Actors Yeon Woo-jin, Kwon Yul, and Lee Jung-shin are set to showcase a new travel variety program through "Walking Foodie."
On the 7th, a production presentation for the new channel S variety show "Walking Foodie" took place at the Namsan Seoul Tower. The event was attended by actors Kwon Yul, Yeon Woo-jin, and Lee Jung-shin.
The visually pleasing food travel series "Walking Foodie," co-produced by channel S and SK Broadband, is a culinary exploration program that finds 'hidden local eateries' known only to locals, solely through 'legwork.' The show, which was piloted in 2023 and received overwhelming support from domestic and international viewers, has returned as a regular season after two years.
On that day, Yeon Woo-jin said, "I've stepped into a different detour aside from my work. I did my best." Not accustomed to appearing on variety shows, he candidly shared that when he heard about the casting news, he felt puzzled. "My first thought was, 'Why me?' I wondered if there was anything for me to contribute." He made everyone laugh, continuing, "I hurriedly looked up the pilot program that my brother had joined, and it was the show I had watched. After seeing it, I felt there was an element where I could take a step forward and challenge myself. Kwon Yul PD was at the center of that," jokingly adding, "Kwon Yul is very knowledgeable and there's something intriguing and exciting about that, which gave me confidence to challenge myself at this first outing, lying somewhere between variety and documentary.
When asked if he could showcase his charm on the variety show, he said, "Honestly, I don't know. I didn't have the luxury. All I thought was to 'not be a burden.'" However, he found that by focusing on 'local eateries,' it became a journey where he could naturally catch a glimpse of the essence of travel and the culture of the country. He explained, "The difference from other travels is that while any popular place is good, we had significance in local eateries. We wanted to focus on that, and as we did, we ended up in alleys. In doing so, one can feel the history and culture of the country. That's where the essence lies. And as we did that, I realized this was a strange point lying between variety and documentary, which is a characteristic of our show.
He also expressed gratitude for his colleagues. "Lee Jung-shin must have felt pressured playing the youngest role, but he did really well," he said, adding, "Kwon Yul was a strong support for everything other than the cast. The expression of horizontal leadership fits perfectly." He continued, "Especially, I must have been frustrating. When I go back to Korea, I think they'd say, 'Yeon Woo-jin is so frustrating,'" to which Kwon Yul replied, "Didn't I?", and Lee Jung-shin chimed in, "Did you see the group chat?" causing everyone to burst into laughter.
However, he also mentioned an unusual chemistry with the two members. Yeon Woo-jin said, "The two of them have a very different vibe from me. We often found ourselves divided in decisions or opinions 2:1. Through participating, I acknowledged that fundamentally, we didn't share the same tension, but that was better. It felt like traveling with strangers I don't know well." He recounted some moments of disappointment he felt toward the two members, catching attention.
When asked about his reflections on the variety show challenge and thoughts on future re-appearances, Yeon Woo-jin said, "I realized this is not a genre I can join lightly. Watching the writers and production staff fight through challenging times made me determined to appear with sincerity." He added, "If there's another opportunity, I would like to participate with more courage and preparation.
Returning to "Walking Foodie" after the pilot season, Kwon Yul humorously opened up, saying, "Because my two younger brothers are taller than average, I told the stylist to prepare heels." He continued, "I was worried about whether Woo-jin and Jung-shin could join, but they did so well that I thought, 'This time I need to ride on the shoulders of the big boys.'"
Kwon Yul defined the keyword for this season as 'horizontal leadership.' He explained, "Rather than having direct superiority among the cast, I acted in the role of balancing communication with the production staff and maintaining the on-site balance," adding, "I even wondered if I regretted being so horizontal." He shared an episode saying, "Jung-shin hit me on the thigh to get my act together, and I wondered if he could hit that hard.
Regarding the differences from the pilot, he said, "I was happiest when I saw comments of gratitude from people who visited the locations featured on the broadcast with their families," emphasizing, "The essence and sincerity of 'Walking Foodie' lies here." He particularly addressed some negative perspectives towards celebrity-led overseas variety shows, stating, "If we thought of this program as personal enjoyment or consumption, we would want to visit well-known eateries. But we wanted, rather than that intention, to take the effort to seek out those hidden spots in alleyways, experience them firsthand, and convey those experiences honestly and straightforwardly. In some restaurants, as I felt they were delicious, I said they were delicious, and if I thought they were disappointing, I expressed that too. I think that became our biggest advantage.
"It was refreshing to join a program traveling overseas for the first time with my brother actors," Lee Jung-shin shared his casting thoughts, revealing that the first collaboration with his brothers exceeded expectations. He explained, "Since Kwon Yul is an experienced pilot, he exhibited leadership, and I managed to carry that energy throughout the show." Additionally, he described his role in the program as "finding places that Koreans are not familiar with and asking questions like 'Where are you from?' That made Woo-jin laugh a lot," conveying the atmosphere on set.
When asked about the differences from other variety programs, Lee Jung-shin said, "There's sincerity in finding local eateries, even if they aren't famous. The production staff and cast all shot with genuine dedication," adding, "Even my mother, who doesn't like traveling, enjoys watching it on TV. I hope it provides vicarious satisfaction for people like her."
Finally, Lee Jung-shin introduced the highlights of "Walking Foodie": "We really tried to find local eateries sincerely and put in the effort. There are delicious foods and sights too," encouraging viewers to tune in.
Meanwhile, in the first episode of 'Walking Foodie' airing today (7th), a delightful journey throughout the alleys of Florence, Italy, seeking hidden eateries and attractions is set to be unveiled.
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