Yoo Jae-suk

Yoo Jae-suk (Hangul: 유재석; or spelled Yu Jae-suk; born on August 14, 1972), is a South Korean comedian and television comedy show host. Nicknamed the "MC of the nation" (국민 MC), a vote by South Korean "netizens" proclaimed him the most popular Korean comedian for five consecutive years beginning (2004-2008). He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including the hugely popular programs Infinite Challenge and Running Man. Nicknamed "The Grasshopper", due to early appearances dressed as a grasshopper, he is now known for his quick wit and appeal across a wide range of demographics. He has established himself as one of Korea's top comedians and TV personalities.

On Infinite Challenge

On Infinite Challenge, Yoo Jae-suk is not only the program's host-in-chief where he leads all Infinite Challenge members to reach the goal of each episode, but also contributed to give several creative inputs for the program as seen on "Mudo Style, Beijing Style" and "2012 Introducing Ugly Friend Festival" specials. Due to his leadership presented to this program, a new kind of cult has been created called "Infinite Jae-seok Cult" (Korean: 무한재석교) and he becomes a spiritual leader of this false-religion. The official followers are Ha Ha and No Hongchul (from the episode of Season 3, episode 61), and the official motto is "I shall make you laugh" (내가 너희를 웃기게 하리라).

Also during the New Zealand series, he got caught smuggling pornographic videos during the baggage check, which was hidden by the second host in charge: Park Myung-Soo. This sketch was well received by the Korean netizens and Jae-seok became "Ero Jae-seok". Even now, over seventy episodes later, he still is made fun of for watching pornographic videos which he hadn't watched.

He has been called "Class-president Yoo" (유 반장) for so many episodes of Infinite Challenge, but since "Palace Millionaire" special (Slumdog Millionaire parody, where Infinite Challenge members tour old palaces in Seoul), Yoo has been nicknamed "Delinquent Yoo" (날 유), for having meetings with girls at these palaces back when he was a high school student. This nickname later inspired the creation of Sagging Snail (a duo consisted of Yoo Jae-suk and musician Lee Juck)'s famous song "Apgujeong Nallari" (압구정 날라리), which featured on "2011 West Coast Highway Music Festival" special

His another nicknames has been "An Animal Racer" (짐승 레이서), "A Genius Racer" (천재 레이서), and "Yoomacher" (유 마허), thanks to his excellent driving skills shown during Infinite Challenge Formula One (F1) special.

Contrary to his usual nice and kind character, Yoo Jae-suk's alter ego, "Manager Yoo" (유 부장), during sketch-based "Muhan Company" episodes showing an authoritarian, iron-handed, and highly discipline character toward the staff of his department. Yoo Jae-suk's "Manager Yoo" character itself is quite opposite to the slow-minded, tactless character of "Head of Section Jung" (정 과장) that portrayed by Jung Jun-ha, who being older than Manager Yoo and entered the company together in the same time, but never get any promotion due the latter's lack of creativity. Manager Yoo's antagonistic nature to Head of Section Jung had been showed up occasionally, especially during "Muhan Company Musical" special

On Family Outing

The vital power of the instant success of Family Outing has been the characters' relationships. Two of the most successful character pairings has been "The Nation's siblings" (국민 남매) with Lee Hyo-ri and "Dumb and Dumber" (덤 앤 더머) with Dae-sung of Big Bang. Yoo has been the driving force of those two character relationships, as program's host-in-chief and regular member of the family.

On Running Man

Although at first he is considered one of the weak ones, Yoo is always portrayed as the rival of Kim Jong Kook. He often calls himself "Yooruce Willis" (유르스 윌리스) when being chased by Kim "Sparta" Kook but he often gets caught in the end. However, in later episodes, he became one of the top three strongest members (the others are Kim Jong-kook & Song Ji-hyo) of Running Man who could potentially pose a threat to win any of the missions.