"Heo Kyung-hwan appears like a catfish"... Yoo Se-yoon and Jang Dong-min struggle in the mountains [Best Mountain] [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Broadcasters Yoo Se-yoon, Jang Dong-min, Heo Kyung-hwan, Boom, and Yang Se-hyung will endure hardships in the mountains to deliver primal laughter.

On the afternoon of the 28th, the production presentation for MBC's variety program 'Best Mountain (Mountain)' was held at the Golden Mouse Hall in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Yoo Se-yoon, Jang Dong-min, Heo Kyung-hwan, Boom, Yang Se-hyung, and PD Kim Myeong-yeop attended.

'Best Mountain' is Korea's first 'hardship mountain' variety show featuring intense competition toward the summit through various missions set in the mountains. The production team behind 'Radio Star' and 'While You Were Traveling the World' has come together. Yoo Se-yoon, who was the Choi U-su-sang (수상) winner at the '2025 MBC Entertainment Awards', and Jang Dong-min, Boom, and Yang Se-hyung, who were nominees in the same category, are joined by 'catfish' Heo Kyung-hwan as a member.

PD Kim Myeong-yeop greeted the audience, saying, "I directed 'Radio Star'. We are launching a new Sunday variety program this time, so please support us." He introduced 'Best Mountain' as, "It is a variety show that unfolds in the mountains. Hiking is just an excuse for the variety show. It is a variety show featuring the chemistry of five members, chaos, talk, and game elements."

PD Kim revealed the program's planning process, stating, "We actually didn't plan to go to the mountains, but the seniors are variety veterans who have been active for nearly 100 years combined. As we held meetings, we gradually moved toward the mountains, and we ended up going to the real mountains. When we actually went to the mountains, we found it wasn't bad."

Regarding the reason for recruiting Heo Kyung-hwan as a fixed member instead of HaHa for the '2025 MBC Entertainment Awards' Choi U (수상) last year, he joked, "HaHa couldn't appear because he was filming 'Running Man' at the same time slot. Heo Kyung-hwan has a role like Dex. I think he might win the award this time as well."

Heo Kyung-hwan appears as the 'catfish man' in 'Best Mountain'. Regarding the reason for recruiting Heo Kyung-hwan, PD Kim Myeong-yeop stated, "I bought low when his popularity was at its lowest point. I recruited him because he lacks nothing in terms of looks or fun." He continued, "Heo Kyung-hwan has a role like Dex in 'While You Were Traveling the World'. I think he might win the award this time as well."

'Best Mountain' is composed of professional variety entertainers. PD Kim stated, "It seems viewers today want variety shows they can watch without thinking. So, we gathered members primarily from among variety entertainers." Boom said, "I was attacked a lot for being a street performer from the beginning, but I am learning a lot from comedians." PD Kim added, "It's to the point where you wonder why we gathered them only now, and it's fun. It's a combination that will be hard to gather in the future."

Yoo Se-yoon shared his thoughts on appearing in 'Best Mountain', saying, "After receiving the Choi U (수상) at the '2025 MBC Entertainment Awards' last year, I ended up appearing in 'Best Mountain'." On this day, Jang Dong-min said, "I am taking on various roles in 'Best Mountain'. There will be many parts where I can do well, such as games." Heo Kyung-hwan greeted the audience by saying, "I am the character of the summit in 'Best Mountain'. There are all sorts of tricks and struggles. Please watch it carefully."

Yang Se-hyung said, "I am 42 years old, but I am the youngest here. Personally, I am close with all the seniors, and I wanted to do variety together. After filming this time, I felt it was fate that we should have met sooner." Boom shared, "I have done a lot of studio recordings, but my hometown is Gangwon-do. After hiking, I realized I actually like mountains."

Yoo Se-yoon shared his thoughts on appearing in hardship variety shows following 'Nidongnaesan Dokbak Tour', 'Let's Go Time Explorers', and 'Awkward Outing', saying, "I don't feel it's hard yet. Inside the mountains, we act like mischievous kids. The mountains are solemn and calm, but we are not calm, which seems to be an alienated fun." When asked about the differentiation of this program, Jang Dong-min said, "I always feel that joy comes after hardship. This time, I wanted to convey that joy to the viewers. Being funny is basic, but I also want to let people know that such a place exists in Korea."

When asked which member they compete with most in 'Best Mountain', Jang Dong-min said, "I think Yang Se-hyung is doing well this year. He is active in other programs as well, and Yang Se-hyung is showing various activities in 'Help Me, Holmes'." When asked who will win the Choi U (수상) at the '2026 MBC Entertainment Awards' this year, Yang Se-hyung said, "I am looking forward to Heo Kyung-hwan this year. He can do both talk and sketches, so I think he will win the award." He added, "Recently, Yang Sang-guk has been rising, but I still think Heo Kyung-hwan will win."

Heo Kyung-hwan said, "I think Jang Dong-min will win the Choi U (수상). He uses many tricks and performs well in 'Best Mountain'. I think the program should become a regular show first."

Jang Dong-min has been active in many brain-play variety shows. When asked which is harder, brain-play variety or primal laughter variety, he said, "In brain-warfare variety, I am already the GOAT (greatest of all time). This is much harder than brain-warfare variety. There, I can grasp the situation, but here it is hard to grasp."

PD Kim stated that the target viewership rating for 'Best Mountain' is, "'Running Man' had a viewership rating of about 2% in 2049. I want to surpass that." When asked about his viewership achievement pledge, Yoo Se-yoon said, "I will climb the mountain with a capuchin monkey expression." PD Kim added, "We will include sincerity, entertainment, and hardship."

'Best Mountain' will premiere on May 3 at 6 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.