(continuing from interview ①) The producer of 'Welcome, First Time in Korea?' emphasized the cast members' increased interest in and affection for Korea in the reboot.
On the 19th, MBC Every1 variety show 'Welcome, First Time in Korea? (shortened to Welcome)' premiered its new broadcast. Although the 'Welcome' series has continued airing for 10 years since 2017, it returned as a reboot after a six-month hiatus in October last year. As the first guest, Paco, a Paris merchant famous as France's 'Korea advocate,' visited Korea with his friends. OSEN spoke with producer Jeon Min-kyung, who directed the newly returned 'Welcome, First Time in Korea?' featuring veteran host Kim Joon-hyun and founding member and key contributor DinDin as the two MCs.
The first guest, Paco, is a figure who has attracted attention for his exceptional friendliness toward Korean tourists, interest in Korea and advanced Korean language skills near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Producer Jeon Min-kyung said, We found that Paco knew a lot about our shooting schedule. When someone on the production team mentioned a producer who lives in Gwacheon, he even said, 'I want to go to Seoul Land.' That showed how much the overseas friends appearing on 'Welcome' already knew.
Paco's French friends Max and Jamil, who appeared with him, were the same. Producer Jeon Min-kyung said, Max was also well acquainted with the owners of a very famous Korean-style bakery in Paris. Among the breads sold there, the twisted donut was a popular menu item, and he asked whether Korean twisted donuts were tasty and said he wanted to try them. Jamil also works at a Korean restaurant, so he told us that the most popular dish was not bulgogi or bibimbap as commonly thought, but japchae, and that he definitely wanted to eat it in Korea. We advised on parts that were impossible in one day because of travel distance or that might have safety issues, but otherwise we reflected the local friends' opinions as much as possible.
He went on to say, Now, unlike when 'Welcome' started 10 years ago, there are practically no people who come to Korea knowing absolutely nothing. If we showed that, it would look artificial and staged. Of course they go to Gyeongbokgung, but they want to go to other places too; they may have one meal of Korean barbecue, but many overseas friends want to eat foods that real Koreans often eat.
Producer Jeon Min-kyung said, I saw that this sincerity is what makes it reality. Previous guests enjoyed Korea, but if they came as 'my friend's country' in the past, this time we wanted to see the sincerity of friends who came because they wanted to come to Korea. Because each person's reason and trigger for liking Korea is different, even when they visit the same Namsan Tower they like different things and view it differently. Considering that the same destination can vary depending on who comes, we put a lot of thought into the characters when casting.
As a result, the production team found that they surprisingly learned things from the guests. Producer Jeon Min-kyung said, Even though I dislike the term 'gukppong' (overly nationalistic pride), there are times when we take things for granted but overseas friends see them differently and it surprises us. It also applies to public manners, like leaving a suitcase at a cafe and ordering freely, and when we walked the travel course to prepare for filming from the perspective of travelers who will come on trips, I realized how pretty Namsan Tower is and that I had forgotten that. The friends from abroad turn moments we've forgotten into lifelong memories. I hope people remember that.
Above all, he said, Travel differs by country of the visiting friends, just as travel in France differs from travel in the United States. There are things visible only to people who know that well. For example, when Paco was transferring to line 4 at Seoul Station and memorizing the subway station names, there were moments Fabien, who watched the footage in the studio, explained parts we missed while filming beside him and we understood. I thought it would be nice if viewers felt good watching and learned small bits of knowledge. Think of it like an 'A faraway country, neighboring country' video segment that becomes a life guide, he said with a laugh.
Starting with Paco, the 'Welcome' series will feature new overseas friends. A Canadian family for season 2 has already finished filming, and the family of director Chris Appelhans, who co-directed the Netflix animated film 'K-pop Demon Hunters' (shortened to KDH), is currently filming for season 3. Producer Jeon Min-kyung said, During the six-month break the preparation team assembled 300 times, and if viewers love the show, couldn't we assemble 600 times? Some commenters said Paco was pretending to like Korea, but he actually spent four hours at the National Museum of Korea, and the guide even asked, 'When can you leave work?' If you watch, you will see the sincere 모습 of overseas friends who love Korea, she said proudly.
Welcome, First Time in Korea? airs every Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
[Photo] Courtesy of MBC Every1.
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