Travel shows head back overseas with big name stars

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:19

Shows & Dramas

Travel shows head back overseas with big name stars

Posted : 2023-01-14 09:03

Updated : 2023-01-16 09:31

A still from Tving's new original series "Bros on Foot" / Courtesy of Tving

By Lee Gyu-lee

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, the production of many travel shows was suspended or canceled. But as travel restrictions have eased, more networks and streaming platforms are resuming the productions of such shows, but this time, with big-name stars as cast members.

Tving is set to roll out its new original travel show "Bros on Foot" this month, starring famous actors Ha Jung-woo, Joo Ji-hoon, Choi Min-ho, and Yeo Jin-goo.

The show will follow the four actors traveling around parts of New Zealand on foot. On their trip, the four come together to complete a series of missions to win chances for young adults to go on their dream trip.

The actors wrapped up taping for the show in New Zealand last year, and the show will be released on Jan. 20.

TvN is making three travel shows, led by actors like Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Jin-woong and Heo Sung-tae, to debut in the coming months.

Clockwise from top left, actors Cho Jin-woong, Choi Won-young, Kwon Yul, and Park Myung-hoon will star in tvN's travel show "Europe Outside Your Tent 2." Courtesy of tvN

Star producer Yoo Ho-jin, who previously led the variety shows "Two Days and One Night" and "Unexpected Business," has picked up a travel show as his latest project, "You Go to Sydney" (working title).

The new show, scheduled to air in the first half of this year, will invite four celebrities who are originally from Busan ― actors Heo, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Lee Si-eon and travel YouTuber Kwaktube ― to go on a working holiday to Australia. While taking short-term jobs in the country, the four will meet the locals and learn about its culture.

"There are a lot of people nowadays who feel the need to take a break from this hectic, repetitive life in modern society," the producer said through the network. "I wanted to see the cast members, who have been living on busy schedules, getting away from their daily lives and going through new, unfamiliar experiences."

Another of the network's shows "Europe Outside Your Tent," will return with its second season following the first one that ended last September.

In the first season, four actors ― Yoo Hae-jin, Jin Seon-kyu, Park Ji-hwan and Yoon Kyun-sang ― went on a road trip across Switzerland and Italy while camping at different sites.

Its new season will have a new set of cast members, actors Cho, Choi Won-young, Kwon Yul, and Park Myung-hoon. The four members will go on camping trips around Spain and enjoy its scenery and nature.

Actor Lee Sun-kyun is taking on his first travel show in four years since tvN's 2019 "Trans-Siberian Pathfinders."

The new show, which is still in development, will see Lee and filmmaker Jang Hang-jun traveling to East Asian countries.

Producer Choi Bo-pil, who previously led SBS' popular show "Running Man," also has a new travel show underway, starring K-pop stars.

SBS announced earlier this month that singers D.O. of EXO, Zico, Crush and Choi Jung-hoon of Jannabi, and comedians Lee Yong-jin and Yang Se-chan have confirmed that they will join producer Choi's new variety show, which is scheduled to go on air in March.

"We are excited to see the synergy the four musician friends D.O., Zico, Crush, and Choi, who are also the same age, and two comedians, Lee and Yang, will create together," the producer said in a release.

gyulee@koreatimes.co.kr