Sayart.net - Yoo Jae-suk Aims to Elevate Korean Variety Shows to Global Stardom with ＂The Zone: Survival Mission 2＂

Walt Disney Co. Korea

In a press conference held at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in central Seoul on Tuesday, comedian Yoo Jae-suk expressed his aspirations for the resurgence of Korean variety shows. With the highly anticipated return of his hit program "The Zone: Survival Mission 2" on Disney+, Yoo Jae-suk aims to achieve the same level of popularity that Korean dramas and films have attained worldwide.

Despite acknowledging that entertainment shows still have a long way to go to captivate both local and global audiences, Yoo Jae-suk remains optimistic about the potential for Korean variety programs to achieve mega success. "I, of course, wish my upcoming show to be a global hit," he stated. "But, I believe that the efforts to showcase more various entertainment programs to the global viewers will pave the way to creating a Korean variety program with mega success."

Promising viewers an even more exhilarating experience, Yoo Jae-suk revealed that the survival missions in "The Zone: Survival Mission 2" are on a much grander scale compared to the previous season. He urged fans to anticipate the thrilling challenges that lie ahead.

"The Zone: Survival Mission 2" boasts a star-studded cast including Yoo Jae-suk, actors Lee Kwang-soo, and Kwon Yuri, as they navigate through eight disaster scenarios over a four-hour runtime. The esteemed TV director, Cho Hyo-jin, shared that while the basic format remains intact, the production team was able to shoot the show in various locations as COVID-19 restrictions eased.

Cho, renowned for producing SBS' "Running Man" from 2010 to 2014 and Netflix's "Busted!" (2018), acknowledged the initial challenges of finding suitable shooting locations in the show's first season. However, with the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, the production team took advantage of the opportunity to visit multiple cities and prepare large-scale missions.

"The Zone: Survival Mission 2" was filmed in Incheon, Ilsan (Gyeonggi Province), Seoul, Daejeon, Dangjin (South Chungcheong Province), Mungyeong (North Gyeongsang Province), Wonju (Gangwon Province), and Busan. Co-director Kim Dong-jin emphasized that many of these locations are open to tourists, offering an additional means for viewers to appreciate the beauty of South Korea while enjoying the show.

Kwon Yuri, one of the show's cast members, hinted at even more entertainment in store for fans. "In season 1, we simply endured four hours. However, in season 2, we received new quests that allow us to save time after completing missions. Naturally, the remaining time increases if we fail to fulfill the mission," Kwon revealed.

Although Cho Hyo-jin hesitated to declare which season he found more entertaining, he affirmed that season 2 of "The Zone: Survival Mission" is an upgrade from its predecessor. "The three stars were close friends in season 1. But in season 2, they are real brothers and sister. They create great synergy together," Cho remarked, encouraging viewers to eagerly anticipate the show.

"The Zone: Survival Mission 2," an eight-part variety show, will be exclusively available on Disney+ starting Wednesday at 4 p.m., promising audiences a thrilling and captivating viewing experience.

Sayart.net 

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com