'Asia Prince' Jang Keun-suk captured both empathy and laughter.
Jang Keun-suk appeared as the first resident of tvN's 'Gugitong Friends,' which premiered on the 10th, and showed his presence by projecting sincere attitude and cheerful charm. 'Gugitong Friends' is an observational reality show that captures the current mood of adults who like being alone but dislike feeling lonely and the contemporary trend of seeking loose solidarity.
Jang Keun-suk appeared as the first resident of Gugitong House looking extremely nervous. Introducing himself as "a 14-year single" (living alone for 14 years), Jang Keun-suk jokingly and playfully said he was "born in the year of the rabbit, 1999" when asked his age, creating a cheerful atmosphere. He explained his reason for applying to move in, saying, "There are so many things I want to do and so many dreams I have, but even close friends started families, and at some point I found myself alone," which drew viewers' empathy.
While inspecting the house, Jang Keun-suk discovered the spacious, comfortable kitchen and shouted with delight, "Everything I like is all here." When he then met fellow resident Jang Do-youn, Jang Keun-suk confessed an unexpectedly shy side, saying, "I'm more shy than I look," and "I'm trying my best right now," showing a surprising charm. In a later interview, he expressed the hope that "it would be nice to be able to shake off the day's stress together," adding to his anticipation for the shared living to come.
Meanwhile, Jang Keun-suk showed confidence in cooking and took the role of chef for the first meal with his co-residents. The 18kg giant octopus he prepared for his housemates startled them, and upon seeing the live octopus Jang Keun-suk exclaimed in shock, "The suction cups are as big as my fist," drawing laughter. At that moment, the octopus suddenly tried to escape the box, and half afraid and half responsible, Jang Keun-suk stepped in to handle the "octopus commotion," delivering entertainment as if a variety show god had descended. His positive moments, not losing his smile even in unexpected situations, naturally made viewers happy.
After the commotion settled, Jang Keun-suk skillfully cleaned the octopus and was crowned 'Jang Geum-seok.' He displayed extensive culinary knowledge throughout the cooking and devoted himself to preparing a feast for his housemates. Having quickly prepared an octopus rice pot and octopus couscous among other dishes, Jang Keun-suk smiled proudly at his housemates' enthusiastic response. His warm remark, "You only become a real family when you share a meal," highlighted the program's meaning, and viewers look forward to how his warm heart will shine in the communal life to come.
In this way, Jang Keun-suk not only actively lightened the mood but also showed consideration for unfamiliar co-residents, taking charge of the broadcast. Viewers' attention is focused on Jang Keun-suk in 'Gugitong Friends,' who captured audiences with a friendly yet unpretentious charm.
'Gugitong Friends,' featuring Jang Keun-suk, airs every Friday at 8:35 p.m. on tvN.
Meanwhile, the band Chimiro, led by Jang Keun-suk, kicks off '2026 THE CHIMIRO IN SEOUL' today (the 11th), and will perform in Osaka, Japan on the 16th and Tokyo on May 21.
[Photo] tvN 'Gugitong Friends' broadcast capture
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