Yang Se-chan & Yang Se-hyung Touch Hearts with Their Brotherly Bond and Family Love

On the February 12 episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, the show featured a special titled ‘The Miracle of Family,’ with the guests being the brother duo Yang Se-hyung and Yang Se-chan.

A Brotherly Bond from Childhood

Dressed in matching outfits like true brothers, Yang Se-chan reflected, “Thinking back, my comedy career started because I followed my brother around from a young age, doing everything he did.” Since they are only a year apart, Se-hyung would go to school, leaving Se-chan behind, but Se-chan always found ways to follow him. “Even when he told me to ‘go away,’ I wouldn’t leave. Sometimes I’d hide and watch him walk away, and that memory still stays with me. It was a bit heartbreaking,” Se-hyung admitted.

Se-chan admitted he imitated everything his brother did, from dancing retro style to buying the same shoes. The brothers were well-known in Dongducheon. He also recalled finding cannon shells and bullet casings while playing, which surprised Yoo Jae-suk, but Se-hyung confirmed it.

A childhood photo of the adorable duo was revealed, but Se-hyung expressed regret, “We lost a lot of photos when our house caught fire.” Interestingly, they had even done the K-heart pose before G-Dragon made it popular.

A Mother’s Strength and Sacrifices

Their mother was famously strict, even completing reserve army training. Se-chan recalled her sending a salute photo, while Se-hyung added that she once joked about taking down enemies if war broke out. She even caught a kestrel with her bare hands.

Se-hyung admired their mother’s resilience, recalling, “She was strong-willed and hardworking. When Se-chan couldn’t even walk yet, she would take me from Dongducheon to Itaewon every day, setting up a street stall to sell clothes. Later, she took up wallpapering, a field where there were almost no female workers at the time.”

To avoid unwanted attention, she cut her hair short and bound her chest. Se-hyung once wished she’d attend school events dressed up, but after seeing her work, he understood. Even now, he occasionally helps her with wallpapering.

Brothers in Comedy: Following a Shared Dream

From a young age, the two brothers showed a natural flair for entertainment. They even performed an impromptu cover of Ryang Hyun, Ryang Ha’s “I Did Not Go To School.”

Se-chan decided to become a comedian after watching his brother perform in university street. “I thought, ‘I want to do this too.’ It was the first time I ever raised my voice to my parents. Since I was the second child, I was never sent to extracurricular classes, while my brother went to everything. So, I just copied whatever he learned,” he revealed. “When I finally rebelled and yelled, they gave me permission.”

Despite their similar names, people rarely realized they were brothers. Both entered the industry through SBS auditions and played key roles in the golden eras of “People Looking for a Laugh” and “Comedy Big League,” creating many catchphrases along the way.

When asked about the challenges of working in the same industry, Se-chan admitted, “At first, it was tough because my brother was so far ahead, and I was always labeled ‘Yang Se-hyung’s little brother.’ Even our colleagues treated me like some rich kid from a chaebol family.”

The two remain close, frequently keeping in touch. Yoo Jae-suk praised Se-hyung’s thoughtful and serious nature, while Jo Se-ho mentioned, “He’s so detail-oriented that he even published a poetry book.”

Love, Loss, and the Power of Laughter

Se-hyung remembered their father as reserved but always supportive, balancing their strict mother’s discipline with quiet reassurance. He passed away when Se-hyung was 30, and Se-chan admitted he had been too busy to realize their father was ill.

When their father was diagnosed as terminally ill, Se-hyung didn’t cry, believing he needed to stay strong for the family. Even after his passing, he couldn’t bring himself to delete his number. “Even now, in my 40s, I still feel like a child,” he confessed. “Making decisions alone is tough, I just wish I could hear him say, ‘Se-hyung, you’re doing well.'”

During Se-hyung’s hospital stay after surgery, Se-chan did push-ups beside him to lift his spirits. Se-hyung recalled how, 12 years ago, when Se-chan was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, he felt devastated but chose to stay strong, secretly researching the illness while focusing on his brother’s mental resilience.

He also remembered their father’s battle with cancer, saying, “During radiation and chemotherapy, he was in immense pain, but he always laughed at my jokes about Mom. That’s when I realized, laughter is stronger than painkillers.”