region...
The craziest have all been gathered in that one spot.
But you know what I felt back then?
I felt that I had to beat all these amazing people...
one by one to make it to the top.
That was the first time I planned out a strategy.
That strategy was...
I'm sure people who worked in theater knows this...
but there's this thing we do before a show...
called an icebreaker.
Hee-yeol? You know what an icebreaker is, right?
- Me? - Yes.
Of course I do. I know it really well.
Whenever I do "Sketchbook" or perform...
You might also know him. I have a friend called MC Dingdong.
I know him well. He's pretty famous.
- He's known as the "Yu Jae-seok of Icebreakers". - That's right.
His role is extremely important.
If he's feeling out of it and doesn't do very well, that show is ruined that day.
Making the right mood is a really hard thing to do.
When he warms up the audience, that's when we go out...
and start shooting the show.
Like he said,
comedians are...
very reluctant to take on the role of being the icebreakers...
because when people don't laugh during the actual comedy act,
everyone blames them.
"Hey, who was the icebreaker today?"
"It's your fault the show didn't go well."
They say that, regardless of the fact that it was due to their lack of talent.
I feel like he's directing that one at me.
That's why the roles of the icebreakers are important.
So I thought I should take on the role of an icebreaker...
and make myself known as one of the top five.
This was when I was a high school sophomore.
So I took on the role of an icebreaker.
What do you think happened?
It went well?
Some people are saying it went well. Anyone else?
What?
And there are people who say I was crushed.
Back then, I was utterly crushed into smithereens.
I would go on stage...
and keep apologizing repeatedly.
That's when I truly felt...
that I couldn't make it with the skills that I had.
I had to accept the facts.
Ever since then, that's when I started memorizing everything.
I would memorize everything my seniors did.
Every single line. It's actually really stupid...
but I memorized everything.
Do you know Majin Buu of Dragon Ball Z?
The only way for Majin Buu to get stronger...
is to absorb his opponent's techniques.
Like him, I would absorb this person's skills...
and that person's skills until they became mine.
I would memorize everything. Even though it wasn't in my voice,
I would memorize everyone's different tones and lines.
I would do exactly as they did it.
And when I did it like that,
the reactions from the audience weren't bad.
I went backstage happily, thinking I'd be complimented...
for my accomplishment but everyone...
told me it wasn't special, that imitating others wasn't a hard thing to do.
That's when I started to think that this method wasn't effective.
So I thought I should go on and...
combine everyone's lines together.
That was the first time I started to put in something of mine into the act.
I'd put 50 percent of theirs and 50 percent of my mine...
and as time went by, I'd put 20 percent of theirs and 80 percent of mine...
After continuing in that way, I was finally able to...
get one of the biggest reactions from the audience.
When I was about to go back stage, people would yell at me for an encore. It was...
the first time I had gotten so many applause and laughter.
I realized I was capable of doing this.
That must have been thrilling.
Later on, my name was written as one of the top three icebreakers.
It was the first time a high schooler's name went up there.
It's funny but it's exactly the same for music.
You start music by copying...
someone else first.
It's exactly the same.
You might not know this but the biggest problem comedians have...
is that although they're really funny on their comedy shows,
they can't say anything when they're on variety shows.
They want to make an ad lib and are busy trying to find the right time...
but they hesitate, worrying it won't be funny. And the program comes to an end.
They have just one chance.
If they miss that chance, that's the end for them.
The first try is important.
I'm sure you've heard of "Strong Heart".
I was cast for the show, which is a talk show.
It was a show where I have no choice but to fail.
What I did to prepare for it was...
I planned a shoot for a conversational comedy.
I was given two weeks before the show.
During the two weeks, I went to Hangang Park...
and kept talking to myself as I walked.
I practiced like this. "When I was in the army...".
You know the people who talk to themselves on the street like,
"That was your fault!", right?
I was one of them.
I kept talking to myself,
but I didn't care how people were looking at me.
In order to do well, that's what I had to do.
If you get a chance, watch the episode on "Strong Heart".
The gestures with my hands...
and responses I made were all acted out.
I acted everything out.
Even my laughing was an act.
I didn't know that.
It was the same pattern as before.
I told you that I memorize everything.
It is an inefficient method,
but I always memorized for everything.
I would come up with my own style within in.
That was the pattern I always followed.
You've never been like that, have you?
- I mean, for a show. - No.
When I first hosted the radio shows,
I hosted with Shin Hae-chul, Shin Dong-yup, and Lee Moon-Se.
- That's how... - That sounds intimidating.
I learned to approach the radio shows.
In the entertainment field, you're considered to be a natural-born comedian.
The door is widely opened for you, but you keep refusing to join us.
(Very jealous)
I often get this kind of questions,
"What kind of a comedian do you want to become?"
I found the answer to that...
about three years ago.
Three years ago, my father passed away from a brain tumor.
The survival period of the diagnosis was one year and a half,
but he passed away after six months. At the time, I was on a break from my career,
and I took care of him.
As he was getting the chemotherapy and radiation therapy,
he was in such a pain, but when I made...
a joke to him, he would laugh so hard at it.
No pain killers could subdue his pain,
but when I talked to him or made jokes,
he would not stop laughing as if it was the funniest thing.
What I realized was that no pain killers...
can be stronger than laughs.
I felt guilty for taking a break from my career...
after I caused a controversial issue.
So I lied to my father.
I told him that the show I filmed for was a big hit.
He passed away after.
After he passed away, he taught me that...
I should become a comedian...
who can make people laugh...
and make people forget pain.
If I could make anyone laugh...
even for a second,
that would be the reason...
why I want to become a comedian.
Please give me an applause.
The editor will edit this scene out...
to add it to the parts where I said something nice.
Yes. So...
- Se-hyeong. - Yes?
- I know that you do your best in everything you do. - Right.
How are you in your romantic life?
Do you devote yourself into a relationship?
It's just a sweet question.
To...
(Gasping)
To devote myself into a relationship...
Is someone dying or something?
I want to devote myself into a relationship.
Yes. That's my answer.
(Working every second to make people laugh)
Thank you.
(Comedian Yang Se-hyeong)
"Yang-Se bari"
(He returns to the waiting area.)
- You said... - He's something.
that you were so nervous. Tell us how it was for you.
I don't what I talked about,
and I just feel so exhausted, you know?
- Are you telling us to stop talking to you? - No, no.
It's just that my brain is not working right now.
Se-hyeong is here at Hongik University Station.
Many people are making donations.
(Later,)
(a stranger woman has visited NS Yoon-G.)
(A surprise gift for NS Yoon-G)
(Tearing up)
(The identity of the visitor will be revealed later.)
Let me introduce the second busker for today.
I'm sure many of you were curious about her after she went into a long break.
A goddess for men and a wanna-be for women,
it is Singer NS Yoon-G.
(An eight-year rising star NS Yoon-G)
- You introduced yourself as an eight-year rising star. - Right.
What did you mean by that?
I was reading articles about me on the internet,
and I found an article that said...
- "An Eight-Year Rising Star". - Right.
It sounded like my career in present progress,
- and I liked it. - Right.
That's why I decided to call myself that.
- There is a question for you on a portal website. - Yes.
- "How come NS Yoon-G is not a big star yet?". - There really is.
- Right. - It was a frequently asked question,
and it started to appear under related search.
- The question? - Yes, the question.
I told my mom, "Mom, when you search up my name, this question comes up."
She replied as she was cooking, "You'd already be a big star if we knew the answer."
She's such a cool lady.
I don't think it's an offensive question, though.
The opposite question could be "Why is she a star?".
- I got goosebumps. - That would be offensive.
- If it said "What's with NS Yoon-G?"... - I get that a lot.
"Why does he keep appearing on shows?".
"Why are we forced to see him on shows?".
I didn't force you. I get casted for the shows.
- I get that a lot, too. - Right.
- This is how I reply. - How?
"Agreed."
I reply, "Agreed."
- You're so funny. - Yes.
- So that's what you do. - Yes.
You didn't know? It's so obvious.
- Is he showing off? - Sit down. Sit.
- Take a seat. - Agreed.
- We should go over this, too. - Yes.
I adore Yoon-G because...
she is the girlfriend of my close friend.
- I knew about their relationship before it became an issue. - Right.
Chancellor told me that he has a girlfriend who he loves very much.
- Chancellor? - Chancellor?
When he introduced her to me, I congratulated them with all my heart.
How did you guys meet?
- Through recording? - I made the first move after being friends for four years.
- Really? - See?
I'm really curious about this. How does a woman make a move?
He told me, "Since I can't be your boyfriend,"
"you can meet a nice guy because you're a good person."
- So? - I said,
"Why can't you be my boyfriend? You can, you know."
- Oh, my goodness. - Yes.
- What was his response? - He wrote a letter to me.
- Really? - Yes.
It said, "Would you like to be my girlfriend?" , and it had boxes to check.
Did you put a check mark?
- I checked yes and gave it to him. - I see.
This is so embarrassing.
- What are you still doing here? - Get out there!
- Okay. - Go, Yoon-G!
- Let's do it! - Good luck.
- Thank you. - Good luck.
Thank you.
(She heads to the busking zone.)
What if nobody comes in to listen to me?
- Don't worry about it. - Many people left after Se-hyeong's busking.
I'm so worried that nobody's going to be there.
Hello.
There she is.
- This is how you guys saw me. - Yes, we were watching you.
Are you on your way home? I'll be busking here...
pretty soon.
If you have some time to listen my busking,
please come inside later.
- Okay. - Thank you.
Hello. I'll be busking here in a bit,
- and if you can listen to my busking... - Sure.
- Would you? - Sure.
(They are going in to listen to NS Yoon-G's busking.)
Thank you.
She succeeded.
She invited two people.
- She's now inside. - Yes.
(She enters the busking zone.)
(Long time no see.)
It's really cold outside, isn't it?
Do I begin now? I'm so nervous.
(All attention is...)
(on her.)
(Exhaling)
- She looks the most nervous busker. - It's been a year and a half since...
I'm on a show, so please understand me if I look too nervous.
(Go, NS Yoon-G!)
From my debut, the modifier that was assigned to me was...
more controversial than myself.
- The cousin of Kang Ji-young from Kara. - Really?
I was also called the Next Son Dam-bi.
Instead of my songs,
my appearance got more attention.
Meanwhile,
on a portal website, if you type in my name...
there's a certain related search result...
which was "Why is NS Yoon-G not a big star yet?".
I clicked on one of the articles.
"The songs are not catchy," "She should've been in a group,"
or "Her name is weird." were the comments on the article.
At the time,
such comments hurt me very much.
(She was hurt by the offensive comments.)
When you think about it, you think of a sexy singer, right?
It was hard for me to go with such concept in the beginning.
I even had to get acting lessons for the lyrics.
After all the work to go with the sexy concept,
people said, "Why doesn't she take off all her clothes?",
or "What's wrong with her?".
Now that I think about it,
my agency and I were in the process of looking for my own color.
What concept would suit me?
After being a singer for 2 to 3 years,
I realized that I debuted around the same time as...
2NE1, Secret, and SISTAR.
Their songs were ranked on the music charts,
and even younger singers were also ranked on the music charts.
At the end of a music show, all the singers go on the stage together.
It became my routine to...
congratulate them from behind.
From then,
I seemed too small compared to the others.
It was as if I got my first report card as a singer.
I started to obsess over ranks and numbers.
For example, if I ranked 26th on a music chart,
there's no one who'd say,"It's okay to rank 26th."
"You've done your best."
The sad thing is that...
when you enter the society after graduating from university,
numbers become you.
- Your GPA is you. - That's true.
Everyone start to analyze me with numbers.
- It's very sad. - So don't obsess over the viewer ratings.
(Guilty)
"What was the viewer rating yesterday?".
(Obsession over viewer ratings)
As I was seen as an unpopular singer...
by many people at some point,
I thought, "It's not going to work for me."
I also thought, "Being a singer is not for me."
After that, I started to stay home.
(A life in seclusion)
If I go outside, I thought that the public would...
pity me. I started to feel that way.
"Why does keep trying to be a singer?".
It felt like everyone was saying that to me.
So...
(It felt like the whole world was pointing at me.)
After my active period as a singer,
I woke up in the middle of a night one day.
The ceiling was spinning and the floor was bobbing up and down.
I was scared that I had a serious health problem.
I was diagnosed with cupulolithiasis.
With excessive stress,
I got cupulolithiasis and was treated.
After the treatment, I almost ran away to the States.
It was an escapism.
(An escape to the U.S.)
Meanwhile, there was an article about my possible retirement.
(A rumor about her retirement was raised up.)
I couldn't say that the article was...
correct or not in that situation...
because I actually ran away from the whole situation.
When I saw the word retirement in the article,
it seemed so huge.
(The idea of retirement seemed threatening.)
Starting with the question "What if I can't sing anymore?",
all kinds of fears and worries...
overwhelmed me.
It was pathetic.
"How am I going to make a living?".
"I'm not good at anything,"
I said to her. She told me,
"What makes you the happiest?".
The image that popped into my head was...
when I was on the stage and seeing my fans.
(Watching the fans being happy seeing her on the stage)
It then became clear to me.
With my mom's encouragement,
I came back to Korea last fall.
I realized that I couldn't live like this.
I decided to come up with my own report card...
which I can grade myself.
One of the social conditions these days is...
that there's no evaluation being done for...
- the processes people take. - That's true.
- Only the results. - It's because it's a competitive society.
- Everyone only cares about the results. - Right.
When we analyze capitalism, there's a saying winner-takes-all.
With the advancement of capitalism,
minorities takes the majority of profits.
Individuals with talent work hard,
but there are so little jobs in this structure of society.
That's why everyone is going through the same problems.
- He's such a good speaker.- I meet people like him every week.
(Haha's never met so many intellects.)
- Really? - I film "Infinity Challenge" tomorrow, and it's just funny there.
I can definitely feel the difference...
even though I've been on that show for so long.
The thing is that I can't repeat what I just heard.
(He's incapable of repeating what he learned.)
- You can't. - No, it's too hard.
To be honest, it was very hard for me to be on this show today.
Before I do something,
I worry and fear the day constantly.
That's how I am.
I wondered why I get scared even before began anything.
I decided to not be like that. In 2017, I decided to try everything.
Regardless of the results, I'm going to just try...
and be satisfied with whatever results.
This stage is for brave speakers,
but I came to become brave.
I lack confidence and bravery these days.
I thank you...
for listening to my talk...
which must been all over the place.
This will be a special memory to me.
(This will be a special memory to me.)
(A brave busker)
Is there any questions?
(A hand raised.)
Wait.
What are you doing here?
It's Jae-kyung.
- Jae-kyung. - From Rainbow, right?
(A familiar person)
(A close friend makes a surprise visit.)
I have a question!
Why are you tearing up?
(Jae-kyung came to her busking secretly.)
(Tearing up)
Why are you crying?
(She's tearing up, too.)
What are you doing here?
- I heard that there are many pokemons to catch here. - Right.
I'm just kidding.
How do you relieve your stress?
I have drinks with you.
(A drinking companion)
- Hello, there? - Yes?
- Can you hear me? - He scared me.
- Yes. - Yes, we can hear you.
- Jae-kyung. - Yes.
How did you come to NS Yoon-G's busking?
She was so worried about the busking,
and both of us are...
challenging ourselves again...
with a new start.
Yoon-G's at where...
she needs a lot of confidence and bravery.
- Right. - So, I hoped that I could encourage her...
and that she'd realize there are many people...
- who want her to succeed. - That's so sweet.
- Jae-kyung. - Yes?
- This is Haha. - Hello.
- When you have drinks with her, - Yes.
what do you talk about?
Besides comforting each other, I'm sure you talk about other things, too
Right our debut, we would meet on the last day of the year...
and contemplate why we weren't stars, yet.
"What's wrong with us?".
"Do you think we can release albums again net year?"
We dwell upon our misfortunes every year,
usually near the end of the year.
At some point, I guess we became more mature,
and we started talking about what we can try again...
or what we should be doing for the future.
We talk about how the idols are so pretty these days.
- "Thank goodness we're not among them anymore." - "It'd been a disaster for us."
That's what we talk about.
- Yoon-G. - Yes?
We'll send you a professional questioner person.
(Wow)
(Professional questioner)
(Yang Se-hyeong)
I came to ask a question to you.
Where's Jae-kyung?
(Shaking hands)
So you came shake her hand.
(Bingo)
- I'm just kidding. - Yes.
What's your future like...
that you can think of now?
- I want to see myself being an active celebrity. - Yes.
I'm also preparing to host a beauty show...
to inform you of beauty tips starting at the end of this month.
It'll be a self-cam show.
I want to communicate a lot and be a happy celebrity.
(I want to be a happy person.)
(Best)
Wow, well done.
Wow, Yoon-G. That was awesome.
Have a seat.
You concluded your busking well.
Jae-kyung even had a surprise visit.
- It really surprised me. - You really didn't know she was coming?
- I really didn't know. - We didn't know either.
- To all these fans outside... - Say hello.
- Give them a wave. - They're still unable to leave.
All right.
(Enlarged pupil)
What's up with today?
- Why? - Why?
- It's Chancellor! - It's Chancellor!
- Get in here. - It's Chancellor.
- Chancellor. - What's going on?
How many programs are seriously mixed in with As I Say?
We have prepared a cooked meal for these two.
Seriously.
- It's ridiculous. - Seriously.
Your mother is in the back right now.
That's right. Father too, come on out.
Auntie, come on down.
From all over the place like commandos?
They all just burst in.
I was like my mom's here from the US?
I'm sure you worked really hard to prepare. Good job.
I'm really proud of you.
(I'm really proud of you.)
Erase this. It's way too cool.
(Cut this out. He's too cool.)
This won't do. They're way too cool.
- Our second busker was NS Yoon-G. - That was great.
The two of you are really great.
All right. Today's final busker...
is a best selling writer having sold millions.
He's also the host of a podcast that gets 100,000 downloads.
He's the new knowledge of the liberal arts world, it's Che Sa-jang.
- Wow. - I'm really curious.
I heard that you've read a ridiculous amount of books.
When I was in college, I had a period where I could just read.
- How many books have you read in total? - I was told 1,000 books.
- What? In one month? - No, not in one month.
I had nothing to do in college.
I had too much time and no money, so I would go to the library...
and just read what I wanted.
I was asked how many books I read in an interview.
Short books, I read about three in a day.
One long book every three days. I read like this for three years.
So he calculated...
- and said 1,000 books in three years. - I'm just curious.
When I read a book, I get sleepy and tired.
Do you read books because you really enjoy it,
or do you read to gain knowledge?
I read because it's fun.
- Because it's fun? - Yes.
There's something that makes me mad.
Now that I think about it,
everyone who reads a lot is sitting on this side.
(Always this side)
People who don't were always on this side.
For some reason, I feel like it was always like that.
- That's a misunderstanding. - Come on.
- Don't do that. - It's a misunderstanding.
You're doing this on purpose, right?
- How many times have I told you? - Jong-min sat on this side, too!
He always talks like that. It's so frustrating.
Okay, how about we get a book recommendation?
I asked him earlier.
For Haha,
- my book is good. - Really?
"Various Knowledge Needed for An Intellectual Conversation".
Just from the title, I can tell this is a book I shouldn't read.
It's not an easy book to approach.
To me, the word 'intellectual' is really...
This is actually a concern, but high school students...
- take a test on this book at school. - Wow.
- Why is that a problem? It seems like a good thing. - Because I wrote it to be fun.
Even if it's easy, when it becomes forced reading, it becomes studying.
It's a bit disappointing.
It seems like he's bragging.
He's 100 percent bragging.
It's the best self-promotion.
For Yoo Hee-yeol, I would also...
recommend my book.
I recently wrote a book called "Eleven Steps".
When you personally develop,
you get curious whether or not reading books really has impact on your development.
There's a really nice quote that says, "Although people make books,"
"books make people." There's a saying like that.
Why are you so into quotes?
As you look at such things like rights in society,
or impact of capitalism on modern times,
these things seem like civil compromises.
Information age.
- You know that word too? - Yes.
- You know what he said to me last week? - All things in good faith.
We went out to eat steak.
Him, Jun-ha, and I went together.
I asked him how do you want your meat cooked? He said,
"Well..."
"I don't really like it well-done. I don't like eating raw things."
(Does he like a thoroughly-cooked rare steak?)
That was just a human judgment error.
In the heat of the moment, these things can happen.
Our writer here has been doing a podcast since his last book came out.
It's getting very popular now. It's got 100,000 downloads?
Yes, I think it's about 100,000 downloads.
He actually said to us...
that he's a very fun person on his podcast.
- That he's funny. - Yes.
It's a blast.
(It's a blast.)
Well just by looking in your eyes,
I can tell you can be quite playful.
You've read a lot of books,
but I would like to recommend a book for you.
There's a book called "Today's Belly Holding Humor".
I think you should read it.
Don't only read these philosophy or liberal arts books.
"Today's Belly Holding Humor" or...
- "Today's Bathroom Humor". - Nice.
- There's a series. Try reading them. - Nice.
- That's funny.- The fact that this book isn't in your 1,000 book list...
- is really painful. - Exactly.
- I'll have to read it. - You have to.
- That's right. - I heard that you've had a variety of different jobs in the past.
When I was thrown into the real world,
none of the books I read were helpful.
I dreamt of an ideal society, but the reality is quite grim.
I suddenly wanted to make money,
so I became a full-time stock investor.
- I bet you were really good at that... - It's so diverse.
since you have so much knowledge.
- You can't make money with stocks. - I tried myself.
Were you successful? Did you make a lot of money?
With this...
I felt like I could be secure with this for the rest of my life.
- Wow. - Really?
What was your rate of return?
If I tell, I'm sure people will leave malicious comments or say I'm lying.
On average, investment firms' annual rate of return...
is about five percent.
But in one day, I'm not sure if I should say this,
my rate of return for one day was 0.5 percent.
I did short-term investments. I would buy stocks of 30 companies in a day,
and sell them the next day to three days later.
- Very small returns. - As a trader?
So after getting experience in such a wide variety of professions,
what was the motive for you to become a writer?
I was only looking for money trying to be rich.
- So I just went around making money. - And then?
In 2011, my colleagues and I took a van...
on a trip to Jeju Island.
We had an accident where the car rolled.
It was a big accident that was on TV too.
I had to watch my colleagues pass away.
I walked out of it fine,
but I had to stay watching the ones that flew out die.
No matter how much we called the ambulance,
it couldn't find us in Hallasan.
The scene of the accident?
Yes. For one year, I couldn't do anything but get psychological treatment.
I took medicine and spent the year.
I knew that we were dying.
Everyone knows that everyone dies.
But only knowing it through words is different from truly knowing.
This must be what death is.
I realized that I could die suddenly as well.
So I wanted to do something fun because I've never done anything fun.
The fun thing that I thought of doing at that point...
was the podcast and writing.
Stuff like that.
That's an incredibly huge motive.
What topic did you prepare to talk about today?
Through the process of choosing books,
we can tell what kind of person the reader is.
Like a blood type test.
I will tell a story of how two people choose books.
- Wow. - It should be fun.
- What are you doing? - Get out there, Chae Sa-jang!
Listen before you go.
We're going in.
You're going in? Okay.
Come on in.
Let's go.
(Entering with the people)
Yes, come on in.
(Cheering)
All right, Chae Sa-jang.
Who do you think I am to be clapping for me?
- We know you. - You know?
- Yes. - Nice to meet you. I'm Chae Sa-jang.
(The third busker is Chae Sa-jang.)
You're good-looking!
Don't lie. I don't believe it.
When I meet people, they always ask this question.
What book should I read?
Honestly, this is a weird question.
Let me flip the question.
I haven't listened to music for a week.
What music should I listen to?
It's hard to say.
If someone asks me what music to listen to and I say...
start with Cho Yong-pil.
That's nonsense.
The music we listen to or movies we watch...
are out of our own personal subjective choices.
I think it's the same for books.
There's something exciting about it.
There are two types of people.
The first type of person chooses books they are used to.
On the flip side, the second person makes himself uncomfortable.
This person continues to strive to learn what he doesn't know.
I will put a name to these two people.
The first person that continues to repeat only what they are good at...
is a well digging soul.
That's what we'll call him.
The second person that continues to look for what they don't know.
We'll call him a traveling soul.
There's a person that only seek what they are used to.
This person is like this.
I choose a book and open it up.
Inside this book is knowledge known as A.
I really like it.
Then it becomes my worldview. There are people like this.
What's the second book I would choose?
Since I've accepted the worldview of A,
I look for content that reinforces and deepens that view.
There are people that seek out a book about A' and a book about A".
(He chooses books about A' and A".)
This person's knowledge get deeper and deeper.
He goes deeper into the abyss of his knowledge.
That's why he's called a well digging soul.
The second person. This person...
chooses a book and opens it up.
He likes the knowledge known as A.
Then what book does he choose next?
Something that can flip and shatter this worldview.
This person looks for a counter-argument or books in totally different fields.
What book does this person choose?
He would look for a book that's not A.
Let's call this B. This person looks for books about B and books about C.
This person's knowledge gets broader and broader.
He becomes a person that walks the world of knowledge.
He needs some courage too...
because he has to destroy his existing views.
This person is called the traveling soul.
The well digging soul and the traveling soul.
What about you all?
Should we take a survey?
- Let's try. - I didn't think of that at all.
We'll take a survey.
Raise your hand if you think you are a well digging soul.
I'm on that side too.
The other way, traveling souls?
Oh, there's a lot.
It looks about half and half.
But one of these two types of souls...
is accepted by society.
The other soul tends to get oppressed.
In other words, our society likes well digging souls.
People that expertise in one type of knowledge are welcomed.
On the other hand, people that do this and that...
are not welcomed by our society.
What our parents, teachers,
society and nation demand from us is...
to become an expert. You must know how to do something.
They demand that you become someone that's dug deep in one work and knowledge.
We actually do that too.
But I'm curious.
Why?
Why do we have to be well digging souls?
It's because of capitalism.
The labor system of capitalism...
tends to tell us to be soul that digs wells.
What is capitalism?
Capitalism is a system that's created and based on industrialization.
Then what's industrialization?
What we are focusing on is division of labor.
Division of labor is dividing up the work.
This is the problem.
You may think why is dividing up the work a problem?
If you divide up the work, what are the benefits?
It will cut down on time.
That's right. It's effective.
Productivity improves too. It's good, right?
But this division of labor greatly changed the way humans worked.
Let's compare the Middle Ages and modern society.
Let's use someone who lived in the Middle Ages as an example.
Let's call him Mr. X.
Mr. X is a master shoemaker in the Middle Ages.
How does he make the shoes?
First, he catches a cow.
He hits the cow, takes its hide, dries it, and processes it with chemicals.
He makes the mold, sews it and a shoe is made.
He sells these shoes to the villagers.
What does Mr. X gain from those shoes?
He gains two things.
The first thing he can gain is profit.
He sells it and makes a profit.
The second thing? He can feel self-worth.
People ask who made this shoe and he says, "I made it."
Within the labor system of the Middle Ages,
the laborer or the craftsman...
and the product he made have a very close relationship.
It gives me self-worth because I created that.
Now it's modern society.
Industrialization has started.
Mr. X died and was reborn.
He then became someone who made sneakers.
He was able to get a job at a huge Nice factory.
There are conveyer belts.
Mr. X sits down on the 16th seat.
When the 15th machine attaches the sole and passes it to him,
he presses it down with his hand and passes the sneaker to number 17.
The 17th machine then continues the process.
The number of sneakers made in a day is incredible.
They were producing 100 to 1,000 shoes.
On his day off, Mr. X goes to the mall.
He goes to the Nice store. He looks at the sneaker and says,
"I made that."
Is that right? It's weird, right?
Although it actually passed through Mr. X's hands,
there are no sneakers made by Mr. X in the Nice store.
What can Mr. X gain for this labor?
He gets a wage.
But can he feel self-worth from that? He can't.
The sneaker rejects Mr. X.
"I was not something you made."
This is actually marginalization.
Once society became modernized,
the product made by the laborer is no longer the laborer's.
Mr. X actually feels no self-worth.
He now lives for his salary.
Aren't we the same way?
Even if you get that highly desired corporate job,
"I wanted to work in accounting."
You get the qualifications and now you're in accounting. Do you feel self-worth?
Not really. That's because of the division of labor.
I don't really know what I'm working on.
I just need to keep repeating the same work.
There's no need for a view of the company as a whole.
There's a reason why our society needs experts.
The reason country and society...
tell you to become an expert is...
for efficiency.
Country and society doesn't care the state of your soul...
or the state of your mind at all.
The only thing country and society wants from you is labor.
How much can you work?
In a capitalistic society at the peak of its division of labor...
they assess your function to see if you can be a small screw.
What is the reason we are in this world?
Is it to be a worker?
The reason we are in this world...
is not to live as a laborer,
but to travel through this mysterious world and be amazed.
I think that it's to watch and understand the meaning of my life.
But there's a counter-argument.
Soon as we hear this, we think of a counter-argument.
What counter-argument comes to mind?
Who doesn't want to be a traveling soul?
But reality doesn't allow it.
- That's right. - Right.
- You have to eat and live. - Yes, that's the reality.
That's right.
What can be more important than eating and living?
So...
we cut our legs and bend our wings,
as we have to return to the well.
It's because of the people that I love.
- My parents, my kids, my spouse. - That's painful.
Because there are people that we want to take care of,
we must return to the well for them.
That's right.
The fact that our parents sacrificed so much for us becomes a problem.
As we watch them sacrifice themselves at the well for us,
as their children we keep that afterimage deep in our minds.
That image shows up within me as duty and oughtness.
That's how kids think, "Oh, that's how I must be."
"When I become an adult, I will cut my legs and bend my wings..."
"for the people I love. I need to be a well digging soul.
This idea could be a great luxury for many people.
Leaving family...
and the people in my life to go off on my own looks so self-centered.
I realize there are people that can't do this.
(Not easy traveling)
But there's a difference. The difference is...
that in the midst of that...
if you can realize that this is just...
a temporary travel destination that I am briefly going through.
Or you can cave-in to that environment.
So I hope you all can start traveling.
Break free from this heavy gravity.
I wish for you to spread your wings for the first time.
That helps.
To people you love,
you need to show...
how independently you can live without sacrificing yourself for them.
Then they'd think they can do the same thing.
I think it will help them change their thoughts that way.
That's how...
people around you and the entire society...
become able to lead a more independent, meaningful, and happier life.
That's what I believe.
This is the end of my story.
Though it's the end of my story,
I wish this could be a new beginning of your own stories.
He's a great speaker.
One day, I'll use that closing in my speech.
During the long journey of your life,
we may run into each other once again. If so,
please tell me how your journey was.
I'd be looking forward to hearing your stories.
Hello. I'm a traveling soul from Incheon.
Wow, she's a traveling soul.
Souls that have been digging wells might feel lost about how to start a trip.
So I came to think of the easiest way to start traveling.
It would be great to get recommendations from others who have different views...
about good books to read.
I think that's an easy way to start a trip.
So I'd like to hear from Chae Sa-jang and other panels...
Is that right?
- Guest panelists. - Yes.
From the celebrity guests panelists.
You must have read books, at least one.
You must have your favorite book.
- Hello. - Sorry.
Are you looking down upon us?
- You looked at Haha when you said that. - No, I'm not.
We'll recommend you some books.
It doesn't have to be books.
Let us recommend some books for her. We do read books!
We read books, too.
- Okay. - First,
after hearing his speech today, what came to my mind was Franz Kafka's...
quote. "A book must be...
the axe for the frozen sea within us."
His speech reminds me of that saying. Thank you for making me think of that.
To be honest, that quote is written over there.
Come on.
("A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us." by Franz Kafka)
I want to say this to young people.
What are you going to do after this?
You must be going home, right?
It's very cold and already late into the night.
But I wish you make a call to people you miss.
Go and meet the person and...
look into the person's eyes and tell him that you missed him so much.
Then come back to your ordinary life and work hard.
Get a job, and...
earn money,
so that you can build a stable home of your own.
At your home, you should spend so much time with people...
you love and have missed.
Or you might separate from them.
Endure the pain and sorrow from the breakup.
Then move on to meet new people.
Live a beautiful life...
with the people you newly met.
When you get old and gray hair,
ask a question to young people like you.
"What are you going to do after this?"
"Make a call to people you miss."
I wish you will say that someday.
I want you to close your speech saying this.
"Life has been better than I expected."
"It was more beautiful than I thought." I wish you can say so.
Thank you for your attention for a long time.
- Good bye. - Wow.
It was amazing.
(Chae Sa-jang's busking is over.)
(Fascinated)
Chae Sa-jang.
(As I say)
We just finished a special busking.
How much is the total collected amount for the buskers' joint collection target?
Let's see...
how much money was collected for today's first busker, Yang Se-hyeong.
(How much did he raise?)
It's awesome.
It's 34 dollars. Wow.
- It's big. - Is it?
That's huge.
- He looks disappointed. - Yes, he does.
Now let's add the amount of money raised for NS Yoon-G to see the total.
It's 70 dollars.
He doesn't look happy.
You said mine was big.
All right.
I won't do this again.
Never ever.
Let's add the amount collected after Chae Sa-jang's speech.
I didn't.
- You're right. You haven't donated after his speech yet. - She pointed it out.
The total amount of money raised after today's busking is...
going to be displayed in subtitle when the show airs.
We have something even more special for next week.
Next week, for the first time since the show started,
- we'll head for the south, where it's warmer. - Really?
It's Busan. We're going to go to Busan next week.
(As I Say enters Gwangalli, Busan.)
(Great smile like the gentle sunlight in Busan)
(A violin prodigy, Richard Yongjae OâNeill)
(A representative homme fatale of Busan)
(Yook Joong-wan of Rose Motel)
(A man on "Train to Busan")
(The real Korean Zombie,)
(Jung Chan-sung, a mixed martial artist)
(An interview of them is coming up soon.)
- Next week in Busan, - As I Say!
- Thank you. - Thank you.
I thought he's just a mischievous comedian but learned he worked so hard.
I learned they have same worries as me.
It was like hearing from my close friend. I loved it.
She wasn't like a celebrity.
- Souls that have to start traveling. - It was very refreshing.
In 2017, Korea will become...
a place where young people can have more dreams...
and do whatever we want without worrying about how others will think of us.
I wish my parents will be better off this year.
I wish a great new start into the new year.
Subtitles by OnDemandKorea