Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi's entertainment shows every day are good or bad?

Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi reunite on a regular entertainment show after 8 years. There are two programs, ‘Brother Ramen’ and ‘Strong Heart League’. Coincidentally, both the first broadcast date and time zone are similar. Will the successive programming be beneficial or detrimental to Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi? This is why expectations and concerns coexist.

TV Chosun's 'Brother Ramen' and SBS' 'Strong Heart League' both confirmed their first broadcasts in the fourth week of May. The dates are the 22nd and 23rd, respectively, and the time zone is 10 PM. Accordingly, the entertainment show featuring Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi can now be seen on Mondays and Tuesdays in a row.

‘Brother Ramen’ is a program that introduces Korean ramen to Japanese people who are familiar with ramen by opening ramen shops in famous tourist destinations in Japan. Kang Ho-dong, Lee Seung-gi, and actor Bae In-hyuk are together.

‘Strong Heart League’ is a talk competition entertainment show that follows the concept of ‘Strong Heart’, which aired from 2009 to 2013. Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi, who were MCs of 'Strong Heart', reunite as 2 MCs after 10 years, and Lee Ji-hye, Kim Dong-hyun, Kim Ho-young, Young Tak, Uhm Ji-yoon and Son Dong-pyo will serve as 'talk coaches'.

Expectations are high for the combination of Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi, who are reunited 8 years after 'New Journey to the West' Season 1, but there are also concerns. First of all, 'Brother Ramen' is one of the recent restaurant entertainment shows that are pouring in. 'Seojin's' and 'Business Genius Baeksajang' are currently being broadcast in a similar format, taking the form of opening a restaurant overseas and observing the reactions of foreigners. Accordingly, viewers' fatigue with restaurant entertainment has also increased. In this situation, it is questionable whether ‘Brother Ramen’, which opens a ramen shop in Japan, can provide any differentiation.

Concerns and expectations coexist in 'Strong Heart League' as it is a revival of the disappearing talk entertainment. 10 years ago, when 'Strong Heart' was broadcast, there were many entertainment shows that featured groups of people giving talks. However, trends in entertainment have continued to change, and talk entertainment has now almost disappeared. ‘You Quiz on the Block’ and ‘Tongue Mixed Martial Arts Sechiyeon’ remain as talk-type entertainment.

It is questionable whether the format that was popular 10 years ago will still work in 2023. 'Seventeen', which airs at the same time, is also recording a viewership rating of around 1% despite being in the late-night prime time slot.

The pressure must be as great as the expectations placed on it. As this is the first meeting in 8 years, there will be pressure about viewership ratings. Moreover, both Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi have not performed well on entertainment shows recently. 'Peak Time', hosted by Lee Seung-gi, ended at 1%, and 'Meet Me at Gogi', in which Kang Ho-dong currently appears, is recording 0%. The long-running entertainment show ‘Knowing Brothers’ is also low at around 2%.

Being featured on different entertainment shows for two days in a row is not an advantageous factor. Because it only takes a moment for joy to turn into disappointment. Attention is focused on what effect the reunion of Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi will have on each other.

Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr