Lee Yong-jin: "'The Rival in the Outfield' Has a Faster Pace Than 'Ex on the Beach'; Watching It Live Feels Fresh' [Interview ②]

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Lee Yong-jin explained the unique appeal of "The Rival in the Outfield," which differs from "Ex on the Beach."

On the 6th, an interview was conducted at a cafe in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, featuring PD Lee Ki-yeon of Tving's dating reality show "The Rival in the Outfield," former professional baseball player turned broadcaster Hwang Jae-gyun who served as MC, comedian Lee Yong-jin, and Lovelyz member and actress Yeeun.

"The Rival in the Outfield" is a dating reality show that follows the process of men and women who support different teams finding connections while watching games together at an actual baseball stadium.

Lee Yong-jin has also served as a panelist on Tving's representative dating variety show, "Ex on the Beach." He cited the fast-paced development as a key differentiator for "The Rival in the Outfield." Lee said, "What was appealing about 'The Rival in the Outfield' is that meetings and decisions are all contained within a single episode," adding, "They say we live in the era of short-form content these days, and being able to resolve curiosity immediately is an advantage."

He continued, "While dating shows have the fun of watching them unfold over a long period, I think they will also be enjoyable for those who prefer shorter formats," adding, "I feel that combining it with the sport of baseball has doubled the entertainment value. First of all, it is good because it is fast." He further noted, "Participants actively capture many aspects of themselves for up to five hours at a time. There are interesting elements to be found within that."

The live broadcast from the commentary box was also cited as a point distinguishing it from existing dating variety shows. Lee stated, "In other programs, we comment while watching edited footage, but watching it live is incredibly fun," adding, "We approached it in a fresh and enjoyable way." He continued, "The cheering sounds at baseball games are so loud that participants' voices sometimes cannot be heard clearly. So I have to check and listen several times," explaining, "There is also the advantage of being able to focus so as not to miss a single word."

When compared to "Ex on the Beach," the variables created by the fast pace were also cited as a differentiator. Lee said, "The unexpected situation I think of is when the game ends very quickly," adding, "You can feel participants getting anxious once it becomes two outs, and there are cases where they make choices without finishing things properly. I believe that is part of the planning intent. I thought those would be the variables." He added, "In existing dating programs, you have to wait until the fifth episode for actions showing interest to appear, but here signals emerge within just two innings."

Additionally, Lee offered advice to prospective participants: "If you are coming to find love, the time is not as long as you might think. I feel like you should pitch with full effort," adding, "I think it would be good to approach it with a sense of speed, just like in baseball."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original