From Jung Yu-mi and Park Seo-joon's trip to a chef going undercover for a job... tvN's May new variety show strategy [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

tvN is set to launch four new variety shows with distinct flavors this May. From the revival of a legendary series returning after 10 years to a fashion survival show and an unusual reality program centered on cooking, the lineup is complete to captivate viewers' eyes and ears.

First, the new season of "Hometown Over Flowers," which returns after a decade, titled "Hometown Over Flowers: Limited Edition," kicked off on the 3rd. This season features a guaranteed rough journey of wandering around Korea for Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-joon, and Choi Woo-shik, who find themselves in a situation where they do not know where to go, where to stay, or how to travel.

During a live communication session in February, the three were suddenly sent on a trip. Under the new "limited" setting requiring them to change travel destinations daily with a budget of 100,000 won per person, they embarked on a difficult journey. They are now engaged in a desperate struggle amidst endless restrictions.

In this season where the travel difficulty has been significantly upgraded, the three face various restrictions beyond just costs. The process of struggling to overcome these restrictions offers a unique kind of fun. At the same time, the charm of an impromptu trip where they directly decide their destinations while moving to a new area daily, and their natural interactions with local residents due to limited equipment, are earning positive responses from viewers.

Changes in their relationships, who previously worked together on "Youn's Stay" and "Jinny's Kitchen," are also drawing attention. Unlike before when they prioritized work efficiency as colleagues, they are now showing a family-like chemistry by sharing food, shelter, and clothing outside of the workplace.

Next, "Cooking is Painful!" airing on the 9th is a variety show documenting a "cooking exhibition" project by chefs who have gathered to find new cooking ideas. Kim Pung, Jung Ji-sun, Lee Moon-jeong, and Jo Seo-hyung appear, conveying the intense yet creative behind-the-scenes stories of chefs. Moving away from the existing cooking competition format, the program will meticulously focus on the process of creating a single work of art.

The biggest viewing point is the "pain of creation" experienced by professional chefs. It will show without omission the limitations they face and their process of overcoming them as they develop new recipes, despite always producing perfect results.

Synergy created by cast members with different styles, such as Chinese cuisine master Jung Ji-sun and the unique Kim Pung, is also an expected highlight. Beyond simple mukbang or cookbang, their sincerity in approaching "cooking as an art" is expected to be the core element of fun.

"Kill It: Style Creator Daejeon Battle," which premieres on the 12th, is a fashion creator survival show aimed at finding the most "iconic" figure in the fashion industry. It is a project to discover individuals who lead recent fashion trends, communicate with the public, and create culture.

This program has garnered expectations with the addition of a grand-scale, ultra-large set and a squad of seven style mentors with a strong presence. Additionally, the 100th participants boast a buzz-worthy total of 43 million followers on social media.

In particular, it has drawn attention for the participant lineup officially released through official social media. Figures who attract buzz just by their names, such as Choi Mi-na-su from "Single's Inferno 5," the "930,000 Couple YouTuber" Dan, and "BLACKPINK's Jisoo's older sister" Kim Ji-yoon, are making a major appearance.

Another key viewing point is how participants will showcase not just their fashion sense but also their content planning skills and ability to communicate with the public. Attention is focused on whether a new fashion icon can be born amidst fierce competition.

Airing on the same day, "Undercover Chef" is a variety show where popular chefs, who are Han Min-guk-eul (CEO), go undercover as "kitchen juniors" in restaurants of the countries that form the foundation of their cuisine to take on hidden missions.

Sam Kim, Jung Ji-sun, and Kwon Sung-jun will give up their owner chef titles and become "juniors." The production team stated, "The viewing point is the embarrassment of top chefs who command trust just by their names becoming 'incompetent juniors' in an unfamiliar environment, and the clash of instincts that cannot be hidden even when they try to conceal their skills."

In Korea, these individuals at the peak of their careers will transform into juniors being bullied in the kitchens of unfamiliar foreign countries, a situation expected to bring unique fun. At the same time, the chefs' efforts to regain their original intentions and reconsider the essence of cooking are expected to add a profound emotional impact.

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*This content was translated by AI.