The year he turned 24, he first appeared on stage in Porgy and Bess with the Gagyo theater company. In 1978, he appeared on radio through an introduction from Jeon Yu-seong. The year he turned 29, he was hired by KBS as a comedian.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 32, he became known for Haryong Seodang, a sketch with Shim Hyung-rae. Monthly Chosun writes that it was the role in which he first drew the spotlight.
In 1986, he won the comedy category at the Baeksang Arts Awards. In 1987, his popularity rose with the role of Swin Oksusu in City Angels on Show Video Jockey.
The year he turned 37, he won his first KBS comedy grand prize. In 1991, he went freelance as the first comedian to do so, gained popularity with Schoolbag of Memories, and won his second KBS comedy grand prize.
The year he turned 48, he left the comedy stage after Bongsunga School on Gag Concert. In 2002, he appeared in director Jang Jin’s stage play Welcome to Dongmakgol. In 2005, he appeared in the film Welcome to Dongmakgol, and that November he won Best Supporting Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
The year he turned 54, he established himself in supporting roles with Barefoot Ki-bong and other work. In 2010, he won a special award in the sitcom category at the MBC Entertainment Awards. In 2014, he appeared in SBS’s Cheongdam-dong Scandal. In 2016, he appeared in JTBC’s My Horrible Boss.
The year he turned 65, he released an album marking 40 years since his debut. In 2018, he held a 40th-anniversary comedy dinner show at Walkerhill. In 2020, he received the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit.
The year he turned 71, he released the 45th-anniversary album Chinguyeo. In 2025, he started the YouTube show Im Ha-ryong Show and published his first essay book. In 2026, he appeared in the drama Your Personal Taxi, released on Netflix and Japan’s FOD.
Im Ha-ryong (born 1952) debuted in 1981, the year he turned 29, when he was hired by KBS as a comedian, and became known in 1984, the year he turned 32, for the sketch Haryong Seodang. On Nov 29, 2005, the year he turned 53, he won Best Supporting Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
After finishing his military service, he first appeared on stage as a theater actor with the Gagyo theater company.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The year is the one he gave in the Monthly Chosun interview.While working as an emcee at night venues, he met Jeon Yu-seong, who introduced him to radio. KBS and Xportsnews articles give this year as his debut.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabSource 07 · KBS (Korean) · 40th-anniversary comedy stage · opens in a new tabSource 08 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 40th-anniversary comedy dinner show · opens in a new tab Monthly Chosun’s account refers to the year of his radio appearance. This page treats his debut as his 1981 hiring by KBS.He was hired by KBS and started in comedy. He says he had failed the actor audition exam twice before that.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tabSource 03 · TenAsia (Korean) · Three years working at a psychiatric hospital · opens in a new tab The debut year differs by article. Monthly Chosun, Sports Chosun and TenAsia give 1981; KBS and Xportsnews give 1978. The date was not confirmed.A sketch on KBS Yumeo Geukjang (Humor Theater) with Shim Hyung-rae. Monthly Chosun describes it as the role in which he first drew the spotlight. He says this segment is what made him famous.
Starred opposite Lee Sung-mi in a film directed by Nam Gi-nam.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The year follows Monthly Chosun; the release date was not confirmed.Sports Chosun lists this award and the 1991 KBS comedy grand prize as won during his years of popularity.
Source 02 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tab The ceremony date and the formal category name were not confirmed.Monthly Chosun writes that his popularity rose sharply with the role of Swin Oksusu, a gang boss.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The broadcast date was not confirmed.Monthly Chosun writes that he gained popularity as Guru Kong-cho in a film directed by Kim Cheong-gi.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabThe first of two KBS comedy grand prizes, in 1989 and 1991.
Source 06 · The Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Why he split with Shim Hyung-rae · opens in a new tab The ceremony date was not confirmed.Monthly Chosun writes that he then appeared in comedy programs on all three terrestrial broadcasters.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The year follows Monthly Chosun; the date was not confirmed.Monthly Chosun writes that he gained wide popularity as Hae-ryong, a rowdy high school student.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The broadcast date was not confirmed.His second KBS comedy grand prize, after 1989.
Source 02 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tabSource 06 · The Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Why he split with Shim Hyung-rae · opens in a new tab The ceremony date was not confirmed.He says he quit because the producer wanted the younger comedians to carry it themselves.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabHe says he met director Jang Jin to discuss producing a play and ended up appearing in it.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tabPlayed the same role as in the play, in a film directed by Park Kwang-hyun. Monthly Chosun writes that he began acting in earnest after this film.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The release date was not confirmed.He won for Welcome to Dongmakgol. The ceremony was held at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul.
Source 05 · Nocut News (Korean) · Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tabMonthly Chosun writes that after Knights of the Round Table (Wontagui Gisa), Barefoot Ki-bong and the MBC drama Over the Rainbow, he established himself in supporting roles.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabHe won for playing an immature father in the daily sitcom More Charming by the Day.
Source 10 · Star News (Korean) · MBC Entertainment Awards sitcom special award · opens in a new tabPlayed a bag shop owner.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tabPlayed Nam Jae-bok, the chairman of a large company. The broadcast ran into 2015.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The broadcast period follows Monthly Chosun (2014 to 2015); the first broadcast date was not confirmed.Played an apartment security guard.
Source 01 · Monthly Chosun (Korean) · Im Ha-ryong, the forever young “big brother” · opens in a new tab The broadcast date was not confirmed.Released an album marking his 40th year since debut.
Source 11 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 45th-anniversary album · opens in a new tab The release date was not confirmed. The “40th anniversary” label is the articles’ wording.Held at Walkerhill over two days, the 7th and 8th, and Xportsnews writes that every seat sold out.
Source 08 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 40th-anniversary comedy dinner show · opens in a new tabReceived it at a ceremony held online to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Source 09 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit · opens in a new tabSource 12 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · 12,000 contacts · opens in a new tabHis first new album in five years since the 2017 album, and his fourth. He says his younger colleague Hyun Jin-young wrote a song for it.
Source 11 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 45th-anniversary album · opens in a new tab The release date was not confirmed. The article is dated Jan. 18, 2023.A YouTube program featuring fellow entertainers, senior and junior, he has known for decades.
Source 12 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · 12,000 contacts · opens in a new tab The start date was not confirmed.His first essay book, published by Eden House.
Source 13 · TenAsia (Korean) · First essay book published · opens in a new tabSource 12 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · 12,000 contacts · opens in a new tab The publication date was not confirmed.Played the taxi driver Im Gi-sa in the episode about the day the youngest daughter marries, one of eight episodes. It was released on Netflix and Japan’s FOD.
Source 14 · TenAsia (Korean) · Your Personal Taxi cast · opens in a new tabSource 15 · Star News (Korean) · Your Personal Taxi released · opens in a new tabSource 20 · Chosunbiz · Your Personal Taxi music lineup · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1976–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Comedy · South Korea
1952 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1952: the year of the event minus 1952, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.06 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.