Kim Byung-man's 'endless challenge' is amazing... but 'fun', the essence of entertainment, is a challenge

Entertainer Kim Byeong-man returned as a pilot this time. Specializing in adventure entertainment and filming 'Legend' with the law of the jungle, he plans to show viewers the vast nature while piloting an airplane this time. His endless challenges have also moved many people. However, it is true that there are concerns about going back and forth between variety shows and documentaries. Will he, who has returned as an airplane pilot, be able to take on both challenges and fun?

MBN's 'Outing! 'Captain Kim' is the fruit of what he has been preparing for 5 years. As the first celebrity pilot, he rides a light plane and conveys the scenery overlooking the sky to viewers. Kim Byung-man plans to show the vast nature of New Zealand from the sky and show viewers even hidden places accessible only by plane.

Kim Byung-man did not show any special broadcasting moves after the domestic version of Law of the Jungle ended in 2021. It is natural for him to return to the outdoor adventure variety show if you look at his broadcasting company. Kim Byung-man's life as an entertainer in his 18th year of debut was a challenge itself. In 2002, he debuted as a comedian in the 17th KBS open recruitment. The character of a gag concert master made him what he is today. Since then, he has been active in the SBS entertainment show 'Law of the Jungle' and has been evaluated as having made a mark in Korean broadcasting companies. He won the Grand Prize at the 2013 and 2015 SBS Drama Awards.

He never stopped trying. I tried skydiving. Unfortunately, on July 20, 2017, he suffered a spinal compression fracture while training in skydiving. If it was someone else, I would have saved myself. Kim Byung-man did not. It turned the crisis into the beginning of a challenge. At the production presentation, Kim Byeong-man mentioned the moments when he was lying in the hospital due to spinal compression fractures in the past, and said, "I was living in a sense of shame, but I happened to be an Air Force public relations ambassador, and there I thought of trying to fly."

The problem is that broadcasting should not simply stop at highlighting his challenging history. The Law of the Jungle became a popular program as stars overcame difficulties in the middle of nature and found fun in it. Season 1 started with an audience rating of 8.4%, and the final episode recorded the highest rating of 16.7%. It was the result of capturing freshness, emotion, and fun. However, as the season repeated, the freshness inevitably diminished. In the second half, there was also an evaluation that the fun factor was halved. Kim Byung-man's 'taking care of guests' was the main content.

This 'out! Captain Kim' recorded 1.6% in the first episode. I was also impressed by the fresh screen. However, the fun factor, which is the essence of entertainment, was relatively disappointing. The fact that the subject of flight itself is mainly focused on showing nature rather than the cast, and that the spatial range that the cast can do is limited to the inside of the plane seemed to be a clear limitation. In the end, it is said that there is no choice but to emphasize the entertainment element through various activities before the flight. In that case, there is a dilemma in which novelty cannot but be halved.

Kim Byung-man, who has already led the law of the jungle for 11 years and won the grand prize twice, has become an 'unprecedented' entertainer himself. Viewers remember the touching moments brought by his challenge story. But now, as he embarked on a new challenge, it was time to show viewers a new kind of fun. Times have changed, and viewers' needs have become more complex. Whether Kim Byung-man will create another heyday, the challenge has begun again.

Reporter Tae Yuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr