Busan International Comedy Festival

The festival was launched on August 29, 2013 and was held through September 1. It was only held at the Hall of Busan Film, where it attracted 21,198 spectators through the next four days. The show featured 17 teams from 7 countries.{{Cite web|url = http://bicf.co.kr/2015/history/|title = History-제1회 부산국제코미디페스티벌(see 2013)|date = |accessdate = September 4, 2015|website = Busan International Comedy Festival|publisher = |last = |first = }} As it was the first festival, head of the organizing committee and comedian Kim Jun ho stated, "Since this is the first festival, we're having some problems with the lodging and transportation and such. I'm sure it'll get better with future festivals."{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9O4CFbekeI|title = 2 Days & 1 Night : Season 3 - An Untimely Trip to Busan Part 1 (2014.09.28)|date = September 28, 2014|accessdate = September 4, 2015|website = Youtube|publisher = |last = |first = }}

The second festival was held from August 29 to September 1, 2014, under the slogan, "Smile is Hope". The opening gala was held at Busan Cinema Center, and the shows were held at Movies of Fame, KBS Hall, Ye-no Theater at Kyungsung University, Shinsegae Culture Hall, and Busan Citizen's Park Dasom Yard. Twelve teams from seven countries performed at the festival, attracting 26,865 audience members.{{Cite web|url = http://bicf.co.kr/2015/history/|title = History-제2회 부산국제코미디페스티벌 (see 2014)|date = |accessdate = September 4, 2015|website = Busan International Comedy Festival|publisher = |last = |first = }} On-gals and the Gag Concert team represented Korea, while Tape Face and Beky Hoop represented the UK and Canada. Moriyas Bangbangbigaro from Japan and 6D from Australia also performed.{{Cite web|title = Busan comedy festival brings world together with humor :: Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea|url = http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=121507#|website=Korea.net|accessdate = 2015-09-04|first = Korean Culture and Information Service|last = (KOCIS)}}

The 3rd Busan International Comedy Festival was held from August 28 to August 31, 2015 with 13 shows under the conjoined slogan, "Busan sea of Laughter, Laughter is Hope (부산바다 웃음바다, 웃음이 희망이다)". The opening gala was held at Busan Cinema Center. While the international acts were performed at Ye-no Art Hall at Kyungsung University, domestic acts were performed at Theatre HAPPENING and Sasang Indie Station. Certain international and domestic acts congregated at the Comedy Open Concert, which was held outdoors at Busan Citizen's Park Dasom Yard, Haeundae Beach, and Gamman Creative Community Space.{{Cite web|title = 부산국제코미디페스티벌 {{!}} 2015 PROGRAM|url = http://bicf.co.kr/2015/2015-program/|website = bicf.co.kr|accessdate = 2015-09-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131226/http://bicf.co.kr/2015/2015-program/|archive-date = 2016-03-04|url-status = dead}} All in all, 28 teams from 12 countries performed at the festival. Comedians from different TV networks (KBS, MBC, SBS, tvN) participated in the event,{{Cite web|title = 제3회 '부산국제코미디페스티벌(BICF)', 업그레이드 웃음 예고…8월 개최|url = http://bntnews.hankyung.com/apps/news?popup=0&nkey=201507141556053&c1=04&c2=04&nid=04&mode=sub_view|website = bntnews.hankyung.com|accessdate = 2015-09-05}} as well as different acts from the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, Germany, China, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Africa.{{Cite web|title = 문화공감 - 웃음은 희망이다! {{!}} 문화포털|url = http://www.culture.go.kr/culture/themeView.do?seq=587|website = www.culture.go.kr|accessdate = 2015-09-05}} Bunk Puppets of Canada, The Umbilical Brothers from Australia, The Street Circus from Canada and Montreux Comedy@Busan were part of the international comedy acts lineup.{{Cite web|title = 개그맨 총출동 부산국제코미디페스티벌 이름값|url = http://www.hankookilbo.com/v/e0ddb0751c614da097b1d9819dc5c3ee|website=Hankook Ilbo| date=August 30, 2015 |accessdate = 2015-09-05}} The event attracted more than 35,000 spectators.

The 9th Busan International Comedy Festival was held from August 20 to August 29, 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0002982280 |title= '제9회 부코페' 10일간의 페스티벌 시작…개막 공연부터 완벽한 웃음 |trans-title= The '9th Bucoppe' 10-day festival begins... A perfect laugh from the opening performance |author= Lee Deok-haeng |work= Star News |publisher=Naver |date= August 21, 2021 |access-date= August 23, 2021 |language=ko}}

The 10th Busan International Comedy Festival was held from August 19 to August 28, 2022. Kim Seong-won and Byun Ki-soo, hosted the opening ceremony at Busan Haeundae-gu Film Hall on 19 August.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/now/article/609/0000617385 |title= 김성원-변기수, 부산국제코미디페스티벌 개막식 사회[포토엔HD] |trans-title= Kim Seong-won and Byun Ki-soo, Hosting the Opening Ceremony of the Busan International Comedy Festival [Photoen HD] |author= Pyo Myung-jung |work= Newsen |publisher=Naver |date= August 19, 2022 |access-date= August 19, 2022 |language=ko}}

The festival currently presents three awards: Ocean of Busan Prize, Ocean of Laughter Award, and the Rookie Award. Since 2013, the Ocean of Busan Prize is awarded to the best domestic South Korean comedic act while the Ocean of Laughter Award is given to the best international comedic performance. In 2015, the rookie award was established, which was awarded to the best newcomer to comedy. Each prize consists of a trophy and ₩5 million, except for the rookie award, which awards ₩3 million.{{Cite web|title = 부산국제코미디페스티벌 {{!}} HISTORY|url = http://bicf.co.kr/2015/history/|website = bicf.co.kr|accessdate = 2015-09-05}}{{Cite web|title = 오늘 슈퍼갈라쇼 마지막 공연 후 벡스코 오디토리움에서 진행되었던... - Busan International Comedy Festival {{!}} Facebook|url = https://www.facebook.com/busancomedyfest/posts/700512836749288|website = www.facebook.com|accessdate = 2015-09-05}}

Korea New Network (KNN) is the official sponsor and broadcaster for the festival. The festival is also sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as well as the Busan Metropolitan City. All sponsors can be found here: [http://bicf.co.kr/2015/sponsors/ BICF Sponsors]{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.

• List of film festivals in South Korea
• Cinema of Korea
• Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)
• Busan International Fireworks Festival
• Busan International Mobility Show (BIMOS)
• Culture of South Korea
• Comedy festivals

{{Reflist}}

• [http://bicf.kr/en/ Official Website]
• [https://www.facebook.com/busancomedyfest Official Facebook]

{{Festivals in South Korea}}

Category:Busan

Category:Culture of Busan

Category:Festivals established in 2013

Category:2013 establishments in South Korea

Category:Annual events in South Korea

Category:Comedy festivals in South Korea

Category:Festivals in Busan