Park Myung-soo declares retirement: "Nothing in 35 years of broadcasting has been as hard as 'Infinite Challenge'.." Tired of traveling to Ethiopia with Kim Dae-ho, Choi Daniel, and Lee Moo-jin [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Broadcasters Park Myung-soo and Kim Dae-ho, actor Choi Daniel, and singer Lee Moo-jin are set to embark on a trip to Ethiopia this time.

On the afternoon of the 9th, an online production presentation for MBC Every1's variety program "Great Guide 3" was held. PD Woo Tak-woo, Park Myung-soo, Kim Dae-ho, Choi Daniel, Lee Moo-jin, and Jeon So-min attended.

"Great Guide" is a travel reality program where participants blindly follow a guidebook designed by a Korean foreigner from a country they never considered as a travel destination. After a pilot broadcast in 2023, Season 1 in 2024 visited Italy, Egypt, the UK, Mexico, and India. Last year, Season 2 covered Rwanda, Argentina, and Jordan. Last year's Season 2.5 featured travelogues from Gangwon-do's Jeongseon, China, and Laos.

In this season of "Great Guide," Season 3, the members who have been part of the show since Season 2—Park Myung-soo, Kim Dae-ho, Choi Daniel, and Lee Moo-jin—will travel to Ethiopia. Jeon So-min joined as a studio panelist.

PD Woo Tak-woo introduced "Great Guide 3," saying, "This Season 3 was approached with the keyword 'adventure' rather than 'travel.' We sought out countries that are difficult to imagine as travel destinations and will showcase an adventure of exploration." He also stated, "The chemistry among the members has improved with each season. This season shows even stronger bonds of friendship."

In this season, the members traveled to two locations near Africa: Ethiopia and Morocco. When asked about the reason, PD Woo said, "People only know Ethiopia as a transit point in Africa and the birthplace of coffee, so I wondered what it would be like to actually visit. Morocco is known as a destination of extreme difficulty even for those who travel frequently. Since it hasn't been covered much on broadcasts, I thought it was the perfect choice for this season."

When asked about the members' chemistry, he said, "Members usually bond when they suffer together, but on our program, they were so eager not to get eaten by each other. They couldn't let their guard down until the end. Also, the members show unexpected sides. If you were fishing, you'd see who's good or bad at it, but here, they take off their shirts," he added with a laugh.

What are the viewing points of "Great Guide 3"? PD Woo said, "You might wonder if this is variety or a documentary. Rough visuals have emerged to the point where people say it looks like 'National Geographic.' We aimed to show interviews with locals and unfamiliar scenes."

Regarding his impressions of appearing on "Great Guide 3," Park Myung-soo said, "This time, we will show you a level that pushes us to our limits. We're not just showing you our laughing and joking sides; we're undertaking various challenges. It's extremely unconventional, and I feel 'Great Guide 3' might be my final work." When the cast asked, "Is this a retirement declaration?" Park replied, "Retirement can always be retracted. Unless I get swallowed by a crocodile or trampled by an elephant, there can be no more travel variety shows."

When asked about his impressions of appearing with the same members from the previous season, Park said, "It was good last season. It wasn't burdensome, and I thought the chemistry would come out well as before." Kim Dae-ho answered, "I still prefer traveling alone, but on this four-person trip, I felt the comfort of traveling alone. This trip was fun as well."

Choi Daniel said, "It felt like meeting long-lost relatives or family. I was curious how we would greet each other, but it was as comfortable as when we met last week. I may not have expressed it much, but they were a great support." Lee Moo-jin added, "I was happy to hear I'd be joining this season again. Having only worked in the music industry, this was my first time appearing on a variety show, and I was glad to learn so much. After only seeing fellow musicians, meeting seniors from other fields taught me many things, including how to approach life."

Park Myung-soo described this trip as extremely difficult, saying, "When we get tired while traveling, we curse. If it doesn't get better later, we curse even more. If we go further, we give up and leave it to God's will. Is this travel?" He vented his frustration. Kim Dae-ho added, "Ethiopia and Morocco were places that were difficult to challenge rashly, but we went on an adventure. Since we became pioneers, please bear with us." Park said, "You will see something never seen before in existing variety shows. There is no travel program more intense than this under any circumstances. We don't just play and eat together. We found God while traveling. We said, 'Oh God.' Doing this show creates even a religion that didn't exist before."

Kim Dae-ho said, "This trip made me dislike nature. I said, 'I want to travel only to cities.' I cut off nature." This sparked curiosity. Choi Daniel also added, "I love cities too." Park said, "My teeth are chattering. Why did I have to find God while traveling? Even watching 'Great Guide 3' myself surprised me. I wondered if we hadn't done this since Season 2. Did they bring in a Hollywood production team? The screen quality has improved so much. The PD has changed after getting married."

Lee Moo-jin said, "I also found God like Park Myung-soo hyung," revealing that they endured a difficult journey. He added, "At that time, Kim Dae-ho hyung said, 'If not now, when?' and instilled the mindset that 'if you do it, you can do it.'"

Kim Dae-ho is shown hospitalized during the filming of "Great Guide 3." He said, "In trying to show you adventure and challenges, I ended up getting sick without realizing it. The members were a great help then, and thanks to them, I was able to return home safely." Kim Dae-ho also revealed that he appeared without a single thread of clothing. He said, "To truly feel nature, I entered the water without a single thread of clothing and felt the greatness of nature. Even a shy nature-lover like me would envy that sight."

Jeon So-min said, "We became like each other. Choi Daniel became like Kim Dae-ho, and Kim Dae-ho became like Choi Daniel. There were personal moments, but within them, they took care of each other," and added, "There were hardships, emotions, and visual beauty." Jeon So-min also said, "I saw Moo-jin's growth this time. It was impressive to see him leading the seniors as a leader. I was surprised to see him expressing his own opinions."

He said, "Meeting the tribes was mysterious and surprising. With the hardships and drama, there was a tension like watching a movie. It feels like a suspense film." When asked if there was a member he would like to travel with, Jeon So-min said, "For someone with similar tastes, I'd like to go to restaurants with Choi Daniel. For finding the way and handling crises, I'd like to go with Lee Moo-jin. Park Myung-soo oppa is quick with calculations and good at bargaining."

Park Myung-soo emphasized, "In 35 years of broadcasting, I faced difficulties and twists in many programs like 'Infinite Challenge,' but this was the hardest. It was truly, truly hard. I will show you a hyper-realistic travel guide." When MC Park Ji-min asked, "Kim Tae-ho vs. Woo Tak-woo," Park immediately replied, "Kim Tae-ho," and laughed, saying, "PD Kim Tae-ho has six plans just for planning."

"Great Guide 3" will premiere on the 9th at 8:30 p.m.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.