Comedy takes root in Korea's Russian-speaking community
Lyazzat Khan, a proud resident of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, has quietly been building an empire of laughter. Originally from Kazakhstan, she is the mastermind behind Event Max, a business that brings Russian-speaking comedians to Korea. For Korea’s Russian-speaking population of nearly 200,000, there is a growing market for entertainment services. Most of these residents are Koryo-saram, or…
In Korea's Russian-speaking community, laughter is becoming a booming industry. Lyazzat Khan, a resident of Ansan in Gyeonggi Province, is the creator of Event Max, a venture that brings Russian-speaking comedians to the country. With nearly 200,000 Russian speakers in Korea, there is a burgeoning market for entertainment services.
Most of these residents, known as Koryo-saram, hail from the former Soviet Union and are employed in Korea's factories, often working long hours. The lack of leisure options for this demographic is due in part to language barriers that prevent access to Korean entertainment. Ansan and Incheon are the primary hubs for Korea's Russian-speaking population, with some neighborhoods where Russian is commonly spoken on the streets.
While Russian-language restaurants and lounges have emerged in these areas since the early 2000s, a growing demand exists for more community-oriented entertainment as many businesses closed during the pandemic.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Comedy takes root in Korea's Russian-speaking community koreatimes.co.kr
