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Yoo Jae-suk (; born on August 14, 1972), is a South Korean actor, comedian and television comedy show host. Nicknamed the "MC of the nation" (국민 MC), a vote by South Korean netizens proclaimed him the most popular Korean comedian for five consecutive years beginning (2004-2008). He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including the popular programs ''Infinite Challenge'' and ''Running Man''. He is also nicknamed "The Grasshopper", due to his early appearances where he dressed as a grasshopper. He is now known for his quick wit and appeal across a wide range of demographics. He has established himself as one of Korea's top comedians and TV personalities. == Biography == Yoo Jae-suk was born as the eldest child out of three (he has two younger sisters) on August 14, 1972 in Seoul, South Korea. Yoo Jae-suk attended the Seoul Institute of the Arts, but was unable to graduate due to his busy schedule as an up-and-coming comedian. His television debut was on the KBS Comedian Festival (for college students) in 1991, where he performed a parody of a commercial with Choi Seung-gyung (). Him dancing to a cover of the song "Step by Step" by New Kids on the Block is also one of his early memorable moments.〔 In 2002, after nine hard years as a relatively unknown comedian, thanks to a recommendation by Choi Jin-sil, he hosted a program called ''Live and Enjoy Together'' (Dong-guh-dong-lak). The program became instantly popular and since then Yoo began to host many other variety programs. His potential was fully realized when he co-hosted a program called ''The Crash of MCs'' (MC 대격돌 – 공포의 쿵쿵따) with Kang Ho-dong, Lee Hwi-jae and Kim Han-seok. His first Grand Prize award was for a popular program called ''Happy Together Friends.'' The show's concept was for TV personalities to try and find their school friends (five of them) out of many (false friends) who are sitting behind a desk. The show was intended to bring back nostalgic memories about one's days in school. This Grand Prize was especially memorable, not just because it was Yoo's first, but because it was from the broadcasting station where he made his debut. He later went on to host the show ''X-Man'', which soon grew to be one of the most popular and most viewed shows in Korea. During that time, he became increasingly popular and many programs began to nickname Yoo as the "MC of the Nation." However, after a few years, the program was canceled due to falling ratings as well as an absence of new and innovative ideas. Yoo went on to host various replacement shows, ''New X-Man'', ''Old TV'' (in which guests would re-enact classic TV serials), and ''Haja! Go!'' (''Let's Do It'') for SBS, which were all shortly canceled due to low ratings on Sunday evenings. However, ''X-Man'' has found success in international syndication. Yoo is a part of the cast of the top-rated comedy variety program ''Infinite Challenge'' (무한도전) with Jung Hyung-don and Noh Hong-chul. He is the host-in-chief since 2005 and one of the program's founding members. The program wasn't popular when it first aired and its average ratings were low (roughly 5 percent). After Kim Tae-ho took a role as new PD, the program underwent several changes both in its concept and the cast. New members such as Park Myung-soo, Haha, and Jeong Jun-ha were added to the cast of ''Infinite Challenge'' in 2006. By the time season 3 of the show aired in 2006, the concept and format of "variety & reality program" became very popular, and ''Infinite Challenge'' became the forerunner of many programs that followed with the same or similar format. Since December 2, 2006, the program has received the highest ratings of prime-time lineups for Saturday evening.〔("The rating of Muhan Dojeon renewed again to its highest mark" ). ''Star News'' (in Korean). 26 November 2006. Retrieved 2013-07-02.〕 ''Infinite Challenge'' is seen as Yoo's favorite and best program as not only did he met his wife, Na Kyung-eun (나경은), during season 2, he was able to gain even more popularity due the rising popularity of the show and its significant effect on the general public. He ended up winning a total of three Grand Prizes (2006, 2007 and 2009) with the program. His love to this program was reflected during 1-on-1 talk with fellow co-host, Jung Hyung-don, on "Pause" special (S04E300) that aired on October 20, 2012. He said "I think my life on television and variety shows will be tied to the fate of ''Infinite Challenge''" and "When will we ever get to do another program like this? No matter how hard you try, it's going to be impossible to do another film like this." Yoo also co-hosts ''Come to Play'' (놀러와) with Kim Won-hee and ''Happy Together Season 3'' (해피 투게더 3) with Park Myung-soo, Park Mi-sun and Shin Bong-sun. Yoo hosted these talk shows for a long period of time (both over 5 years), and the ratings have been consistently high throughout his tenure. Although ''Happy Together'' continues to this day, ''Come to Play'' was cancelled in 2012 due to low ratings after its long tenure. Yoo tries his best to differentiate his hosting styles, both based on who his guests are and on their current situation. After those replacement shows on SBS, on June 15, 2008, Yoo, along with Lee Hyori, Yoon Jong-shin, Kim Su-ro, Lee Chun-hee, Kang Dae-sung, Park Ye-jin and Kim Jong-kook (since episode 19) became the hosts and family members of ''Family Outing'' ((朝鮮語:패밀리가 떴다)) as a part of SBS's ''Good Sunday'' lineup. Since then, ''Family Outing'' has become one of the top-rated shows in Korea, consistently achieving the highest ratings at the Sunday mid-afternoon time-slot (especially during the first and second quarters of 2009). However, with various problems and scandals regarding the program, and by the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, a rumor of Yoo not continuing his contract with ''Family Outing'' was raised. By the time of his contract expiration, ''Family Outing'' rating wasn't the same as that of early 2009, and Season 1 was brought to an end. On July 6, 2008, Yoo Jae-suk married MBC announcer Na Kyung-eun (나경은) who worked with him on the show ''Infinite Challenge''. Yoo and his wife welcomed their first child, a son, on May 1, 2010.〔(hML "Yoo & Na welcome son" ). ''Yonhap'' (in Korean). 1 May 2010. Retrieved 2013-08-06.〕 Since July 11, 2010, he has hosted a variety show called ''Running Man'' together with fellow ''Infinite Challenge'' member, Haha, and other entertainers such as Ji Suk-jin, Kim Jong-kook, LeeSsang's Gary, Song Ji-hyo, Lee Kwang-soo and Song Joong-ki (who has since left the show as of episode 41 to focus on his acting career). Although the program did not have a good start in ratings, it later became one of Korea's most popular shows. The program is not only popular in Korea, but also in other countries as shown by their overseas filming & fanmeeting demand. In 2012, Yoo Jae-suk and fellow host of ''Infinite Challenge'', Noh Hong-chul, appeared in the music video for Psy's hit single "Gangnam Style.". In the video, he was reprising the retro disco dancing character he created for the mock-band "Drooping Snail" in ''Infinite Challenges West Coast Highway Music Festival special where Psy also appeared. In 2013, Yoo Jae-suk appeared in the music video for Psy's follow-up single, "Gentleman", together with other cast members of ''Infinite Challenge''". In 2015, Yoo Jae-suk appeared in Jinusean's Tell Me One More Time music video. On July 15, 2015, Yoo Jae-suk signed an exclusive contract with FNC Entertainment after having been without an agency for about 5 years. In 2015, Yoo Jae-suk made a cameo appearance in the South Korean drama, ''My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Yoo Jae-suk」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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