Knowing Bros' 'Living by the Mouth' Special: Kim Shin-young, Tei, and Creators Deliver Non-Stop Laughs

JTBC's beloved variety show Knowing Bros delivered yet another evening of laugh-out-loud entertainment with its Episode 519, titled "Living by the Mouth," which aired on February 28. The special brought together an eclectic group of guests — comedian Kim Shin-young, singer Tei, and popular content creators HiBab and Song Habin — each of whom earns their living through the power of their words, voices, and appetites.

Kim Shin-young's Candid Yo-Yo Confession

The spotlight inevitably fell on Kim Shin-young, who returned to the show with a noticeably fuller figure than her last appearance. The comedian, who famously shed 44 kilograms from her peak weight of 88 kilograms and maintained that transformation for over 12 years, addressed the elephant in the room with characteristic humor. "The mouth-powered Shin-young is back — my appetite has exploded and I've returned," she declared, performing a pitch-perfect impression of veteran actor Lee Gye-in that sent the cast into hysterics.

The show's production team playfully captioned her entrance with "Turned 180 degrees, then 360 degrees — she's come full circle!" Kim took the teasing in stride, explaining that maintaining weight loss is a constant battle. "I thought after 10 years of keeping it off, I could eat whatever I wanted without it coming back. But it came right back," she shared. She also revealed she still does not drink alcohol, making the weight gain all the more puzzling to her. Despite the yo-yo, her quick wit and vocal talents remained sharp as ever.

Tei's Playful Radio Rivalry

Singer Tei, now in his third year hosting MBC's morning radio show Good Morning FM, opened up about his one-sided rivalry with comedian Kim Young-chul. When cast member Min Kyung-hoon revealed that Tei reportedly dislikes Kim Young-chul, the singer was quick to clarify. "It's not that I dislike him — it's more like envy, maybe jealousy," Tei said with a grin, explaining that both host competing radio programs in the same time slot.

Tei acknowledged his own show's growing success, noting rising ratings, generous bonuses from MBC, and even a radio excellence award. However, he conceded that Kim Young-chul's program remains the unshakable number-one in their shared time slot. "I respect and acknowledge him, but it feels like he's playing on a premium field. It's not about the player's skill — the stadium itself is just too magnificent," he quipped, drawing laughter from the entire cast.

Tei's Broadcasting Mishap

The singer also shared a memorable on-air mishap from his morning radio career. He revealed he was once 40 minutes late to his live broadcast due to Seoul traffic. "Fortunately, MBC has resident announcers at the station. They woke up and filled in for me," he recalled, admitting the incident happened twice during his early days. Tei also embraced his listener-given nickname "Te-kkon" — a portmanteau of Tei and the Korean word for old-fashioned — earned through his habit of dispensing earnest, sometimes blunt life advice to callers. Cast member Seo Jang-hoon encouraged him, saying the world needs that kind of honest perspective.

Song Habin's Cat-Powered Career Boost

Content creator Song Habin shared how a single cat video transformed his relationship with broadcasting legend Lee Kyung-gyu. Song recalled that during his appearance on Netflix's Comedy Revenge, Lee initially viewed him unfavorably. Everything changed when they filmed together at Song's home with his cat, and the resulting video racked up 1.6 million views. "From that moment on, he started embracing me," Song revealed. Cast member Kim Hee-chul quipped, "That cat saved your career." Song added that when the video sparked mild controversy after Lee called his cat a "thief cat," the comedy veteran personally visited Song's home the following week in a full suit and tie to apologize on camera, showcasing his professionalism and humor.

Knowing Bros airs every Saturday at 9 PM on JTBC, continuing to deliver its signature blend of unscripted comedy and heartfelt conversation.