Comedian Kim Young-hee has gained attention through her character Malja Grandma on KBS2’s Malja Show by giving unscripted blunt advice to young audience members.
Kim Young-hee, 43, appears as Malja Grandma on the KBS2 program and responds to audience worries with direct advice. In one exchange, she told a woman in her 20s fixated on an ex-boyfriend to “get a grip” because there are plenty of men, adding that there is only one of her in the world.
The show expanded from a segment on Gag Concert to a 90-minute standalone program that began airing in January. It features no script and draws from Kim’s own past hardships to build empathy.
Partner Jung Beom-kyun, 40, helped develop the format and encouraged her to continue. A performance is scheduled for June 27 at the Busan Cultural Center. Kim debuted as a KBS comedian in 2010.