Comedian Kim Min-kyung becomes Daegu's new face

Kim Min-kyung, right, is appointed as honorary ambassador of Daegu in a ceremony with Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, July 9. Courtesy of Daegu Government

By Ko Dong-hwan

Famed comedian Kim Min-kyung has become the new face of Daegu, selected as an honorary ambassador to promote the major Korean metropolitan city locally as well as internationally.

It is the first time the city has selected a comedian as one of its honorary ambassadors.

Kim met Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin on July 9 and was bestowed the status that is effective for the next two years. "I am so proud to have been appointed for the tenure," Kim said. "Whenever possible I will promote the city's various attractive points, even those not well-known."

Kim, 39, grew up in Daegu and debuted as a stage actress in 2002. She later became more renowned through her TV stint on KBS's "Gag Concert" in 2008 that continued until the program's demise in 2020.

Her popularity has been rising steadily since she broadened her scope, appearing on the hit network TV show "Tasty Guys" in 2015 ― where she and three other plus-size comedians visit restaurants and surprise viewers with how much and how creatively they can eat ― as well as other variety shows.

One of her most popular engagements is a YouTube segment from "Tasty Guys" that began in January 2020, where she reluctantly started exercising with star health trainer Yang Chi-seung to manage her weight and began trying other sports as well, including pilates, boxing, baseball, golf, soccer, shooting, jiu jitsu and kickboxing. Her outstanding athleticism proven through the segment ― which wowed many of her fans who had expected she would suffer, largely due to her heavy physique ― is considered to have prompted Daegu to appoint her as one of its honorary ambassadors, local reports said.

Over the years celebrities that have been selected by Daegu for the honorary ambassador role range from baseball players Yang Joon-hyuk and Lee Seung-yuop to pre-teen dance prodigy Na Ha-eun ― better known as Awesome Haeun ― and TV actor Sung Hoon.

The city, which joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2017, also appointed on July 1 internationally renowned violinist Kim Bomsori, who was born in Daegu, as the ambassador of the city that is designated as a UNESCO City of Music.

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