Bobby Lee, the funny yet somewhat poignant man

Born on September 17, 1971, in San Diego, California.

Bobby Lee was born to Korean parents who ran a tailor shop after immigrating to the U.S. during the 1960s when immigration was rare. He has a big head and round eyes, with a face that seems ready to joke from birth. Originally, he was supposed to live the typical successful professional life his parents wanted... but he decided to become a comedian. As a result, he often appears as a "familiar face" in various movies.

However, Americans remember Bobby Lee not just as a minor actor but as the "MVP of the comedy minor leagues" with a substantial career. The funny thing is, he can't be funny in Korean, so he just imitates Koreans, but he boasts a hilarious command of English that makes people laugh out loud.

MADtv: The Turning Point of His Life

The most important moment in Bobby Lee's life was the American comedy show MADtv, which was pitched as a rival to SNL on FOX TV.
Here, he parodied Kim Jong-il, George Takei, Connie Chung, and even nameless Asian characters, showcasing his incredible presence.
He was already in his mid-20s when he appeared on mainstream American television with an Asian face saying, "Yes~ I am Kim Jong-il~".
That's a really fast debut. In short, he started as a "parody master living off his face".

Korean Drama Parody? A Fantastic Korean Language Feast

One of his most legendary clips is the parody of a Korean drama.
Ordering jajangmyeon with Sung Kang,
"Jajangmyeon looks delicious... is it good?"
His tone... genuinely feels like a foreigner learning Korean.

But the really funny part is, he can't speak Korean but understands the nuances of being Korean very well. He fully comprehends personal attacks about himself in Korean.
That's what makes it even funnier. And inevitably... it's a bit sad.

Satire or Insult? Bobby Lee's Dilemma

In fact, Bobby Lee is always standing on the edge.
He doesn't hesitate to use humor that mocks Asians and Koreans.
From impersonating Kim Jong-il to satirizing the pronunciation, behavior, and mindset of Asian Americans in his own way.
In the American comedy scene, where everything is twisted and mocked, the idea that "it's funny to mock other races but uncomfortable to mock your own"
sounds like nonsense to him.

YouTube, Podcasts, and the 'Late Blooming Trend'

Currently, Bobby Lee is co-hosting [Bad Friends] with Andrew Santino.
Both of them have a vibe of "a talk show where you can learn English expressions while enjoying some ramen".
They make people laugh and cry with stories about the lives of Asian Americans, mental health, family, and endless self-deprecation.

Bobby Lee is not perfect but he is honest. He does not hesitate to describe himself as a "fat, short, 53-year-old Korean American".

As a Korean American comedian, he engages in activities without connections to Chinese, Japanese, or Filipino communities, and while it may seem "a bit childish" and "a bit much," there is always an honest message of "this is how I lived" behind it.

He transforms the struggles of his debut days, the ups and downs of his career, drug addiction and rehabilitation, and the uncertain times of his career into laughter.

When you want to laugh,
when you need some strange yet endearing comedy,
search for Bobby Lee on YouTube.