“New Journey to the West”: Lee Seung-gi asserts himself as the trailblazer

Lee Seung-gi asserts himself as the trailblazer of “New Journey to the West”.

On the 6th, during the broadcast of JTBC’s “Famous Singers and Street Judges,” Lee Seung-gi, surprised, became a rabbit in headlights when his team member, Shin Hae-sol, said, “I wanted to be on the same team as Kyuhyun because I’m a huge fan of ‘New Journey to the West.'” Lee Seung-gi exclaimed, “I was the one who first created ‘New Journey to the West.’ It was me and Director Na Young-seok,” causing laughter.

The tvN program “New Journey to the West,” which aired in 2015, reinterpreted the Chinese classic “Journey to the West,” featuring characters such as Son Oh-gong, Sa Oh-jung, Jeo Pal-gye, and Samjang, as an internet entertainment show, receiving much love. “1 Night 2 Days” original members Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, and Lee Seung-gi showcased their talents, and with member changes, the show continued until Season 8.

As he mentioned, Lee Seung-gi is indeed the pioneer of “New Journey to the West.” At the production presentation held before the first broadcast in September 2015, Director Na Young-seok stated, “The person who first came up with the idea was Lee Seung-gi. We talked about going on a trip together, but the quality of us going on a trip together wasn’t suitable for broadcasting, so we decided to do it on the internet. It was a gathering of people who used to hang out together in the past.”

Leading the heyday of “1 Night 2 Days” and with the reunion of Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Lee Seung-gi, and the original PD of “1 Night 2 Days,” Na Young-seok, “New Journey to the West” was already hot before it began. With Lee Seung-gi at the center, “New Journey to the West” was full of raw laughter.

Lee Seung-gi made the best use of the format of internet broadcasting and led a fun trip with old friends, sprinkling witty remarks.

After Season 1 of “New Journey to the West,” Lee Seung-gi enlisted, and subsequent seasons saw the likes of Ahn Jae-hyun, P.O., Song Min-ho, Kyuhyun, and others. Fans hoped for Lee Seung-gi to join after his discharge, but Lee Seung-gi was a veteran who knew when to participate and when to withdraw.

Lee Seung-gi’s presence was so significant that even PD Na Young-seok once said, “Lee Seung-gi’s vacant spot? Even if Yoo Jae-suk comes, he can’t fill it.” So, it’s no wonder Lee Seung-gi was flustered when Shin Hae-sol talked about “New Journey to the West” in front of him.

The two-shot of Lee Seung-gi, who debuted in 2004, raising his spirits in front of someone born in 2004, brought joy from the start of “Famous Singers and Street Judges.”

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