MBC 'Manitto Club' members formed a team to give elementary school students a special day. At the same time, the appearance of the second-season cast of 'Manitto Club' was teased, raising expectations.
On the 15th (Sun) broadcast of MBC entertainment show 'Manitto Club' episode 3, following Choo Sung Hoon and Ro Hong-chul's unpredictable impromptu trip, an unprecedented "secret Manitto" operation for elementary school students unfolded, offering warm laughter and emotion to viewers.
The team-based "secret Manitto" operation was unmissable from the start. Unlike individual Manittos, this time Choo Sung Hoon, Ro Hong-chul, Lee Suji, Dex, and Jenny formed one team to carry out missions, with the opportunity to be promoted to full member upon success. The Manitto headquarters rated the members' undercover level as C grade and said missions would be conducted accordingly for elementary students. It was a top-tier project to give the students a "gift-like day" while hiding their identities within 48 hours.
Members who infiltrated Namsan Jarak Elementary School briefly indulged in a nostalgic trip back to their school days, then began gathering information by referring to the notes on the wish tree. Wishes ranged from quirky to unexpectedly practical, and Lee Suji choked up as she read the wish "I hope my mom and dad stay healthy." After deliberation, the members came up with the idea of a "gift vending machine." They decided to prepare grade-specific gifts and build a special vending machine that would allow them to hide and watch the children's reactions. The members said, "Let's be their friends," and made a perfect plan to become the elementary students' Santa, Jini, and uroeggaksi.
The members' strategies varied widely. Ro Hong-chul, in charge of first graders, prepared a gift to transform the auditorium into a mini amusement park with the theme of "happiness." Choo Sung Hoon, in charge of second graders, prepared a custom toy and sweet cotton candy for a student who loves trains. Dex, in charge of third graders, arranged gifts aimed at student tastes such as a rugby ball and basketball, along with the "Uroeng-Dexy operation" to replace toothbrush sets. Lee Suji, in charge of fourth graders, added thoughtfulness with handwritten letters reflecting each student's traits, and Jenny, in charge of fifth graders, aimed to give a bright day with classroom decorations, lucky charms, and video letters. Finally, for the sixth graders they designed an event showcasing a video screening filled with six years of memories.
A recruitment operation that mobilized personal connections also drew attention. Lee Suji tried contacting national team member Ahn Se-young together with Jenny for children serious about badminton, and Choo Sung Hoon even called Amotti, the winner of the "Physical" series, to try to recruit him. Meanwhile, Ro Hong-chul called Kim Kwang-kyu for a friend who had written the quirky wish "I want to be bald," and Kim Kwang-kyu provoked laughter with the reply "you need to rely on ancestral blessings."
On the much-anticipated secret Manitto day, the members were amazed at the flawless completion of the gift vending machine they finished in one day. It was built with hidden spaces to deliver gifts and directly observe students' reactions. As students arrived at school one by one, the members, unlike in the simulation, clumsily fumbled and elicited laughs. Jenny, who had memorized the faces of her assigned students with great care, said, "I've faced the biggest crisis of my life," and even fled her post for a moment. But the members soon regained their composure and efficiently delivered customized gifts to 103 students.
Students were happy with the unexpected gifts, and the members could not hide their heart-fluttering reactions at the children's immediate reactions. It was also a special moment when giving gifts turned into healing for the members. Ro Hong-chul's mini amusement park gift was a huge hit, and the children reacted like never before, saying, "The school turned into an amusement park." The vending machine event's aftermath also delivered special emotion. In particular, fifth graders who had no idea who their Manitto was cheered at Jenny's surprise video letter "I was your Manitto, Jenny," and the mood lingered with the release of a special video message from Ahn Se-young prepared for the whole school.
Meanwhile, at the end of the broadcast, the activities of the second-season cast of 'Manitto Club' featuring Jung Haein, Go Youn-jung, Park Myung Soo, Hong Jin Kyung, and Kim Do-hoon were shown, raising expectations. This mission, under the theme of "handmade," involves delivering gifts made with care and effort. With more thorough undercover activities and a bolder gift-throwing show teased, the appearance of hidden Manitto "Megi" was also previewed, arousing curiosity. 'Manitto Club' episode 4 will air on the 22nd (Sun) at 6:05 p.m.
[Photo] 'Manitto Club'
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