The unpredictable nature of life - Lamenting the demise of Kim Joo-hyuk

I thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me when I read the headline.

"Kim Joo-hyuk passes away due to car accident"

How could it be? So sudden, so unexpected and so saddening.

It was just yesterday when I watched the latest episode of 1n2d on KBS World when they were giving out awards to the members, past and present, and their guests in conjunction with the 10th anniversary celebration. And they were just teasing him endlessly and referring to him affectionately by his nickname of Gutaeng Hyeong which was born out of his stint on this show. It feels like you are seeing this person right in front of you one day and the next, he's gone. Forever.

Details of his car accident are still pretty sketchy especially since his agency hasn't said much yet other than they are trying to confirm the news. However, with so many news reports on this case since the accident took place 4.30pm KST, I think that there is little likelihood that this is fake news. The agency wouldn't have let this spread like wildfire if this was untrue.

My first encounter with Gutaeng Hyeong wasn't actually through 1n2d. Years ago, I happened to come across his 2008 drama "Terroir" while channel-surfing on cable TV. Although I didn't finish watching that drama, my impression of him (partly due to his image there) was that he was suave and cool. However, I haven't seen any of his other works although he was well-known as an actor.

Of course, 1n2d showed that my initial impression of him was wrong. This show is "notorious" for unveiling the true self of whoever appears on it and that's part of the show's charm because it is such raw fun to see the cast shed their images and have fun. Although Gutaeng Hyeong was clumsy and fumbling his way through most of the time, he made an impact with his endearing nature. In particular, there was an episode when he went to the places where his parents visited in their youth and that was really moving to see him retrace their footsteps.

I know life is unpredictable. I've had people near me who just passed away all of a sudden without a chance for me to say a proper goodbye. That really hurts a lot. Even though I may not know Gutaeng Hyeong personally, it just feels sad to see someone you know, even from a distance, go away forever in such a manner. I can imagine that it must be worse for those who know him personally especially his family and girlfriend.

Suddenly, it just makes me feel that my own troubles don't seem to be that big anymore. Of course, they are still serious issues to me. Nonetheless, in the face of death and eternal separation, they probably seem so much less important. I keep reminding myself not to let the negative things in life bring me down and try to embrace each day with a positive mindset. It's easier said than done, really.

However, I really don't need to see another example of such sudden loss around me.

And I really should be counting my blessings for each day I am alive to do what I want to do.

So the dust has settled? Or so it seems, for the time being.

The news has finally been confirmed. Taewoong, Sikyung and Haejin are leaving the 1n2d. I guess for the first two, they have their other work activities to think of. Taewoong just announced his involvement in a new cable drama a few days back while there is word that Sikyung needs the time to work on his album. Haejin also has his acting projects to think of but it's still sad to see him leave after such a short time on the show.

What's more surprising is the manner how Sugeun has bowed out from 1n2d. It just reminds a lot of how Mong and Hodong left the show against their own will. In Mong's case, although it's been some time since his case was closed, he still hasn't made his comeback. I think the trauma of the backlash against him was very overwhelming and hurting so it really made him lose the confidence to restart his career. Hodong did make his comeback but not without some setbacks in the beginning. Sugeun's situation is somewhat in between the two of them. Although he is a famous comedian and host, his status in showbiz still pales in comparison to Hodong prior to his scandal so it will be quite difficult and time-consuming before he makes a comeback. Coupled with that, he still has two young kids to take care of and his wife's health condition wasn't that good too. Since he has already admitted to the illegal gambling charges, I won't dwell too much on this or criticise him for what he did. All I have to say is, if not for this case, Sugeun might not have left the show which he has stuck with for so long. I feel for his family especially since he had been under so much pressure to keep the show going after all these changes and support his family but this scandal will no doubt make it difficult for him to continue his career for a period of time. If only he had left on a voluntary basis and not under the shadow of such a scandal...

Now, it seems like there are at least two new names being said to be the "confirmed" new cast members of season 3. Actor Kim Joohyuk and rock singer Jung Joonyoung are said to be joining Jongmin and Taehyun in the new season. I suppose there may be more new names to be announced soon? I've only seen Kim Joohyuk in one of his dramas Terroir which wasn't very exciting but I vaguely remember seeing him on Running Man before. Still, I wonder how he will be like in 1n2d. As for Jung, I really have no idea who he is so I will be getting to know him through the show.

Not again! Rumoured departures from 1n2d?

I am so sick of such news, really.

Rumours are going around that KBS is planning a season 3 of 1n2d after a PD change and impending departures of Sung Si Kyung, Yoo Hae Jin and Kim Jong Min. Just when PD Lee has finally come up with some "better episodes" (the recent Campus 24 Hours episodes were the most enjoyable I've seen in recent days) and the cast is finally starting to gel together, this had to happen. Did PD Lee lose his job because the ratings were bad? Then again, their main competitor Running Man is also suffering from low ratings too because competition is getting so much stiffer in the same timeslot with many options available. Yet, you don't see them changing the cast or PDs so readily as if it's a game of musical chairs. And the Running Man cast was very frank about the state of things and stated in recent interviews that they try to focus on their programme rather than worry about the figures which is beyond their control. So why is 1n2d being "punished" for having equally low ratings?  Was it because 1n2d was so successful in the past that any drop in the figure becomes an unforgivable sin?

Ratings simply do not tell the whole story about the quality of a show. However, in reality, that's how they usually get judged because advertisers look at the ratings to decide where to buy CM slots in. I admit, 1n2d has lost its shine over the years but I think it also has to do with the series of changes it went through. Starting from the time Jong Min rejoined the cast, Kim C left, Mong had to leave because of his military service scandal, Ho Dong leaving due to the tax evasion scandal, addition of new cast members (Uhm Tae Woong, Kim Seungwoo, Joo Won, Si Kyung, Tae Hyun, Haejin), departures of the original core six (Seunggi and Jiwon) and departures of the "new members" (Seungwoo and Joo Won), you cannot deny that these changes hurt the stability of the show. With each change, the cast must adjust its momentum to suit one another again. Just when things get on track, they have to change again. How can you blame the viewers from jumping off the bandwagon if they have to sit around waiting for everyone to find their footing again? Especially for those who remember the heydays of the core six, the comparison becomes even harsher and less forgiving to the new people who come into the show.

Of all people who could have quit the show, I didn't expect it to be Jong Min. He pulled through such tough times when he was criticised for being not funny and causing the departure of Kim C (which had nothing to do with him since Kim C wanted to pursue his music career and frankly didn't seem to enjoy his variety persona as much as the rest) so why on earth is he pulling out of a show which he spent so much time and effort and put his soul into? For the sake of Koyote's activities? For some other work activities? I seriously don't get it. Haejin being the newest addition to the cast, he has impressed me with his quiet and hardworking style but honestly, he sometimes does not get enough airtime and doesn't seem to be the one to initiate the laughs. Maybe he is indeed finding it tough to keep going? As for Si Kyung, rumour has it that he wants to concentrate on being a singer. Well, if you ask me, I think the idiot Sung image probably gets in the way of his ballad prince image but that has also made him more endearing to the public. It's a double-edged sword, I guess. You get the awareness and popularity but have to overcome the impression the viewers already have of you.

This is when I remember Tae Woong's words to Tae Hyun when they were on the Bau Trail which I thought really hit the spot when I first watched that episode. When asked about his thoughts on 1n2d, Tae Woong said, "You know what? You leased or rented an apartment but the owner just fled and now I own it. And I can't sell it. I can't do anything with it. And the maintenance is expensive. It was hard for me at first because I didn't feel like a permanent member. I felt like I was a guest. Actors usually come as guests. So I got here, and the others were so good, and it was fun to watch them. I had no idea I would be doing stuff like this." It's really true when you come to think of it because out of the original six members, only Sugeun remains. From being a newbie member to being one of the "old" cast members from season 1, Tae Woong must have really felt that he has some responsibility towards the show and can't leave it easily even though he wasn't doing it right from the start.

And that makes me wonder at the same time, is it better to let the show go out on a high note rather than let it suffer brickbats and add further insult to injury as it gets ridiculed for the low ratings? I have a lot of feelings and memories of 1n2d since I've been watching it since 2008. That's a long 5 years I've spent with the show. However, it pains me to see it suffering from bad reviews, all these changes and departures of its cast. Sometimes, I feel that if someone's not going to be in for the long haul, they might as well not come in at all. Of course, for the people who left, I believe they had their own reasons to do so and understand their problems but you just can't help feeling as if they abandoned the rest of us i.e. the crew, cast and viewers. I don't mean everyone though, I just feel this way towards some of them.

If there is an intention to revive the show, they have to do more than to go to the same places in Korea all the time. More must be done to make the travels and games more enjoyable to watch. Editing must be consistent and not be all over the place. And staying focused is important rather than trying to do everything at once. If it's better to have the cast together during shoots, don't send them on small group missions because it affects the air time proportion and fluidity of the show. The thing is, will anyone do something before it's too late? Or will the so-called season 3 hold new promise with its cast additions if the rumours are indeed true? Seems like more news will follow after the shoot this weekend so I'm keeping my eyes open for the updates. In the meantime, enjoy it while you can!

The lingering memories of Lee Seunggi's beer can chicken... Joo Won's impending departure from 1n2d

Happened to come across this picture of the "famous" beer can chicken which I had never heard of until Seunggi tried to replicate it on 1n2d. I've never tasted it before too. Can't believe that it's already been almost 4 years since that episode. Those were the good old days where I would laugh throughout the whole episode and my face muscles would literally feel sore at the end of each broadcast due to the excessive laughing. I'm not saying that the new episodes with the new cast are bad. It's just that there is a lack of consistency in the quality. Some episodes are more memorable than the rest, some are plain boring while I've actually resorted to fast-forwarding through some episodes so that I don't fall asleep in front of the TV. That's why it makes me nostalgic to see this picture. Even after so many years, the "horrors" of seeing Seunggi cook still remains in my mind. ^__^

Another change is going to take place for 1n2d because Joo Won's going to take part in his last filming this weekend. Just when 1n2d is finally getting back on its feet after the last round of PD and cast changes and the chemistry between the existing cast is getting better, this has come at a bad timing. Then again, for Joo Won's sake, I think he had no choice. While juggling the weekend shots for 1n2d, he had done at least three dramas during this period i.e. Gaksital, Level 7 Civil Servant and the ongoing Good Doctor. During those periods, he always seemed so tired and would drift off to deep sleep whenever they had a break in between the filming. If given a choice, Joo Won might not have wanted to quit. It was very evident that he enjoyed the time with his brothers and became the little brother everyone doted on. Initially, he usually stuck to Tae Woong because they worked together before and are from the same agency but has moved on to being close to everyone else. Given that he's a young and promising star, the weekend filming will no doubt restrict his ability to take on jobs that require him to go overseas for an extended period of time. I guess Joo Won's story is similar to Seunggi's in this sense. It's gonna be a teary farewell for our maknae this weekend...

Wait a minute, does this mean that Jongmin is going to be the new maknae since there won't be anyone new joining 1n2d???? I can't imagine him doing aegyo like Joo Won but I'm sure he's gonna get on the nerves of the other hyungs more so than ever if the emphasis is put on Jongmin's new status as maknae. :-p

And for old times' sake and in case you don't know what Seunggi did then, here's an edited video of his "heroic deed" then. All credits due to the TV station and the person who uploaded the video:

Yoo Hae-jin to join 1n2d as new 7th member

The choice for the new 7th member of 1n2d has finally been revealed! Actor Yoo Hae-jin will join 1n2d as the new mat-hyung following Kim Seung-woo's impending departure later this month. Frankly speaking, I was expecting that KBS will get an actor to join the existing cast but Yoo is a surprise for me, really. I know that he's a pretty famous actor in Korea but I've not seen any of his movies or dramas yet. In fact, the first time when I saw him in action wasn't when he was acting but rather when he was appearing in a variety show i.e. Running Man. My impression of him then was that this goofy ahjusshi is quite funny on screen. It's still too early to tell how he will fit in with the cast but given time, I think things will work out somehow, just like what happened to the cast of season 2 when they first started.

Actually, I was secretly hoping for Tae-woong's buddy Lee Seon-kyun to join the cast because he showed how good he was in variety shows during the Best Friends special. However, agreeing to do this means a pretty long commitment because filming takes place every two weeks and that somewhat restricts the flexibility to take on other jobs while juggling 1n2d. As such, I hope that Yoo Hae-jin can stay around for at least a year or two to gel with his younger co-stars and forge new relationships with them. Viewers can certainly do without another shock in the form of cast or crew changes for the time being so if things stay the same for a while, that would be most ideal.

Mixed bag of good and bad news - Mat hyung Kim Seungwoo leaving 1n2d with Bird PD :-(

The word is out, finally. Besides Bird PD who is leaving after this weekend's shoot, mat hyung Kim Seungwoo is also leaving his six brothers behind. :-( It's sad that we won't be able to see him regularly in variety shows for some time since Win Win also ended recently. It's understandable that he wants to concentrate on his acting especially since he has an ongoing drama now i.e. Iris II. However, right after he found his footing in variety and got over the initial awkwardness with his new brothers, he is bidding us farewell after one year which I feel that it's a great pity.

Kim Seungwoo must be commended for being a pillar of strength to his younger cast members and source of great laughter with his unexpected actions. Who can forget the butt-wrestling king and his Mr. Disruptive persona?  I've known him more as an actor who takes on serious roles prior to him joining 1n2d so the programme showed a very different side to him. I'm hoping that we'll get to see him in more roles now that he has time on hand to take on additional projects and if possible, come back to 1n2d for guest appearances in future! They should really think about having an alumni SP soon just for memories' sake.

I almost got a scare when I read today that Sung Shikyung was also rumoured to be leaving the show. Luckily, it was a false alarm, I wouldn't have been able to withstand two departure announcements within a single day! There is talk about new members being considered for the programme but I'm not too keen on this idea. It will take time for the existing group to build up a rapport with the new member and if the number of members turns out to be odd again, it will be troublesome when it comes to games. In recent weeks, they got around this problem with one guy being the referee after winning the pre-game instead of having different-sized teams. Depending on who they get to join the programme, it will be immense pressure for the newcomer too so I would prefer things to remain as status quo for the time being after mat hyung and Bird PD leave.

What a week of upheavals...I hope that there won't be any more surprises coming from 1n2d anytime soon!

Even if change is for the better, does 1n2d need it at this point?

Frankly speaking, I had not expected this to be coming...well, at least not so soon. It's only been a year since the last revamp, or should I say shakeup?

1n2d was the very first Korean variety show I watched and how I happened to come across it was very random or should I say, somewhat dramatic? I remember that I was channel-surfing on a Friday night and suddenly found myself on KBS World. Even though the programme had already started by the time I got to it, I still enjoyed watching guys who I didn't know at all playing games which seemed a bit silly. Then I found myself watching it for another week, and another week... Before I knew it, I was hooked, in a major way just like how you find yourself in love with someone before you realise that the person has been growing on you? Even when I was overseas for work and had to miss the programme for two weeks, I made sure that I got my family members to help me record the show. I watched this faithfully week after week since I started in 2009 but it was difficult to find the older episodes even though I tried too. Even when the revamp took place last year, I was determined to continue watching this despite the first few episodes suffering from fluctuations in quality.

Anyway, I was planning to write a proper post on my "love affair" with 1n2d but since this news came in rather out of the blue, I thought that I should write something now. 1n2d has been through a couple of rough patches in recent years with members leaving either voluntarily or against their own will due to unfortunate incidents, changes in the production crew and the competition catching up to them in the Sunday ratings race. I admit, there were some episodes which I found to be lacking. The charm of 1n2d is the interaction between the members and the crew. To me, the travelogue aspect is important too because it introduces the nice sights in South Korea to someone like me who's not located there. However, there were times when the focus was more on the sights rather than the 7 brothers having fun. I certainly didn't enjoy watching them walk around and do nothing except to gasp in awe at the things they saw so I think that could be a possible reason why things aren't picking up in the ratings department. I don't track ratings at all for Korean programmes but the competition with Running Man is heating up so much that 1n2d can't afford to be complacent.

However, as fate would have it, the changes did take its toll on the programme in one way or another. I have to admit, there are some changes which I think did the programme some good and some were not so desirable effects but whenever there's change, it takes time to regain that momentum. I am a regular viewer of Running Man too (more about my affair with them another day) and to be honest, I can't say that every single episode was interesting. Nonetheless, Running Man benefited from stability in a sense and that helped the cast to build up their team spirit over the span of more than 2 years. When they first started, things were kinda awkward too. To put it frankly, 1n2d may not necessarily be worse than its prime years, it's just that comparatively, the competition is shaping up nicely to give it a run for its money.

If Bird PD leaves and some new crew members join, it may give rise to new sparks so it's not necessarily a bad thing. Just that he took a bit of time to get used to working with the members and when things were finally looking comfortable, he's planning to leave due to health conditions? What a pity though but hope that he'll be healthy and well to do the things he wants to. Cast changes are something which I don't really look forward to so it will depend on how KBS is going to make this more palatable to the viewers. I seriously do not want any of the 7 brothers to go and if someone has to leave, the reason has got to be convincing.