The icon of gastronomy, actor Kwon Yul, has joined the regular season of 'Walking Gourmet' following its pilot, promising a raw culinary exploration that showcases his trademark style of going out into the field.
On Aug. 7 (Thursday), Kwon Yul will embark on another culinary journey through 'Walking Gourmet', co-produced by Channel S and SK Broadband, targeting 'food thugs' from around the world. He will travel with Yeon Woo-jin and CNBLUE's Lee Jung-shin to find hidden 'ultimate eateries' in Italy, displaying the features of the 'taste experts' exploration team without reserve.
Kwon Yul, who earned the nickname 'Yulshelin' for his deep knowledge of food, captivated viewers with his sincere pursuit of taste during the pilot broadcast. In this regular season, he is confident that the 'unexpected bromance' and surprising 'sweet chemistry' with friends Yeon Woo-jin and Lee Jung-shin will bring a fresh and cheerful laugh.
Below is a Q&A with Kwon Yul.
Q. Please share your thoughts on why you joined the regular season after the pilot.
A. First of all, I am grateful and feel nostalgic to be able to greet you again in the regular season. 'Walking Gourmet' is a program that introduces local eateries that are not yet well known, and I really appreciated its sincerity. After the pilot broadcast, I read a comment from someone saying, 'The eats introduced in the program made my first overseas trip truly happy and satisfying,' and I felt grateful, thinking, 'Our heartfelt message reached them even just a little.' So I thought about wanting to join the regular season naturally, and I wish to convey that sincerity to the viewers well again.
Q. I heard that although you have appeared in the same work with Yeon Woo-jin and Lee Jung-shin, you did not share a scene, which is a special connection. What do you think about meeting them in a variety show?
A. I never expected to meet the two in a variety show, and I wondered what would have happened if we hadn't met because they showed their individual charms so naturally and honestly. I think the viewers will discover many unexpected aspects of each of us and the three of us together. You can look forward to it.
Q. What was your role in 'Walking Gourmet,' and did you face any difficulties as the eldest member?
A. Rather than being the eldest member, I tried to think of the overall balance as someone experienced in travel variety shows. Since the two friends express their colors and opinions very candidly, I continued the journey from a perspective closer to that of a friend rather than an older brother. Thanks to that, I actually didn't feel much in terms of difficulties.
Q. How was the travel chemistry and food chemistry among the three of you?
A. I think it's best for you to see it through the broadcast. We genuinely had a great time during the filming, and I hope that atmosphere was conveyed as is.
Q. Did you prepare anything special for the trip to Italy?
A. It's hard to say that I prepared something in particular, but I looked into the local food and places in advance. Most importantly, since it's a 'walking trip,' I thought there would be a lot of walking time, so I tried to build endurance a little bit in advance.
Q. What do you think is the charm of 'Walking Gourmet' that distinguishes it from other culinary and travel programs?
A. I believe the greatest charm is in the very process of directly communicating with locals through gestures and movements while navigating through alleys, even if it's not fluent. Also, rather than saying 'it's definitely delicious,' I think the ability to share honest feedback based on individual preferences creates an environment that differentiates it from other programs.
Kwon Yul, Yeon Woo-jin, and Lee Jung-shin walking, tasting, and enjoying with a frenzy will be featured in Channel S and SK Broadband's co-produced 'Walking Gourmet', premiering on Aug. 7 (Thursday) at 9:20 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB, Channel S, SK Broadband 'Walking Gourmet'
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