'New Journey to the West' dodges controversy

Kang Ho-dong, left, and Lee Su-geun in a scene from Na Young-seok's new web series "New Journey to the West" / Courtesy of tvN

By Kwon Ji-youn

Star producer Na Young-seok was right again.

"New Journey to the West," featuring members from the first season of KBS's travel show "Two Days and One Night," has surpassed the 22 million viewer mark as of Sunday, just three weeks after the producers revealed its first preview on Aug. 25. The clips have also garnered more than 10 million views on Chinese web portal QQ.

"I'm glad to have met our goal of 20 million views so early," said Na. "We will work even harder to produce content that is worth watching."

"New Journey," starring comedians Kang Ho-dong, Lee Su-geun, singers Lee Seung-gi and Eun Ji-won, has continued to make headlines for its controversial cast, new ventures and the fact that Na, behind hits like "Grandpas Over Flowers" and "Three Meals a Day," was helming the production. So far, 10 episodes have been uploaded over two Fridays, and both viewer and media reactions are largely affirmative.

On the show, the reunited members travel through China, undertaking missions such as getting to their hotel with very little battery charge left in their smartphones, or ordering a specific dish from a menu typed only in Chinese.

The members boast a chemistry that isn't easy to achieve even after years together on a single show. Having confronted their past mistakes, it is clear each member is approaching the show with more sincerity and earnestness. Kang in particular _ who once stood on equal footing with the most highly sought-after emcee Yu Jae-seok _ has experienced difficulties making a successful comeback after his hiatus following accusations of tax evasion in 2011. But with the help of his old friends, Kang seems to be adapting well to the new format, which viewers are welcoming this time around.

"New Journey" may not have turned as many heads had it aired on television. A project for tvN's digital content brand "tvN go," the show's clips are streamed online through a web portal, which means viewers must actively seek them to be able to watch them. Because some members have antagonized fans with misconduct, Na's choice of an online platform has sidestepped the controversy the show would have faced had it been broadcast on television, as well as minimized any friction.

Utilizing the web platform has also given the producers and members the freedom they weren't able to enjoy on television. The producers poke fun at the members' flaws and controversies with captions that are more than blatant, and the members, in response, have become as daring and are more open with what they say or how they act. The show doesn't censor brand names, which helps viewers better identify with the members as they travel through the central Chinese city of Xi'an, and the lines don't sound as scripted or rehearsed.

Because the clips are short and available online, they can be viewed anywhere, at any time. Web content, a big part of the fast-spreading "snack culture," is perhaps better suited to today's lifestyle. Viewers are no longer forced to wait for a specific time to watch their favorite shows, and because the clips come in short segments of three to 13 minutes, they can be downloaded or streamed on smartphones while on the move, much like enjoying a quick snack.

"New Journey to the West," inspired by the 16th century Chinese novel "Journey to the West," is available at 10 a.m. on Fridays exclusively through Naver's online streaming platform "tvcast."

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