"Again?" Yu Jae-seok spoke up himself in response to the question. Addressing criticism from some corners labeling it a 'network variety show,' Yu Jae-seok said, "They were cast because they were needed," expressing his personal conviction.
Netflix variety show "Yu Jae-seok camp" held a press conference a week before its release to introduce the work and share various stories, raising expectations.
"Yu Jae-seok camp" is a group camping variety show in which novice camp leader Yu Jae-seok and unpredictable staff Lee Kwangsoo, Byeon Woo-seok, and Ji Ye-eun entertain, play with, and fool around with guests to complete an escape from daily life, and it draws attention as Netflix's new "guest house variety" presented together with producer Jeong Hyo-min's team following the wildly popular "Kian's Bizarre B&B."
As Yu Jae-seok, Lee Kwangsoo, Byeon Woo-seok, and Ji Ye-eun join forces to greet guests, some reacted with "Again?" after the cast announcement. They pointed out that producer Jeong Hyo-min and Yu Jae-seok have worked together for a long time, starting with the assistant director role on "Two Yoo Project - Sugarman," then "Work Together," "Korea number one," and now "Yu Jae-seok camp," noting that the four works together could be called a 'network variety show.'
It was also pointed out that those building "Yu Jae-seok camp" with Yu Jae-seok are Lee Kwangsoo, Byeon Woo-seok, and Ji Ye-eun. Byeon Woo-seok is excluded from some of the criticism because he is an actor rarely seen on variety shows, but Lee Kwangsoo and Ji Ye-eun have worked with Yu Jae-seok on "Running Man," "Busted!," "The Zone: Survive by Endurance," and "Korea number one," leading to further claims that this is a 'network variety show.'
Recently, the entertainment world has been branded as 'network variety' in which familiar combinations appear with only different formats. Viewers who at first reacted with "Oh, such combinations exist" find it hard to shake a sense of déjà vu if they see the same combination across multiple shows. There is concern that scenes could become uncomfortable due to their private friendships, and even if new members are added to give freshness to existing combinations, they may not blend in quickly and instead create a sense of discord.
As attempts to deliver new charm through fresh combinations continue and the industry opts for the safety of proven chemistry over risk, viewers hoping to discover new faces and characters express considerable disappointment.
For that reason, "Yu Jae-seok camp" also faced criticism as a network variety show. Yu Jae-seok spoke up directly. He described producer Jeong Hyo-min as "a PD who has worked with me for about 15 years and, beyond our relationship, has successfully led numerous programs," then said, "We cast people the program needs, not because of my network."
He added, "When I receive an offer to appear on a program, I carefully consider, 'Can I really do this well?' and decide to appear after that deliberation. Some may view our choices as being made through networks, but we have our own considerations and selections. Both the production team and the cast always wonder, 'Is there something new?' 'Is there something fresh?' I think our job is to continue creating that balance of freshness and fun."
Producer Jeong Hyo-min responded to the 'network variety' criticism by saying, "Repeating the same thing won't be accepted by viewers. When Yu Jae-seok did a guest house variety, I had confidence and conviction that we could create a different flavor from existing shows. We worked for the past year to realize that as much as possible, so please watch and make your judgment."
Always refusing to rest in comfort, Yu Jae-seok is an icon who continues to take on challenge after challenge while holding on to his position as the nation's MC. Speaking his convictions about the network controversy, Yu Jae-seok says he is always striving to find something new. Attention is focused on what chemistry will be created in "Yu Jae-seok camp," which bears his name.
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