MBC's 'Manito Club' Season 2: Star-Studded Cast and Behind-the-Scenes Insights

"For the second season, I thought of Yoon-jung Ko, who isn't often seen in variety shows but has always piqued my interest. I've heard she's very genuine and down-to-earth on drama sets, and I wanted to bring that charm into our show."

This was shared by PD Kim Tae-ho during a round interview about the new MBC variety show 'Manito Club.' The interview took place on the 20th, where Kim Tae-ho discussed the concept of 'Manito Club,' a variety show centered around the theme of 'a group of people who know how to share one gift into two.'

'Manito Club' operates in three seasons, with a different cast for each. The first season featured Choo Sung-hoon, Noh Hong-chul, Lee Soo-ji, Dex, and Jennie, creating a buzz. The second season will feature Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, Jung Hae-in, Yoon-jung Ko, and Kim Do-hoon.

The casting of popular actress Yoon-jung Ko has garnered significant attention, as she is rarely seen outside of her acting roles. Regarding this, PD Kim explained, "For the second and third seasons, I wanted to clearly define the secret Manito targets. We cast people who fit this concept."

After the first season aired, some viewers noted similarities to traditional chase-themed variety shows. PD Kim addressed this by saying, "The first 'Manito Club' members, like Dex, Jennie, Choo Sung-hoon, Lee Soo-ji, and Noh Hong-chul, are seasoned entertainers, so we didn't set a strict concept initially. We decided to let them lead the flow, and we would follow it closely."

He continued, "This approach might have led to chase-like scenes in teasers and broadcasts. When the production team suggested a benefit for the first person to give a gift, the atmosphere changed, and they started running."

PD Kim also discussed the casting of Jung Hae-in for the second season, saying, "I had a good connection with Jung Hae-in during 'Good Day' last year. Knowing his kind and warm-hearted nature, I thought it would be great to work with him again." He added, "The second season's cast may not have the closest relationships, but they fit the show's theme well. We focused on this aspect during casting."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr