Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
g.o.d returns with travel variety show
A promotional photo for JTBC's new travel variety “Shall We Walk Together”/Courtesy of JTBC
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
Five-member K-pop idol group g.o.d of the early 2000s, which received huge popularity by appearing in child-rearing variety show “Babysitting Diary” between 2000 and 2001, has returned with JTBC's new travel variety show 17 years later.
In the “Shall We Walk Together” premiere Thursday, the five men, who debuted in January 1999, went on a two week long trek in the Camino de Santiago, Spain _ a route known as a spiritual path _ in order to commemorate their upcoming 20th anniversary.
“It was physically the hardest show I've ever done. But there was more that I gained,” said Park Joon-hyung, leader of the group and now famous for his YouTube channel “Wassup Man,” during a press conference at the JTBC headquarters in Seoul, prior to the show's broadcast. “We have walked our separate ways for many years, but for the two weeks together with each other, I felt like it filled all the gaps between us,” he added.
The band, known for multiple hits like “To Mother,” “Road” and “One Candle,” had been nicknamed “the nation's idol” due to the broad popular appeal in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Following the departure of a member, the rest went on solo careers from 2015. They, however, reunited and made a comeback in 2014 releasing their 8th album “Chapter 8.”
Yoon Kae-sang, who left the group in 2004 and pursued an acting career, said he had concerns for the show initially. “With old memories fading and having lived separate ways of life, I was worried about whether we could go back to the good old times. But the moment the five of us got together, we went back in time and all the memories we built together were rekindled,” he said. “By the time we ended our trek, I thought that we could all start over again. It was like a life highlight for me.”
The first episode showed the five members sitting together ahead of going trekking. Kim Tae-woo, the band's youngest member, speaks of his anticipation for the upcoming journey, saying he feels like “breaking away from the routine of daily life.” In the city of Leon, where they started the trek, the five men reenacted the pose they took for their first album cover, harking back to memories of their old fans. Sharing a hotel room, the five members were reminded of the old days when they trained and lived under the same roof. The travel variety show started off with 1.5 percent in viewership ratings.
“While watching this show, I wish people could dream of setting off to travel with close friends,” said the show's director Oh Yoon-hwan. Meanwhile, g.o.d will have three concerts in Seoul between Nov. 30 and Dec. 2, to celebrate the 20th anniversary. They will continue their concerts in Daegu and Busan in December.