Short Track Stars Lee Jung-min and Lim Jong-eon Make Their Variety Show Debut on JTBC's 'Talk Pawon 25 Hours'

Short track national team members Lee Jung-min and Lim Jong-eon are set to make their first appearance on a variety show. Previously, JTBC, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, faced criticism for not airing the moment of Korea's first gold medal by Choi Ga-on.

JTBC's 'Talk Pawon 25 Hours' will feature unique experiences from Nairobi, Kenya, La Paz, Bolivia, Harbin, China, and special moments with stars from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The upcoming episode will include Korea's top history lecturer Choi Tae-sung and short track relay silver medalists Lee Jung-min and Lim Jong-eon.

In the studio, Lee Jung-min and Lim Jong-eon, key figures in Korea's short track men's 5,000m relay medal, will share behind-the-scenes stories from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. They will appear with their Olympic medals and showcase the equipment used during the actual competition, highlighting their status as Olympic medalists. The episode will feature a thrilling review of Lim Jong-eon's men's 1,000m final, where he clinched a bronze medal by surpassing Canada's William Dandjinou, a strong gold medal contender, and Lee Jung-min's impressive overtaking in the men's 5,000m relay semifinals and finals.

Renowned history communicator Choi Tae-sung will also appear as a guest. Choi expressed his ambition to claim the title of 'history gangster' on 'Talk Pawon 25 Hours.' He shared his admiration for the program, calling it the best and revealing himself as a devoted viewer. He also issued a playful challenge to the show's original history expert, Sun Kim, stating, "Nothing is eternal in history."

The first segment will introduce a virtual tour of Nairobi, Kenya, where traditional culture and urban life coexist. The correspondent visits Nairobi National Park, Kenya's first national park, and encounters various animals like impalas and giraffes on a safari ride. However, the tranquility is short-lived as a sudden monkey attack causes chaos inside the vehicle, sparking curiosity.

The tour continues with a visit to a coffee farm to participate in the coffee harvesting process and a trip to the city market to experience the local Nairobi atmosphere. The correspondent transforms into a Kenyan 'hipster,' showcasing the trendy Ankara headwrap culture popular among the local 'Gen Z.' The stylish look with Ankara wrapped around the head received reactions of "hip" from onlookers.

Catch the episode on March 2 at 8:50 PM on JTBC's 'Talk Pawon 25 Hours.'

Reporter: Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr