Comedian Komiko talks about stand-up in Mexico City — Korea Herald
South Korean stand-up comedian Komiko, whose real name is Kim Byungseong, began adapting his material to local audiences after moving to Mexico City, Mexico, in May 2022. The performer, who had previously performed in Spanish in Spain, found that jokes understood by Spaniards were not always received in Mexico, Korea Herald reports.
According to the comedian, knowing a foreign language is not enough to understand humor: one must be familiar with the country’s culture, society and economic life. He called comedy the best way to learn a language, as it reflects local experiences and social perceptions.
Open mics in Mexico City
After moving to the Mexican capital, Komiko attended open mics from Monday through Thursday and tested five-minute pieces of material before audiences. Unsuccessful performances prompted him to rewrite jokes, while successful moments gradually became the basis for new routines.
By his account, this is how he accumulated about 10 seconds of material that elicited an audience reaction. Over time, five-minute performances turned into 15-minute sets, then longer sets and an hour-long show. Komiko now performs in Mexico City three or four times a week, although he does not believe he has achieved success yet.
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Experience in Peru and Spain
Before Mexico, the comedian lived in Peru, where from 2010 to 2012 he worked as a physical education teacher under an overseas service program while fulfilling his military duty. After returning to South Korea, he worked as a clown and party host, and in 2013 passed KBS’s selection process for comedians.
Komiko later performed in small theaters in Seoul. A trip to Lima for an event dedicated to Korean cuisine allowed him to try humor in Spanish. In Madrid, he discovered stand-up and began performing at open mics. After visa problems, the comedian returned to Korea, where he created Spanish-language YouTube videos, including about football, but later decided to focus on comedy.
Komiko named creating three comedy specials and performing for audiences in different countries as his next goal. He explained that he moved to Mexico not for local success, but to improve his skills as a stand-up comedian.
