How does a former Australian exchange student become the king of comedy on South Korean television?

"It wasn't something that I planned," said Sam Hammington, 37, who speaks fluent Korean. "It was just something I fell into."

Jan Russ says South Koreans now have a special place in her heart. ( ABC: Ron Ekkel )

Hammington now has a huge fan base as a comedian, actor and TV and radio presenter in Seoul. And as Australian Story reveals, it is a case of show business success striking twice in the same family.

Hammington is the son of Australian star-maker Jan Russ, a former Neighbours casting agent.

Jason Donovan describes Ms Russ as the "silent operator" who launched the careers of many of Australia's biggest film and television stars during her 25 years in the Neighbours job.

Hammington originally went to South Korea 13 years ago as an exchange student after studying business and marketing and Korean at Swinburne University of Technology.

He was discovered purely by chance when he attended a live comedy show in Seoul and there was a call for a member of the audience to come up on stage and take part in a skit.

"I put my hand up and it was such a novelty when a Korean-speaking foreigner got up," he said.

"And there were script writers and directors in the audience. And one of them wanted a Korean-speaking foreigner for a show."

The Koreans thought he was hilarious and one gig led to another.

'Kicking goals' as South Korea's favourite foreigner

"Now he's one of the biggest names in South Korea. I can't walk down the street with him any more because people just mob him for his autograph and photo," Ms Russ said.

"His management have to drive him around in the car most of the time because he can't go out on the street. He's just kicking goals over there."

Hammington said to an outsider, South Korean comedy comes across as very juvenile.

"There's a lot of word play and slapstick. A lot of the sketches wouldn't work in Australia."

He said it is very difficult to be a comedian in South Korea.

"It's very restricting. There's no slang. A lot of Korean words have Japanese origins and you can't use them.

"Sexual innuendo, until recently, is a big no-no and you have to be very careful about North Korea, politics and religion. But self-deprecation is huge."

He said that, owing to his appearance on one of the highest-rating reality TV shows in the country, his is now the most recognisable foreign face in South Korea.

Wedding like 'a Baz Luhrmann movie set'

There was further evidence of Hammington's popularity last October when he married his long-time Korean girlfriend, Yumi Jung.

Sorry, this video has expired Sam Hammington had a spectacular traditional Korean wedding

The couple opted for a traditional Korean wedding on a spectacular scale. The event was televised nationally.

"It was like being on a Baz Luhrmann movie set," said Ms Russ, who wore an elaborate costume as the mother of the groom.

"And there were hundreds of Sam's fans there and a barrage of cameras so it was quite an extraordinary event.

"I have a very special place in my heart for the South Koreans. I love them very much because they've taken my son in and loved him and that's really important to me."

Real Men reality TV show sees Hammington join military

The reality TV show Hammington stars in, Real Men, sees him cast as one of seven entertainers who have signed on to undertake the same two-year military training program as regular soldiers.

"For me it's huge," he said. "It's just sky-rocketed me through the roof in terms of work.

Sorry, this video has expired Sam Hammington and his mother Jan Russ reunite in South Korea

"It's mandatory in South Korea for every male to do two years' military service. A lot of guys will go and live overseas and try and get out of it and it's changed people's way of thinking.

"If this overweight guy from Australia can go and be in the Korean army, what's stopping anyone else from doing that? And I think that's really appealed to a lot of people."

Ms Russ said her son's decision to participate came as no surprise to her.

"He'd always wanted to go into the Australian army but he'd been rejected because he had flat feet," she said.

"But he does everything that the Korean army guys have to do. He's driven $6 million tanks and he's shot M15 rifles and he's been gassed and he's done all these incredible things in the show."