"Welcome, first time in Korea?" returns renewed after six months. In the meantime, they prepared only 300 casting teams, and the confident return of the original 'national pride' variety show's essence raises expectations.
On the afternoon of the 19th, MBC Every1 prerecorded and streamed online the press conference for the variety show "Welcome, first time in Korea?" (abbreviated Welcome). Present were PD Jeon Min-gyeong, who directed the program, and the two MCs Kim Joon-hyun and DinDin, who talked about the rebooted "Welcome."
"Welcome, first time in Korea?" is a domestic travel reality show that offers a more diverse look at traveling in Korea by inviting not only friends who lived in the Korea foreigners knew, but also those who had no friends in Korea and thus could not be invited, presenting everything from K-Korea charms people overlooked to the fun arising from cultural differences. After episode 419 aired on Oct. 9 last year, the show took a break and returns as a reboot after about six months.
PD Jeon Min-gyeong first said about the most changed aspect of "Welcome," which returned after a six-month break, "From this season the system in which a host or a friend living in Korea invites someone is somewhat reduced, and the biggest feature is that various people are invited to Korea to travel."
She explained the background, "Welcome is already in its 10th year. I thought that just as love in your 20s and love in your 30s are different, when a show is in its 10th year it should bring change, so I took six months off and pondered what Welcome's essence is. The concept is that invited foreigners travel Korea, but I felt we could remove 'invited.' We received emails from people who are recognizable just by name saying they wanted to come to Korea. I felt these people could enjoy traveling in Korea and be enjoyable to watch even without being invited."
"We only did casting for six months. We're confident," PD Jeon Min-gyeong said with a smile, adding, "We jokingly put together about 300-some preparation teams. We saw many people you would recognize by name, and we found more people willing to step forward than those who lacked preparation about Korea. When considering a person, there is personality but also characters coming from nationality and country, so we thought it would be good to point those out, and people who lived in or are related to each country will appear to highlight those traits."
Among them, the first traveler returning to "Welcome" is Paco. A Senegal-born French vendor, he became famous among Korean tourists near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. PD Jeon Min-gyeong explained the casting reason, "He has shown his affection for Korea for about 15 or 16 years. I thought showing that character arc would demonstrate the change."
She added, "I also study languages, and when I asked whether he spoke Korean so well, I saw him ask tourists about words and study by writing them in a notebook. Then I thought, 'He really loves Korea,' and I was more convinced to invite him," raising expectations.
The biggest change in the rebooted "Welcome" after the break is that travelers are invited more freely. Previously, foreigners who had friends in Korea came, but now they can cast travelers interested in Korea even if they were not invited. So which travelers do the producers and MCs want to see?
Kim Joon-hyun said, "I would like Chef Gordon Ramsay to come." He added, "He has already visited Korea, but I'd like to see him visit old restaurants and try street food at markets. It would be great to see what foods he likes; it would be wonderful if famous chefs came."
DinDin said, "There are so many people I want to see. But I hope they have sincerity. If someone visits once, they'll know some of the Korea vibe, so I want people who are strangers to come," adding, "Recently I interviewed the cast of the movie Avatar: Fire and Ash, and among the child actors, a guy named Jack Champion said he really wants to come to Korea. He said even after the camera was off that he truly wanted to visit Korea. We actually followed each other on social media and exchanged messages. It would be great if someone with that kind of sincerity and who has never been here but is full of curiosity came."
Meanwhile PD Jeon Min-gyeong enthusiastically said, "I feel a bit pressured, but I will immediately apply to the preparation team," and continued, "Personally, I would like Cardi B to come. I once saw her mix canned tuna with gochujang and eat it wrapped in seaweed, and I felt she really eats properly. I think there would be unexpected fun."
DinDin added with a laugh, "I hope it becomes like a tour course for visiting singers. When we go to other countries, isn't it a shame to just finish one concert and leave? It would be great if they met Welcome as part of their itinerary from the moment they arrive."
Kim Joon-hyun has been a mainstay who has taken part in most of "Welcome, first time in Korea?" since it began airing in 2017. He showed strong attachment to meeting viewers again as an MC of "Welcome," saying, "Even if they tell me to leave, it's a program I want to stick to like fallen leaves. It's a program I can't detach affection from."
He continued, "In a way I've done it for nearly 10 years and have enormous affection. There were periods when I wasn't there and someone else sat in my place, and that was very difficult. I feel it's my program. It was renewed and they called me, so fortunately I could join again," expressing strong satisfaction.
Kim Joon-hyun also said, "The expressions of foreigners traveling Korea for the first time are subtly different. Viewers like seeing those emotions expressed, and because we've done it so far, it felt empty not to do it together. Hearing that the show is renewed and that people you recognize by name are coming makes me excited as if it's a new program. I was surprised just seeing Paco's first appearance. It was fascinating to watch. I thought, 'Is that person roaming around Korea?' It felt new to start with that feeling," he said with a laugh.
Regarding this, PD Jeon Min-gyeong said, "I can say this confidently. Over six months the production team and I discussed and changed the studio and VCR a lot, and when so much has changed we thought about who would be recognized by viewers flipping channels, and that's who came to mind," expressing confidence in casting Kim Joon-hyun.
Above all, she emphasized, "Because he has been with the show for 10 years, there will be an archive of him and I think he will point out things more and more carefully."
Especially, DinDin was with the "Welcome" series from the pilot as an original cast member but left the program in 2021 and is now returning after five years. This was even called "the return of a founding contributor." DinDin said, "I left Welcome in July '21. It's been about five years. When Welcome articles appeared I felt half happiness and half regret. I left because I felt I had been in one place too long, but I kept longing for it. Even after time passed it felt like my home. I thought, 'How dare someone else sit there?' and I wanted to try to make the program's golden era again," explaining his reason for the comeback.
He added, "It was certainly difficult to invite new friends. Sometimes there was less empathy, but now that anyone can come, there is much to look forward to. Watching Paco's video during today's shoot reminded me of the pilot. At that time I felt the show would be fun rather than destined to succeed or fail, and I thought it could last long. I have memories of a first love, but now I'm more mature and can love more skillfully," showing confidence.
About DinDin's return, PD Jeon Min-gyeong said, "When watching observational variety shows, it's good to have someone next to you who talks more, and DinDin gives the feeling of watching with family," emphasizing, "When DinDin honestly speaks, many people feel, 'I thought that too.' I contacted him first because I thought that cheerful honesty would be revealed."
Kim Joon-hyun and DinDin also praised each other's chemistry. Kim Joon-hyun said, "It's been a while but seeing DinDin felt like I saw him last week. I guess that's true," adding, "What's funny is that he's not even a comedian but he accepts skits well. Honesty is DinDin's charm." He continued, "When Welcome's pilot aired 10 years ago we did it in a cafe without a studio. When heavy rain fell, recording stopped because of the noise. Now the studio set has been beautifully renewed. It's moving. There's a sort of camaraderie from sharing that start. We really had fun after the recording," he said with a laugh.
DinDin responded, "Actually I've known Kim Joon-hyun hyung for a long time. He's fundamentally comfortable. Comfort is important for this program. Rather than being awkward and trying too hard, it's important to be so comfortable that you can accept whatever the other does. Joon-hyun hyung is very close and accepts anything. Even after five years it's like he did it five years ago without any fuss, which makes it feel like last week. But he has a lot more white hair now, which makes me sad but also makes me feel we're back. I'm small, so I like having bigger figures like Moon Seyoon and Kim Joon-hyun beside me. I like being teased by the two of them. I love it," he replied.
The two also expressed surprise at seeing the first traveler Paco. DinDin said, "From the pilot I felt that a guest must truly have affection and genuine curiosity for the episode to be fun, and Paco felt that strongly. I thought he might be the guest who suits this program best. Watching him reminded me of the pilot. They were very curious and enjoyed it. Seeing Paco love Korea like that made me very thankful and empathetic. I truly felt grateful enough to want to meet Paco in person."
Kim Joon-hyun also said, "Although I haven't met him, I feel like he's already my younger brother. It's odd to say that to a fully grown adult, but I feel proud and grateful," adding, "There are friends who came with Paco who love and are curious about K culture, and when they encounter it they are moved. That sincerity lifts your spirits."
In closing, PD Jeon Min-gyeong shared the core viewing points of this "Welcome," saying, "I participated in Welcome for five years from the junior position. There is a lot of so-called 'national pride' content, but if you watch for the originality and the genuine stories created by what some call the industry people, you will find it very enjoyable."
The returning "Welcome" will be rebooted and air its first episode today (the 19th) at 8:30 p.m.
[Photo] Provided by MBC Every1.
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