'How about Defconn' and 'Communication King Malja Halmae' have brought cheerful laughter as the main characters of 'Gag Concert' this year.
Returning in November 2023, 'Gag Concert' took responsibility for viewers' Sunday nights with various segments and new attempts, achieving a nationwide laughter unification. At the center of it all were the signature segments 'How about Defconn' and 'Communication King Malja Halmae,' which consistently delivered hearty laughs to viewers for 13 months.
'How about Defconn' is a delightful romantic comedy that deals with the events occurring during a blind date between Defconn's lookalike female assistant Jo Soo-yeon and 'handsome guy' Shin Yoon-seung. As the representative segment of 'Gag Concert,' 'How about Defconn' has never been edited since its first broadcast, making it the only segment to have aired without cuts up to the broadcast on the 22nd. The fact that it met viewers every week for 13 months within the 'Gag Concert' system, where various segments compete for laughter, indicates that 'How about Defconn' is a highly polished comedy that has won the love of viewers.
The secret to the popularity of 'How about Defconn' undoubtedly lies in the perfect chemistry between Jo Soo-yeon and Shin Yoon-seung. The two skillfully maintained a precarious balance of humor while navigating between reality and skits, effectively hitting the viewers' laughter buttons.
High-level humor that was edited out of the broadcast was released in an uncut version on the official YouTube channel of 'Gag Concert.' It was also re-edited into YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, attracting the interest of MZ generation viewers towards 'Gag Concert.' The cumulative views of 'How about Defconn' released online are nearing an impressive 300 million.
'How about Defconn,' which has been consistently loved for 13 months, ended with Shin Yoon-seung confessing to Jo Soo-yeon, "Let's date." After Jo Soo-yeon's enthusiastic pursuit, Shin Yoon-seung finally responded with a bold confession. They hinted that they would return next week with 'How about Defconn's Romance.' Viewers are now focused on the new romantic comedy that the Jo Soo-yeon and Shin Yoon-seung duo will present.
'Communication King Malja Halmae' features Kim Young-hee, who takes audience concerns on the spot and resolves them instantly. In a show filled with skit-style comedy, 'Communication King Malja Halmae' sparked viewers' interest from its first broadcast by attempting stand-up comedy.
'Communication King Malja Halmae' is a segment where Kim Young-hee's abilities are showcased at 200%. He maximizes communication with the audience, delivering both humor and emotion simultaneously. His wit and quick thinking became the backbone of the segment, and his genuine advice, which not only delivered jokes but also provided warm support and empathy, received high praise.
'Communication King Malja Halmae' is also receiving great love on YouTube. The total views of the full segment videos, as well as YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, amount to 231.8 million. The relatable concerns of the audience and Malja Halmae's refreshing way of resolving them have successfully targeted viewers from various generations.
The production team of 'Gag Concert' stated, "The reason 'Gag Concert' has been able to continue making new attempts over the past year is that the signature segments 'How about Defconn' and 'Communication King Malja Halmae' have played their roles solidly." They added, "We hope that 'How about Defconn's Romance' and 'Communication King Malja Halmae' will be loved by many in 2025 as well."
