From Peak to Pit: Will Comedian Yang Sang-guk Be a Flash in the Pan or a Long-Run Star?

Comedian Yang Sang-guk has been riding a total rollercoaster of emotions lately. The big question is: will his current fame be just a “flash in the pan,” or will he successfully lead the variety show scene for the long haul?

Yang Sang-guk debuted in 2007 as part of KBS’s 22nd open recruitment of comedians. He built a unique presence with his strong Gyeongsang-do dialect, but that initial popularity didn’t last long. After Gag Concert ended, he actually gained more attention as a car racer. However, he stepped back into the spotlight through How Do You Play?, leaving a deep impression while appearing as Heo Kyung-hwan’s brother in a special themed “War of Money.”

That moment changed everything for his variety career. Since then, he’s been sweeping major programs across all networks, including Radio Star, My Little Old Boy, Ani Geunde Jinjja!, Omniscient Interfering View, Hidden Singer 8, Shinppal Talk Show, Same Bed Different Dreams 2, You Quiz on the Block, and Amazing Saturday.

His activity isn’t limited to TV; he’s also making waves on YouTube and various web variety shows, truly creating the “Yang Sang-guk Era.” During an appearance on You Quiz on the Block, he even mentioned, “Just two months ago, people were asking me where I was appearing or what I was doing, but now I hear that Yang Sang-guk is on every channel I turn to.”

However, a crisis arrived sooner than expected. Trouble started on Pinggyego, hosted by Yoo Jae-suk. While listening to Nam Chang-hee talk about married life, Yang Sang-guk revealed strong patriarchal views on dating. When Yoo Jae-suk tried to smooth things over to prevent further issues, Yang Sang-guk’s arrogant attitude—calling him “Yoo Jae-suk-ssi” and saying, “I’ll scold you if you say it one more time”—left viewers frowning.

Fans found it uncomfortable that he used the respectful term “Sunbaenim” (senior) on You Quiz on the Block but switched to “Yoo Jae-suk-ssi” on Pinggyego. He was criticized for being rude to the host, who gave him multiple opportunities to fix and rephrase his comments.

Following this, other controversial remarks began to surface. His comment about Heo Anna’s home—saying he decided to stay single after seeing it and that she “needs to go to prison”—was viewed as incredibly rude. Furthermore, while he seems to avoid dating and marriage, it’s been reported that he has been in contact with Love Struck in Korea since February to find a bride, leading to criticism over his contradictory behavior.

After riding this emotional rollercoaster over the past two months, Yang Sang-guk eventually bowed his head. He left comments on his SNS for those expressing disappointment, saying, “I am so sorry for causing discomfort” and “I will be more careful in the future.” Since the apology came two days after the controversy broke, it seems he was gauging the public’s reaction. Now that he has apologized, all eyes are on whether he will show a changed side.

Whether his current spotlight becomes a brief flash or a long-term success depends entirely on his attitude and words. Having learned a painful lesson through this situation, we hope he doesn’t stop at being a “flash star” but continues his popularity as an entertainer who brings genuine laughter.