# Park Myung-soo

Park Myung-soo (Korean: 박명수; born August 27, 1970) is a South Korean comedian, MC, singer, and songwriter who debuted on television in 1993, appearing on MBC. He co-hosted the top-rated comic variety programme Infinite Challenge and also hosted the Date at 2 o'clock radio show. He has released several music singles, including "Prince of the Sea", which was covered by LPG in 2007.

## Career
### Infinite Challenge

On Infinite Challenge, Park is "the second-in-command" (2인자), putting him below the host-in-chief Yoo Jae-suk, who is "the first-in-command" (1인자). This spawned a running gag in which he often jokes about overthrowing Yoo Jae-suk as leader and becoming "first-in-command" himself. He also called "Rice Insect" (벼멸구), a rival nickname for Yoo Jae-suk's famous "Grasshopper". He also claimed that his nickname should be "Big Star" (거성/巨星 Geoseong). He sometimes tries to make use of his seniority by lecturing the other members on various matters, such as becoming a star; however, they rarely take him seriously.
Another nickname is "Chicken CEO," in reference to the Kyochon chicken shop which he formerly operated. He is currently a Seoul metropolitan manager of Imsil Cheese Pizza restaurant.
In October 2007, Park acquired another nickname, "worthless elder brother" (하찮은 형) after co-host Noh Hong-chul referred to him as a "worthless person with a worthless body" (하찮은 박명수님, 하찮은 몸) in comparison to world-class Figure skater Kim Yuna. Another related nickname is "Father" (아버지) since he is the oldest among another Infinite Challenge members and due to his weak stamina and slowly balding forehead.
Park is famous for his "scolding" repertoire (호통개그), in which he angrily and aggressively scolds his colleagues for usually trivial matters. This led to another nickname, "the Son of Devil" (악마의 아들). A related nickname is "Old Devil", based on co-host Noh Hong-chul's nickname the "Young Devil" received in the "Money Bag" special episode in which te two had stolen a briefcase full of money from Jeong Hyeong-don and subsequently conspired to take it from each other. Another aspect of his character is his tendency to flub words and to misspeak when scolding, leading other members to take him even less seriously.
His character in the show is also known for arguing and quarreling over petty issues with co-host Jeong Jun-ha. Park's hot-tempered on-screen persona is very contrary to Jeong Jun-ha's tactless, simple-minded character that occasionally made the former lose his patience. The unique relationship between Jeong and Park has become an occasional segment called "Ha & Soo". "Ha & Soo" also can be called "Peter & Jonathan" with Park as "Peter" and Jeong as "Jonathan". Another similar nickname is "Red Pepper" (고춧가루) after Jeong joked about him and Park as seasonings ("red pepper and black pepper") for Yoo Jae-suk that being central of the program ("main menu") during Infinite Challenge "Face-Off" special. The two have also won the "Best Couple" award at the 2011 MBC Entertainment Awards, making them the first male-male couple to have ever won the title.

### Radio

Park is also a recognised radio DJ, hosting various radio shows over the past decades. In 2016 and 2021, he received the Best Radio DJ award at the KBS Entertainment Awards for his Cool FM Park Myung-soo's Radio Show.

### Music career

Being an avid fan of electronic music, Park, under the pseudonym "Bangbaedong Wildcat", composed a total of six songs in varied genres, including electronic, medium-tempo dance and mystic melodies. These were showcased by his fellow co-hosts of the program during the Infinite Challenge "Park Myung-soo's How About It" special. Upon the broadcast, his tracks appeared on the real-time music charts for Mnet, Bugs, Naver Music, and Melon, and even ousted out Girls' Generation's newly released "I Got a Boy" track from the first place on the chart for a period of time. Since January 2013, he has been listed as an official composer by the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) under his "Bangbaedong Wildcat" name.

### Recognitions

Park won his first Daesang, the award given to the entertainer of the year, at the 2012 MBC Entertainment Awards after 20 years of his career as an entertainer.

## Personal life
### Marriage and children

On April 8, 2008, Park Myung-soo married his long-time girlfriend, 31-year-old doctor Han Su-min. This was the first time a member of Infinite Challenge has married since the show's inception. Their first child, Park Min-seo, was born in August 2008.
As of December 2009, with the joint co-operation of its enterprise company, he began his tenure as a CEO of a business called "Mohani" (모하니), which sells wigs in shopping malls.

### Mental health and bullying

He confessed that he has suffered from anxiety since he was young due to being bullied severely when he was in school, to the point of being considered a loser by the students who picked on him and to the point where he developed generalized anxiety as consequence.

## Television and radio appearances
### Current programmes

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2010 | Undercover Boss (US edition) | Korean Narrator |
| 2018 | We Are the One | |
| 2018 | South Korean Foreigners | Host |
| 2021 | Leader's Love | Host |
| 2021 | The Man Who Writes a Wife Card | Host |
| 2021 | A Leader's Day | Cast member |
| 2021 | Doo-Tap Nom | Host with Haha |
| 2022 | Animal Theatre Best Friend | MC with Lee Geum-hee |
| 2022 | Colossus Park Myung-soo | Host with Gabi |
| 2023 | Rice Planting Club | Host |

### Former programmes

| Year | Title | Role |
| April – July 2005 October 2005 – 2018 | Infinite Challenge | Co-host |
| | Come to Play | |
| 2007 – 2018 | Happy Together Season 3 | Co-host |
| | X-man | Joint Panel |
| | A CEO that met by Park Myung-soo | Host |
| 2007 – 2008 | Jippijiggi | Co-host |
| 2006 – 2008 | Sunday Sunday Night – Dong-an Club | Co-host |
| 2008 | Brain Battle | Co-host |
| 2008 | Sunday Sunday Night – We Got Married | Co-host |
| 2008 | Economy Vitamin | Joint Panel |
| 2010 | Sunday Sunday Night – Hot Brothers | Host-in-chief |
| | Oh My School/100 points out of 100 | Host |
| 2012 | Quiz Show Q | Co-host |
| 2015 | Brave Family | A role as Uncle |
| 2016 – 2017 | Fantastic Duo | Regular Panelist |
| 2017 | The Dynamic Duo | Host |
| 2017 | Jobs | Host |
| 2017 | Bragging Room Guest | Host with Kim Hee-chul |
| 2017 – 2018 | All the World's Broadcasts [ko] | Host |
| 2017 – 2020 | Salty Tour | Host |
| 2019 | Happy Farmers S3 [ko] | Cast |
| 2019 | Show! Audio Jockey | AJ |
| 2019 | Six-Party Talks | |
| 2019 – 2020 | Rewind | Team Leader |
| 2021 | Soo Mi’s Mountain Cabin | Cast Member |
| 2021–2023 | Saturday Meals Love | Cast Member |

### Radio programmes

| Year | Title | Radio Station |
| | Park Myung-soo's Fun Fun Radio | MBC FM4U |
| 2008 – 2010 | Park Myung-soo's 2 o'clock Date | MBC FM4U |
| 2015 – present | Park Myung-soo's Radio Show [ko] | KBS Cool FM |

## Discography
### Studio albums

* Change (1999)
* Dr. Park (2000)
* Son of Wind (바람의 아들) (2002)
* Ta La La (탈랄라) (2005)

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| "Prince of the Sea" (바다의 왕자) | 2000 | — | | Dr. Park |
| "Son of Wind" (바람의 아들) | 2002 | — | | Son of Wind |
| "We Love Dokdo" | 2005 | — | | Ta La La |
| "Deep in the Night (Ta La La)" (탈랄라) | 2005 | — | | Ta La La |
| "I Love You" | 2007 | — | | Infinite Challenge Gangbyeon Road Concert |
| "To Fool... From Fool" (바보에게... 바보가) | 2008 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Cold Noodle" (냉면) (feat. Jessica Jung) | 2009 | — | | Infinite Challenge Olympic Highway Duet Song Festival |
| "Fyah" (feat. Gill) | 2010 | 20 | | Non-album singles |
| "Whale" (고래) (feat. Nicole Jung) | 2010 | 12 | KOR: 940,839 | Non-album singles |
| "Having An Affair" (바람났어) (with G-Dragon, feat. Park Bom) | 2011 | 1 | KOR: 3,625,939 | Infinite Challenge West Coast Highway Music Festival |
| "Clown" (광대) (feat. Kim Bum-soo) | 2012 | 11 | KOR: 685,839 | Infinite Challenge I Am a Singer |
| "Endless Dream" (꿈이었을까) (with Jungyup) | 2012 | 18 | KOR: 498,301 | Non-album singles |
| "You're My Girl" | 2013 | 84 | KOR: 34,061 | Non-album singles |
| "Aqua Paradise" (아쿠아 파라다이스) | 2013 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "I Got C" (with Primary, feat. Gaeko) | 2013 | 1 | KOR: 602,173 | Infinite Challenge Jayu-ro Song Festival |
| "Myung Soo's Tteokbokki" (명수네 떡볶이) (feat. Lim Kim and UL) | 2014 | 2 | KOR: 520,923 | Non-album singles |
| "Don't Go" (with DJ Charles, feat. Kim Shin-young) | 2014 | — | KOR: 16,468 | Non-album singles |
| "Goodbye PMS" (with Lizzy) | 2015 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Fool" (바보야) (with So Chan-whee) | 2015 | 51 | KOR: 55,959 | Non-album singles |
| "Leon" (레옹) (with IU) | 2015 | 1 | KOR: 1,600,230 | Infinite Challenge Yeongdong Expressway Music Festival |
| "Tarzan" (타잔) (feat. U Jae-hwan and Hye Sung) | 2016 | — | | Non-album single |
| "Dokdori" (독도리) (with DinDin, feat. Mad Clown) | 2016 | 16 | KOR: 234,113 | Infinite Challenge Great Legacy |
| "Saxophone Magic" (with DinDin and Danny Jung, feat. U Jae-hwan and Cho Hee) | 2017 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Poison Apple" (독사과) (with Park Na-rae) | 2018 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "SNS" (with Hyojung) | 2018 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Today, Tomorrow and Always Love You" (오늘 내일 그리고 사랑해) | 2021 | — | | Non-album singles |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |||||

## Ambassadorship

* Ambassadors for Island Day (2022)

## Accolades
### Awards

Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination :
| Year | Awards show | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| 1993 | MBC Gag Contest | Special Award | | Won |
| 2005 | 5th MBC Entertainment Award | Popular Actor of Show Variety | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2006 | 18th Korea Broadcasting Producers | Comedian Award | | Won |
| 2006 | 6th MBC Entertainment Award | Top Excellence Award (Show/Variety) | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2007 | 7th MBC Entertainment Award | The Grand Prize with Infinite Challenge | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2007 | 7th MBC Entertainment Award | Special Division woojeongsang | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2007 | 7th MBC Entertainment Award | Bizarre special category Awards, Momgaegeu Award | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | TV Entertainment Award | Happy Together | Won |
| 2008 | 89th National Athletics Competition | Aerobics enthusiasts general portion 6 Artificial second place with Infinite Challenge | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2008 | 8th MBC Entertainment Award | Best Program Award (Infinite Challenge) | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2009 | Melon Music Awards | Specialty albums – Naengmyun (냉면) | | Won |
| 2009 | 9th MBC Entertainment Award | PD Award with Infinite Challenge | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2009 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence radio sector / Good (MC) of Radio | Park Myung-soo's 2 o'clock Date [ko] | Won |
| 2010 | 4th M.net 20's Choice | 20's Most Influential Star | | Won |
| 2010 | A 5th Annual Awards | Best Black collar worker | | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Entertainer Award | Happy Together | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Teamwork Award with Happy Together | Happy Together | Won |
| 2010 | 10th MBC Entertainment Award | Best humiliation Award | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2010 | 10th MBC Entertainment Award | Top Excellence Award – Variety Show | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2011 | 11th MBC Entertainment Award | Best Couple Award with Jeong Jun-ha | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2011 | The 53rd Annual National Rowing Championships | 2000m Novice Inn (Special Award) with Infinite Challenge | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2012 | 12th MBC Entertainment Award | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Infinite Challenge, I Am a Singer (season 2), Indulge in Comedy [ko] | Won |
| 2013 | 13th MBC Entertainment Award | Most Popular Program with Infinite Challenge members | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2014 | 14th MBC Entertainment Award | Best entertainment program on viewers Choice with Infinite Challenge | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2015 | 14th KBS Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award – Variety Show | Happy Together | Won |
| 2016 | 15th KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Radio DJ | KBS Cool FM – Park Myung-soo's Radio Show [ko] | Won |
| 2017 | 17th MBC Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award – Variety Show | Infinite Challenge | Won |
| 2017 | 11th SBS Entertainment Awards | Scene Steeler Award | Single Wife [ko] | Won |
| 2021 | 19th KBS Entertainment Awards | DJ of the Year | KBS Cool FM – Park Myung-soo's Radio Show [ko] | Won |
| 2022 | Brand Customer Loyalty Award 2022 | Male Celebrity YouTuber | — | Won |

### State honors

Name of country, year given, and name of honor or award :
| Country | Year | Honor or Award | Ref. |
| South Korea | 2022 | Prime Minister's Commendation | |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2011 | Korea Power Celebrity | 39th | |