Jang Dong-min Aims for Fifth Survival Show Victory on 'Betting on Fact'

Jang Dong-min, who has won four survival shows and amassed approximately 300 million won in prize money, is aiming for his fifth victory on the new survival show 'Betting on Fact' on Wavve. He expressed his determination by stating, "It's an area I haven't explored before, so my competitive spirit was ignited."

On the 26th, the online press conference for Wavve's new original survival show 'Betting on Fact' was live-streamed. Attendees included comedian Jang Dong-min, Lee Yong-jin, singer and actress Ye-won, professor Jin Joong-kwon, political YouTuber Hellmouse, broadcaster Jung Young-jin, former People Power Party spokesperson Kang Jeon-ae, former Democratic Party Supreme Council member Park Sung-min, and PD Kim Min-jong.

'Betting on Fact' is a reality news game show where eight participants live in isolation and determine the truth of news in an era flooded with fake news.

PD Kim Min-jong stated, "I wanted to create an entertaining show using fake news as the theme. The interesting part about fake news is that people can perceive the same news as either true or false. This phenomenon occurs because each news consumer has different thoughts and backgrounds. That's where the casting started."

Kim PD added, "It seemed interesting to gather people from different political affiliations, those active in politics and entertainment, and people who wouldn't normally meet socially."

Jang Dong-min, a four-time survival show winner, is set to play as a 'strategist player' who designs the game, while Lee Yong-jin is expected to be a 'tactician player' who turns the tables when others are off guard.

Jang Dong-min, who has won a total of 312 million won from shows like 'The Genius: Black Garnet' (60 million won), 'The Genius: Grand Final' (132 million won), 'Society Game 2' (20 million won), and 'Bloody Game 3' (100 million won), explained his participation by saying, "Participating in survival programs is burdensome at this point. This time, it's a survival format that determines the truth of news. It's an area I haven't explored, so I was intrigued. My competitive spirit for new challenges led me to join." Lee Yong-jin commented, "I've been reading newspapers for about three years, and this program seemed to come to me by chance. I felt it was a sign that I had to do it."

Lee Yong-jin further explained his strategy, "It didn't make sense to plan strategies on the fly. I planned according to the flow. Preparing in advance doesn't fit the nature of the program, so I started strategizing from the second episode." Ye-won shared, "My approach was different, and there were moments when it became an advantage. Since it's not my main field, I thought I might be at a disadvantage. But after filming the first two episodes, I thought, 'Maybe not?' It felt somewhat similar. However, as the episodes progressed, there were many unpredictable news stories."

'Debate Veteran' Jin Joong-kwon aims to win as a 'logical player' who overwhelms opponents with logic, Jung Young-jin as a 'big data player' who dominates with overwhelming information, and Hellmouse as an 'analytical player' who dismantles fake news through fact-checking.

Jin Joong-kwon confessed, "Initially, I didn't want to participate because it didn't seem to fit with me. But recently, I've been concerned about the harm of fake news, so I thought it might have a public interest aspect. I regretted it a lot on set." Jung Young-jin said, "Seeing the participants, I thought it was okay to join. But everyone ends up looking foolish." Hellmouse added humorously, "When I received the offer, I was excited about the possibility of working with celebrities. I've been a current affairs broadcast writer for 15 years and a political commentator for 5 years. I expected to meet celebrities, but Professor Jin Joong-kwon was there."

Jin Joong-kwon recalled feeling tempted to shake his beliefs, saying, "The hardest part was not knowing who Hellmouse was, and he publicly criticized me as soon as I arrived. I felt like I was trapped, and I couldn't control my expression." He added, "Seeing him confront me directly, I wondered, 'Why did I come here?'"

Hellmouse shared about moments when his beliefs were shaken, "I gave up my belief in facts. Winning the game was important, so I approached it with the mindset of doing what was necessary. Professor Jin Joong-kwon and I were the biggest victims of the production team's tricks." Jin Joong-kwon retorted, "You're the perpetrator." Jung Young-jin commented, "I wondered if they really had convictions because they were shaken everywhere, and it was hard to watch."

Ye-won is set to make a strong impression as an 'emotional player' who shakes the board with unexpected moves, Park Sung-min as an 'aggressive player' who pushes through to the end, and Kang Jeon-ae as a 'hexagonal player' with both experience and logic.

Ye-won expressed, "I didn't expect to be offered such a program. I thought it was far from the image I've shown. As someone who encounters a lot of fake and real news, I had a sense of problem awareness. I thought I could view it from a public perspective rather than a professional one, so I courageously decided to participate."

Park Sung-min said, "This is my second connection with Wavve. My prejudice against survival shows was broken, so when the offer came, I thought it would be an interesting experience." Kang Jeon-ae explained, "I immediately agreed when the offer came. I've appeared in current affairs and political segments, but I often had to speak from the party's perspective rather than my own. Last year, during a difficult time, I had to say things that conflicted with my conscience. I thought it would be nice to have a platform to express my true thoughts, and I decided to participate, thinking I could voice my opinions as a constructive member of Korean society."

Park Sung-min and Kang Jeon-ae, who were recently involved in politics, shared their challenges. Park Sung-min said, "Knowing too much was a disadvantage. I thought I was objective, but I realized I wasn't. There were moments when I hoped something was true based on my beliefs. I struggled to find a balance between reality and desire."

Kang Jeon-ae shared, "When news overlapped between parties, I felt like an old-fashioned person. Even when I knew something wasn't true, I found myself on the opposite side. It was an old-fashioned behavior. I was surprised at myself. Although we had different thoughts, when I wasn't feeling well, everyone came to help, massaging my hands and providing medicine. It made me feel warm, realizing that despite our differences, we were a team in difficult times."

'Betting on Fact' premieres on the 27th at 11 AM.

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