Na Young-seok's Directorial Style Faces Mixed Reactions in 'Lee Seo-jin's Dollar Adventure'

Kim Se-ah's Insight
TenAsia's Kim Se-ah delves deeply into entertainment industry issues.

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Director Na Young-seok is once again placing his production team at the forefront, leading to mixed reactions from viewers. While some praise the breaking of boundaries between the director and cast, others criticize it for disrupting immersion.

The Netflix variety show 'Lee Seo-jin's Dollar Adventure', directed by Na Young-seok and Kim Ye-seul, quickly gained attention upon release. However, the frequent appearances of the production team have drawn criticism from some viewers. Na Young-seok himself admitted at a press conference, "While editing after filming, I felt I might have made a mistake. I ended up appearing a lot. If there's a next season, I'll significantly reduce my screen time." In this show, he appears almost as much as Lee Seo-jin, participating in key activities like choosing outfits and dining, effectively becoming part of the cast.

This approach has previously established Na Young-seok as a 'star PD'. By drawing the cast into the main stage of variety shows, viewers could engage with the cast through the PD. This was evident in past shows like KBS's '2 Days & 1 Night', where the interaction between Na and the cast became a source of entertainment.

The issue lies in the repetitive nature of this style and the extent to which the production team should appear. The consensus in the broadcasting industry is that while a PD can join the cast, it should not overshadow the cast's narrative. 'Lee Seo-jin's Dollar Adventure' is a travel show where Lee Seo-jin shares his experiences and stories, but the frequent appearances of the production team make it seem more like 'Lee Seo-jin and Na Young-seok's Travel Diary'.

Compared to its predecessor 'Lee Seo-jin's New York, New York', the difference is stark. Previously, the production team subtly accompanied Lee Seo-jin's journey, but now their presence and role have significantly increased, changing the dynamic. They have transitioned from facilitators to active participants, leading to criticisms that the production team stands out more than Lee Seo-jin.

Despite this, the industry expects this style to continue for now, as the show performed well, topping the TOP10 list within two days of its release on the 24th. However, the increased involvement of the production team has also led to viewer fatigue. Na Young-seok himself acknowledged at the press conference, "While editing after filming, I felt I might have made a mistake. I ended up appearing a lot. If there's a next season, I'll significantly reduce my screen time."

Na Young-seok is a renowned star PD and a talented director. However, his unique style of blurring the lines between cast and production is no longer novel to viewers. While he continues to introduce new program formats, his tendency to feature himself prominently is becoming self-replicating. It's time for him to explore new directorial approaches.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr