Korean comic Lee Sang-jun sells out NYC show performed in Korean

Korean comedian Lee Sang-jun sold out a roughly 1,400-seat New York City venue last month performing entirely in Korean, a milestone the 20-year veteran said he never formally planned for.

The sold-out performance at The Marquee Astoria reflects a broader shift in Korean entertainment — streaming platforms and subtitle-driven YouTube growth are pushing domestic talent toward diaspora audiences across the U.S., including Korean-American communities in Southern California.

The show, billed as "Lee Sang Jun Show in NYC," drew a sold-out crowd to The Marquee Astoria despite being conducted entirely in Korean, according to The Korea Times. "I didn't plan it as a 20th anniversary show. I was just working hard and suddenly realized that it had been 20 years. At some point I felt that, unless I completely changed my style, there was nothing new left for me to show in Korea," Lee said.

Lee, who made his debut in 2006 through an SBS comedy program and has since appeared in more than a dozen television shows, said the New York venture grew out of an unexpected YouTube audience. "We added English subtitles on YouTube, and suddenly people overseas started reacting. Even people who don't speak Korean were saying they wanted to learn Korean because they enjoyed the show," he told The Korea Times.

He said he prepared for the New York crowd by spending time in the city before the show. "I wanted to know what people in New York think about, what struggles they have. When I used what I picked up onstage, they really liked it," Lee said.

The comedian credited the audience as much as the material for the success. "In New York, people come in really ready to laugh and enjoy themselves. I realized that the reason American comedians are so great is also because their audiences are great," he said.

Lee added that he does not consider the move a formal genre shift. "I don't think of it as 'transitioning' to stand-up. Honestly, I don't even really know what stand-up comedy is. I just thought it would be a waste for the comedy I've built to disappear," he said, according to The Korea Times.

Following the New York show, Lee said he has received performance requests from other American cities, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Looking ahead, Lee outlined an expansive ambition. "Before I die — and I plan to live to 120 — I want to learn English well enough to see how my comedy works with people overseas. Except for the North and South poles, I'd like to go everywhere," he told The Korea Times. The New York show arrives as Korea's domestic comedy landscape shifts from network variety programs toward streaming and live performance — a transition Lee has chosen to treat as an opening rather than a loss.