(Interview ② continued) The producer of 'You Have to Pay for Your Meal' drew the line against criticisms of 'celebrity extravagance' surrounding travel entertainment.
The production team of ENA and EBA's variety show 'Choo Sung Hoon's You Have to Pay for Your Meal (abbreviated as You Have to Pay for Your Meal)' held an interview on the afternoon of the 25th at the KT ENA office in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. In attendance were directors Ahn Jae Min and Song Jun Seop, who produced 'You Have to Pay for Your Meal,' engaging in discussions about the program with domestic reporters.
'Choo Sung Hoon's You Have to Pay for Your Meal' is a variety show depicting a survival travelogue where the 'uncle' Choo Sung Hoon challenges extreme jobs around the world and enjoys the 'cost of his meal' earned through hard work. Mixed martial artist Choo Sung Hoon showcases experiences of extreme local jobs in China and Egypt alongside YouTuber KwakTube and comedian Lee Eun Ji.
Through this, 'You Have to Pay for Your Meal' presents a completely different take from the existing travel entertainment that has been criticized as 'celebrity extravagance.' In this regard, producer Song Jun Seop noted, "There might be a sense of dissatisfaction among viewers with travel programs. Therefore, we are pondering how to approach viewers. However, it is not that those watching simply want to see hardships. They want to see hardships that are enjoyable and meaningful. That seems meaningful to the viewers as well. Since it's a travel style that they can't experience directly, a new form of vicarious satisfaction will emerge." He added, "There are many stories of vicarious satisfaction from overseas backpacking, and many programs will emerge that vary in different layers like that."
Additionally, Ahn Jae Min remarked, "I believe the time when the term 'celebrity extravagance' or when viewers began to feel disengaged from travel entertainment aligns with the emergence of travel YouTubers showcasing real travel. While the travel shown on broadcasts is not fake, the journeys we undertake seem to resemble YouTube travel more closely. As a result, it feels like broadcast travel is becoming distant from viewers. Therefore, our program, along with contemporary travel entertainment, is leaning towards local, the lives of locals, hardships, or experiences. It's a journey in search of the 'real.'"
However, he humorously noted, "In fact, if that happens, the filming site becomes exhausting," and explained, "The previous broadcasts weren't about luxury; they were about fostering a good atmosphere on site and finding points of happiness without trouble, which made it appear extravagant. To show the real thing, the filming environment must be unhappy. Constant persuasion is necessary. Nevertheless, if that's what the viewers want, we should head in that direction."
Ahn Jae Min continued, "If that's what the viewers want, we should go in that direction. The China we first went to film was not a preferred destination in travel entertainment until now. Chongqing and Yanbian are quite unfamiliar, but the viewer response has changed. They want to see new places and real lives. They think about experiencing life, even if just briefly, not just sightseeing as a tourist, and I'd like to touch upon that."
In response, Song Jun Seop remarked, "We are not ahead; we follow what people like. We absolutely do not overlook viewer reactions. The viewers are becoming travel experts themselves, and hasn't the stage arrived where they can travel the world without going anywhere? Sites like Machu Picchu in Peru and the Eiffel Tower in France are now seen by everyone so much. As we travel like that, we tend to seek more micro and specific things. From the perspective of viewer 'professional travelers,' the depiction of local life seems authentic, so it seems that such elements will naturally increase."
'Choo Sung Hoon's You Have to Pay for Your Meal' airs every Saturday at 7:50 p.m.
[Photo] Provided by ENA, EBS.
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