Lee Sang-jun LA Performance Sells Out Two Shows
Lee Sang-jun LA Performance brought waves of laughter to the Korean American community as the popular South Korean comedian delivered two sold-out shows in Los Angeles.
The performances, jointly presented by The Korea Daily and Working Slow, were held Aug. 2 at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.
Both the 3 p.m. ‘Lee Sang-jun Show 45 World Tour in LA’ and a special 7 p.m. encore performance added in response to strong demand sold out. The first show drew 1,250 attendees, while another 450 people attended the encore, bringing the day’s total audience to 1,700.
The shows fulfilled a promise Lee made during a free guerrilla show at The Korea Daily’s JoongAng Gallery in May. More than 300 people gathered for that event, and about 100 were unable to enter.
At the time, Lee promised that he would return to Los Angeles for a full-scale show before the end of the year.
Lee Sang-jun LA Performance Draws Long Lines
Long lines formed outside the auditorium well before the first show began. Despite temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, audience members waited while watching Lee’s YouTube videos and talking excitedly about possibly being called onto the stage.
USC student Sean Hong, 22, and his friend Callahan Bryant, 22, were the first people in line.
Bryant, who began waiting about an hour before the performance, said he had heard that even people who did not speak Korean could enjoy the show.
“I heard it was a performance where people who do not speak Korean could still laugh along,” he said. “I wanted to experience it in person.”
The audience ranged in age from their 20s to their 70s. Friends, couples, married partners and families filled the auditorium.
Amy Choi, 24, attended with a friend after missing Lee’s guerrilla show in May.
“I was disappointed that I could not get into the guerrilla show,” Choi said. “As soon as I heard about this performance, I bought tickets.”
Korean-Speaking Fans from Diverse Backgrounds Attend
Hudson Cordova, who works at a restaurant in Orange County, was among the non-Korean fans attending the show. Fluent in Korean, Cordova persuaded restaurant owner Jenna Hwang to attend with him.
“I have liked Lee Sang-jun for a long time and even know his older comedy routines, including ‘This Isn’t Right,’” Cordova said. “I became a fan by watching his stand-up comedy on YouTube, and I really wanted to see him perform live.”
Subin Kang, 26, said she had followed Lee since his appearances on the South Korean television program “Comedy Big League.”
“The live show was much more dynamic than his television performances,” Kang said. “His improvised exchanges with audience members were especially funny.”
She added that the performance was worth the ticket price and felt particularly meaningful because live Korean comedy shows are difficult to find in the United States.
Audience Participation Creates a Different Show Each Time
Laughter continued throughout both performances.
Lee filled the auditorium with his distinctive humor and audience-driven comedy. His improvised responses changed according to the crowd’s reactions, allowing him to create a different experience during each show.
The 7 p.m. appreciation encore was presented under a ‘hamburger party’ concept. The first 300 people to purchase tickets received Lotteria shrimp burgers, while those who did not receive burgers were given exchange vouchers.
Before taking the stage, Lee thanked the Los Angeles audience for helping him fulfill a longtime goal.
“It was my dream to perform in the United States, and I feel that the Korean community in Los Angeles has made that dream come true,” Lee said.
He said the encouragement he received during the May guerrilla show gave him the confidence to return to the United States.
“I gained the courage to perform in America again because of the support I received at the guerrilla show,” Lee said. “I am truly grateful that so many people came.”
The sold-out Lee Sang-jun LA Performance marked the beginning of a broader North American schedule.
Lee plans to continue his tour in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, Dallas and Chicago, as well as Toronto and Vancouver. After completing the North American dates, he will travel through Asia before performing in Australia in December.
