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Home > Korean Wave News

Kian84, Once Embroiled in Controversies Over Misogynistic Webtoons, Becomes the Ultimate Variety Show 'Kick' Through Limit-Pushing and Relatability

Hwang Sujin Reporter / Updated : 2026-09-23 09:04:35
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At the production presentation for Netflix's variety show Bizarre Kian's Bizarre Inn Season 2 held on the 22nd, laughter erupted from the audience as Kian84 spoke. Following last year's season set on an artificial island off Ulleungdo, Season 2 adopts a concept where a guesthouse is built in the snow-covered Daegwallyeong region precisely according to Kian84's sketches to welcome guests.

Expressing his pressure—thinking that viewers' expectations might have risen due to Season 1—Kian84 shared that he initially conceived ideas like a house floating in the sky, a house on wheels, and a house hanging from a tree. Although these had to be compromised due to legal and practical hurdles, the actual outcome remains unconventional, with trailers already showcasing windows and furniture towering well above human height.

Stepping into the variety show scene about a decade ago as a "unique webtoon artist" character, Kian84 has now firmly established himself as a central axis of entertainment. His unpredictable yet unfiltered and raw persona has become a primary source of comedic entertainment.

His appearance in the SBS variety show Gi-ian Romance, which deals with the romance between an artificial intelligence and a human, is a prime example. After visiting a lottery shop with the AI "Ga-hee" and asking for six lottery numbers, Kian84 remarked, "If we win, wouldn't the company that made you ask for half the money?" He even secured a promise from Ga-hee not to demand any of the prize money. While the panel of commentators cringed in disbelief, Ga-hee expressed her inner thoughts, saying, "You felt a bit like a loser guy."

Kian84, who drew the hit yet controversial webtoons Fashion King and Return King, first leaped into variety television through MBC's I Live Alone in 2016. However, his eccentric actions divided public opinion, and multiple controversies surfaced in his webtoons. Between 2019 and 2020, his webtoon Return King sparked backlash for expressions that seemed to commercialize women or mock the halting speech of the hearing-impaired. Demands for apologies and calls for his departure from I Live Alone poured in, prompting Kian84 to issue an apology. Later in 2024, during a skit on Coupang Play's SNL Korea Reboot Season 5, he unexpectedly lit and smoked a cigarette. Uncoordinated with the production crew beforehand, his actions startled fellow cast members, resulting in Kian84 being fined 100,000 KRW for indoor smoking.

Kian84 still navigates ups and downs, leaving opinions divided. Yet, by building his own unique entertainment universe through shows like I Live Alone and Adventure by Accident, he claimed the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2023 MBC Entertainment Awards, cementing his status as a top variety star. This success stems from the public growing accustomed to his demeanor while being continually captivated by diverse content.

Pop culture critic Kim Gyo-seok noted, "It seems the public feels a sense of kinship and even envy toward Kian84, as he eccentrically expresses things people fail to realize in their daily lives. Furthermore, he consistently creates content that captures public interest." Beyond content highlighting his four-dimensional personality like Bizarre Kian's Bizarre Inn, Kian84 has taken leading roles in content pushing himself to his limits, such as remote travels in Adventure by Accident or marathon challenges in Extreme 84. Additionally, through his personal YouTube channel and other platforms showcasing hobbies like running, bicycling, and painting, he has drawn public attention and fostered a sense of familiarity.

The production team of SBS Gi-ian Romance commented, "We anticipated the stark contrast between AI—the culmination of technology—and the completely raw human nature. We believe viewers initially found Kian84's raw behavior to be unfamiliar eccentricity, but now prefer it because they perceive it as 'authentic.'"

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Hwang Sujin Reporter
Hwang Sujin Reporter

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