Kim Dae-ho, who has returned from a newscaster to a broadcaster, and Park Myung-soo, who has regained his humor, will present the more cheerful 'The Great Guide' alongside entertainment rookie Choi Daniel and Im Woo-jin.
On the afternoon of the 8th, a production briefing for MBC Every1's new entertainment program 'The Great Guide 2' was held at Stanford Hotel in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The briefing was attended by PD Woo Tak-woo, Kim Dae-ho, Choi Daniel, Im Woo-jin, Oh My Girl's Hyo-jung, Rwandan guide Moses, and Argentinian guide Andres.
Before the formal meeting began, Kim Gu-san, the Deputy Minister of MBC Every1, said, "This season is a lot different from the last. From our production team's standpoint, it has been upgraded significantly. I believe the work has come out well, and I am happy to present it." He added, "Park Myung-soo could not attend today. Park Myung-soo is a guest I have known for 30 years. What is nice this season is that Park Myung-soo has started making us laugh again. He was honestly less funny in Season 1. I was concerned watching him, thinking, 'Why is he not funny?' But in this Season 2, Park Myung-soo has completely returned. Of course, the chemistry with other guests is good and it is fun, but personally, I found it refreshing that he has regained his humor. I planned to compliment him a lot today if he had come, but he couldn't due to another schedule. It's a pity, but there are many points to enjoy, so please watch it with joy."
'The Great Guide 2' is a local reality travel program where foreigners who have lived in Korea for several years become guides and inform travelers visiting their home countries about spots known only to locals.
Returning alongside Kim Dae-ho from last season, he introduced himself as "former newscaster current broadcaster Kim Dae-ho" and said, "Having participated in 'The Great Guide 1' and rejoining for 2, this is particularly meaningful for me as it is my first broadcast since leaving the company. I hope you enjoy this deeper and more enjoyable travel experience."
When asked if there are differences in mindset from Season 1 to 2 and about the pressure of increased appearance fees, he explained, "I participated in the Italy episode in Season 1. After many discussions with the production team, I suggested that a program with a guide might not suit me. I enjoy solo travel, and I wondered if that was right for me. But for Season 2, they said they would reflect my feedback and create a plan that allows for more freedom, which I am very thankful for."
He continued, "It was around the time I had just left my job, so with much attention at that time, I was excited without realizing it and wasn't in a stable state of mind. As we live our lives, we sometimes feel humility looking at people who are better than us or seeing good words or writings. But I like to feel humility while experiencing nature. When I found out I would be going to Rwanda in Africa, I thought it would be a good opportunity in my life to join this program," adding, "You mentioned appearance fees, but that isn't my motivation. However, since I'm traveling with new members in a new format, I approached it more seriously. I traveled diligently and enjoyed it, so please look forward to it."
In response, PD Woo Tak-woo joked about his desire to work with Kim Dae-ho, saying, "My love for senior Dae-ho..." which drew laughter from attendees. He continued, "I felt that the points we wanted to change in planning Season 2 align with what the senior prefers, and that made me very eager to cast him for this season. We aimed to show even greater reality in this season compared to the last. In that respect, I thought Kim Dae-ho's candidness shown in the last season, behaving freely whether the camera was present or not, aligns with our needs. I wanted to invite him, and although it wasn't a quick yes, I'm grateful he considered it after much thought over time, and we enjoyed filming together."
Choi Daniel commented, "Dae-ho hyung is actually the powerful one. He has a lot of influence. He talks a lot with the production team. If he wants to set up a tent, he sets it up. The program gets organized around him," which made everyone laugh. Recently, he has been notably active in entertainment shows like SBS's 'Running Man' as an invited member and said, "It was enjoyable to be with someone like him in 'The Great Guide 2' and I had new experiences."
He added, "Recently, while working on 'Running Man' and other entertainment programs, I've been appearing in entertainment shows much more than before. Honestly, it's not that I intended for that; it's more that the programs sought me out. I feel grateful that they invited me, and I want to show my best and joyful side. I'm looking for joy and positivity in my life, so being able to participate in a program that many people can watch, laugh at, and enjoy is an honor. I hope you enjoy 'The Great Guide.'"
Im Woo-jin is also challenging himself in his first regular entertainment show through 'The Great Guide 2.' He said, "I joined with expectations because I thought I would travel with great hyungs in a great country. There were many new experiences, but the process of intertwining my feelings with the Argentine sentiment might meet viewers' expectations. I remember showing new sides of myself. Above all, Park Myung-soo, who is three years older than my father, was with us. Initially, I thought I should be at ease since it's entertainment, but as a human, I couldn't avoid some discomfort, so breaking that was my first mission. Luckily, the beloved production team and cast made it comfortable for me, treating me like the youngest. So I participated comfortably," adding, "It was not uncomfortable at all. It was a happy journey."
Oh My Girl's Hyo-jung mentioned that unlike in Season 1, she will only be participating in the studio for Season 2. She said, "I did 'The Great Guide' in Season 1, but in Season 2, I watched from a viewer's perspective, enjoying it from my home. I hope people pay a lot of attention since I filmed it pleasantly." She added, "In Season 1, I was a travel mate, but in Season 2, I experienced vicarious satisfaction. It's not possible to travel every time. Watching it from home felt fresh, and now I think it might not be bad to experience it this way. I believe viewers of Season 2 will be curious about this travel destination as well."
Regarding the fact that Park Myung-soo has become more entertaining, he said, "I heard that Senior Myung-soo has become much funnier, but I didn't know he had such a strong desire for the camera. He gets angry if the angles aren't right or if he doesn't have a personal camera. Seeing that, I realized that he has become serious about 'The Great Guide 2.' Please keep watching him closely."
Kim Dae-ho shared his chemistry with the members. Traveling in Rwanda with Park Myung-soo and Choi Daniel, he said, "It had been over ten years since I personally met Choi Daniel, and I was worried about what kind of trip it would be, but thankfully, Park Myung-soo showed his usual grumbling behavior while also following his younger brothers' opinions well. Choi Daniel relieved the tension a lot, making it a fun trip. I didn't talk much, but there was some strain on my ear, and Park Myung-soo and I were able to navigate our long-standing bossy tendencies well together. I'm thankful for that."
In addition to Rwanda, Choi Daniel, who also traveled to Argentina with Park Myung-soo and Im Woo-jin, joked, "I had my moment of being a bossy one." He continued, "It was a fun entertainment show. I usually have many comfortable senior friends around, so I was used to it. However, I personally don't think of myself as a fun person, so I was really worried about whether I could create laughter well, but the seniors made it enjoyable and comfortable, allowing me to film happily."
Im Woo-jin explained, "There is a large age gap between me and the hyungs, and I focused on this during the trip. I thought about how I could bridge that gap, and it actually worked to my advantage. Being the youngest allowed me to actively take the lead, and Daniel hyung wasn't quiet at all. He played a role in relieving the boredom of our travels. When Dae-ho hyung took the lead like a captain, Daniel hyung would joke around while I diligently searched ahead. The roles were well distributed, making it an enjoyable experience."
Hyo-jung, who watched the members from the studio, commented, "I didn't expect Choi Daniel to be this childlike. He has a pure and childish side, which surprised me," and she started to comment on Kim Dae-ho as "Mr. Announcer..." Hearing this, Kim Dae-ho firmly corrected her, saying, "I'm not an announcer," and Hyo-jung added, "As you could see in Season 1, Dae-ho hyung loves nature, and his affection for the outdoors is even more evident in this episode. I realized again how obsessed he is with nature. I sensed that Myung-soo hyung has a desire for the camera. If I get asked for Season 3, I would like to do both roles."
When asked why he chose Rwanda and Argentina as travel destinations, PD Woo Tak-woo responded, "It's not just about depicting the typical image of Africa. Listening through the guides made me realize there's so much Rwanda has to show. Argentina is on the opposite side of the globe. I believe it's not a country that many Koreans can easily access, and it serves as a travel guide that shows how to enjoy a country from the other side of the world and the mysteries that await us there, which intrigued us."
He added, "There is a third country. We will depart for Jordan tomorrow night. In this case, members from Rwanda and Argentina will all go together as a complete team of four. We have prepared interesting content for Jordan, and the guides are set to introduce a lot as well, so please pay a lot of attention."
Lastly, when asked about changes in mindset after traveling since leaving his job, Kim Dae-ho remarked, "In the past two years, I've been very busy. After 14 years of working, if I compressed the time, it must have been mainly the last two years when I worked hard. I love traveling, but I've been suppressing the feelings I have from my travels. Fortunately, through the program 'The Great Guide 2,' I could recall those feelings about traveling, which I am very happy about."
He continued, "Since I'm also older, I suppose nobody would scold me or pressurize me. However, for me, the greatest discipline I can give myself might be through travel. After visiting Rwanda, the beauty I experienced might come through in the broadcast as an opportunity originally filled with a purity that can only be felt in nature. I will also be leaving for Jordan tomorrow; I want to convey to the viewers the feelings I've experienced from my travels without adding or subtracting anything. Please enjoy watching together."
'The Great Guide 2' will premiere on the 8th at 8:30 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN Reporter Park Jun-hyung
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