Hong In-kyu "I am the Original Comedian Golf YouTuber"..."Golf's Charm is Like Comedy with a 'Short Introduction, Development, Twist, and Conclusion'"

"Videos Casually Filmed on Phones" Sparked It... Now 30 Million KRW Production Cost Per Episode
"Thanks to Me, Kim Gura and Kim Gukjin Are Doing Well; Though They Feel Slightly Hurt, There's a Ripple Effect"
"Goal of 300,000 Subscribers... Dream to Help Struggling Young Talents"

Comedian Hong In-kyu is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 15th. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] The golf YouTube trend is sweeping through the entertainment industry. Breaking the common notion that "golf is a sport of manners," comedians such as Kim Gura, Kim Guk-jin, as well as Heo Kyung-hwan, Byun Ki-soo, and Jung Myung-hoon are dominating YouTube with their so-called "funny golf."

Among them, there is a man who confidently claims, "I am the originator of comedian golf YouTube." Yet he modestly adds, "Thanks to Kim Guk-jin and Kim Gura, I get to ride the wave cheaply." That man is comedian Hong In-kyu.

His channel, ‘Hong In-kyu Golf TV,’ is popular even among fierce competitors, boasting 265,000 subscribers and over 80 million cumulative views.

"Before Kim Gura and Kim Guk-jin, 'Hong In-kyu's Golf TV' was the original"

He is the pioneer who led the golden age of comedian golf YouTube. The first content on Hong In-kyu Golf TV was in February 2019, titled ‘Celebrity Golf Challenge: Hong In-kyu vs Byun Ki-soo.’ Kim Gura’s ‘Cuckoo Golf TV,’ with 360,000 subscribers, started in January 2020, and Kim Guk-jin’s ‘Unstoppable Golf,’ with 260,000 subscribers, only began last April.

"Planning golf content was almost accidental." He explained that he did not expect the casually filmed videos on his phone to make such a big impact. It was a ‘challenge’ match playing screen golf bets with Byun Ki-soo, one of the top golfers in the entertainment industry. "I just uploaded the videos without much interest, but suddenly the views skyrocketed. I thought, ‘Ah, this is the answer,’ and from then on, I started officially."

‘Hong In-kyu’s Golf TV’ became a reference for later entrants. Heo Kyung-hwan, Byun Ki-soo, and Jung Myung-hoon followed his path. He admitted feeling "a bit disappointed" when many comedian golf YouTube channels suddenly appeared. "The second or third time is always easier than the first." But when Kim Gura and Kim Guk-jin jumped in, the market expanded. "Since the two seniors’ advertising rates are so high, I can ride along more cheaply (laughs). It’s like a trickle-down effect."

Comedian Hong In-kyu is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 15th. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Production cost per episode 30 million KRW... "I enjoy planning diverse concepts like comedy"

His YouTube content has continuously ‘evolved.’ From golf bets and penalties with fellow comedians to ‘golf prank videos’ where a pro pretends to be bad to fool comedians, and even ‘strange swings’ competitions, recently he has uploaded ‘large-scale projects’ to find the ‘mafia’ who deliberately lose matches.

"Golf is such a difficult sport. Even if you try to play well, it doesn’t always work, and deliberately playing badly is harder than you think. This aspect fits well with comedic elements." As the content scale grew, production costs now exceed 30 million KRW per episode. The cast has diversified, featuring not only fellow comedians but also famous celebrities like actor Kim Rae-won.

His golf introduction story is also ‘comedic.’ Senior comedian Kim Jun-ho recommended golf to juniors and paid their green fees and screen golf fees, allowing him to start ‘cheaply.’ However, his golf network is solid. He has played rounds with famous actors and athletes such as Bae Yong-joon, Hwang Jung-min, Ryu Hyun-jin, and Kim Kwang-hyun, as well as prominent figures in the legal and medical fields.

He said, "Since my days on Gag Concert, I was a comedian who liked ‘well-planned’ acts." "Using my broadcasting experience, I planned golf content like this, and the response was good. When I planned it like that, it didn’t seem right. That’s what makes it fun."

"Golf and comedy share the commonality of 'short stories with a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion'"

Is there a commonality between golf and comedy? "Comedy is short but must contain a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion within that time. Golf also requires a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion for each hole. Maybe that’s why many comedians like golf."

Hong In-kyu, enjoying his second heyday through golf broadcasting, revealed that his schedule is fully booked with ‘Boeun schedules’ until November. "When filming golf, many people help me. As I owe favors one by one, I have to repay them. I can’t help but be busy. I’m also a bit meddlesome. (laughs)"

In fact, many comedians from Gag Concert frequently appear on Hong In-kyu’s golf YouTube. "Comedians are loyal. That’s why I could grow my YouTube faster than others. So I have to help them too."

Comedian Hong In-kyu is being interviewed by Asia Economy on the 15th. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

"On the green, everyone is equal... I want to help struggling young talents"

Hong In-kyu said, "The more I do golf YouTube, the more ambitious I become." His immediate goal is to surpass 300,000 subscribers. He also revealed plans to invite subscribers and organize 30 teams for a round of golf once he reaches that milestone.

He shared a bigger goal: to hold events where young talents from difficult backgrounds can easily access golf. "Through golf courses I have connections with, I want to help kids in tough situations practice for free. In return, I have to promote the golf courses."

When asked what golf means to him, he said, "On the green, everyone is equal. Even if I’m among successful celebrities and wealthy people, if I make a birdie, I instantly become the star."

Hong In-kyu is a graduate of KBS Comedian Recruitment Class 19, known as the golden generation. His classmates include Ahn Young-mi, Jang Dong-min, Hwang Hyun-hee, Yoo Se-yoon, and Kang Yu-mi. Despite many hit corners during the Gag Concert era, he was uniquely overshadowed by his peers and did not receive dazzling attention.

In his childhood, he experienced the pain of searching for his mother but ultimately had to live in an orphanage. Perhaps his not-so-smooth past is why he was attracted to golf, a sport where "everyone is equal before skill."