"A 'second Infinite Challenge' has emerged" .. MBC's 'Choi Busan-san' featuring Jang Dong-min and Heo Kyeong-hwan, an unparalleled caviar combination [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

"A 'second 1 Night 2 Days' and 'Infinite Challenge' have emerged"

Viewers who watched the MBC pilot variety program 'Choi Busan-san' have given high praise. 'Choi Busan-san' began broadcasting in March and concluded its fifth episode on the 31st, raising questions about whether it will receive regular scheduling.

'Choi Busan-san' is Korea's first rugged mountain variety show where participants engage in a desperate competition toward the summit through various missions set in the mountains. The production team behind 'Radio Star' and 'Around the World in the Name of Being Born' has come together. Yoo Se-yoon, a male Choi U-su-sang (수상) nominee at the '2025 MBC Broadcasting Entertainment Awards', along with Jang Dong-min, Boom, and Yang Se-hyeong, who were also nominees in the same category, joined forces with 'the catfish' Heo Kyeong-hwan as a member, forming MBC's strongest variety combination.

'Choi Busan-san' took over the Sunday 6 p.m. prime time slot previously occupied by PD Kim Tae-ho's 'Manito Club', aiming to establish itself as a new powerhouse in Sunday variety programming. However, similar to how 'Manito Club' struggled with viewership ratings in the 0th–2% range, 'Choi Busan-san' also started at 2.1%, followed by unsatisfactory ratings of 1.7% in the second episode, 1.8% in the third, and 1.5% in the fourth. Compared to the competing programs in the same time slot, KBS 2TV's '1 Night 2 Days' with ratings in the 5th–8% range and SBS's 'Running Man' with ratings in the 2nd–4% range, 'Choi Busan-san' delivered a lackluster performance.

Despite this, it is regrettable to let 'Choi Busan-san' go easily, as a dedicated fanbase has already formed. The five members—Yoo Se-yoon, Jang Dong-min, Boom, Yang Se-hyeong, and Heo Kyeong-hwan—form an unexpectedly rare 'variety golden combination'. The 'primitive laughter' that only they can produce may no longer be seen unless through 'Choi Busan-san'. If 'Choi Busan-san' can effectively leverage promotion and algorithms, there is potential for commercial success.

Highlights include the scene where Yoo Se-yoon, unwilling to share bottled water, soaked his face in saliva, prompting Jang Dong-min to smear even more saliva on him before taking over the water bottle; the moment Boom delivered his signature soulless hosting lines, leading the members to endlessly repeat "Of course~" like a song to tease him; and the scene where the members commented, "It's been a while since we've seen checkered panties," upon seeing Heo Kyeong-hwan changing his pants, to which Heo Kyeong-hwan deliciously shouted, "Panty swoosh."

Other highlights include the scene where Heo Kyeong-hwan pushed himself too hard during a 'chest muscle eating show' challenge, and the moment when Jang Dong-min was accused of drawing a psychopath test image during a mini photo contest inside 'Choi Busan-san', leading him to crumple the drawing and create a 'Cubist artwork'.

Even without overly aggressive scenes, the members, who are already seasoned 'variety veterans' in this field, enjoy seamless banter. When Yoo Se-yoon and Jang Dong-min suddenly lose their cool, Boom, Yang Se-hyeong, and Heo Kyeong-hwan step in to challenge them and restore balance. At times, Jang Dong-min, Boom, and Heo Kyeong-hwan become the easy targets for teasing.

Viewers of 'Choi Busan-san' commented, "I laughed out loud for the first time in a while," "There are plenty of mountains in Korea, let's go to all of them," "Friday 'I Live Alone', Saturday 'What Do You Do When You're Bored?', Sunday 'Choi Busan-san'—the golden age of MBC variety has returned," "It feels like watching early 'Manmo'."

"It's like watching early 'Manmo'," "After watching daily variety shows, I appreciate this primitive variety," "If this gets regular scheduling, it will become one of MBC's top two variety shows alongside 'What Do You Do When You're Bored?'", among other fresh laughs that earned applause.

Additionally, there is much praise for the members: "Heo Kyeong-hwan's occasional sharp remarks are hilarious," "Jang Dong-min and Yoo Se-yoon drinking water is pure genius," "It's funny because they are pure comedians and MCs," "The member combination is excellent," "It's rare to see a variety show without actors or idols."

Although 'Choi Busan-san' concludes its pilot episodes with lackluster results, MBC's bold investment raises curiosity about whether it will create a legendary variety show.

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*This content was translated by AI.