[비즈한국] Who comes to mind when you hear “Na Young-seok’s men”? Most would point to Lee Seo-jin. Cha Seung-won also comes to mind, and Kang Ho-dong cannot be left out. There are countless others, including members of ‘New Journey to the West’ and ‘Three Meals a Day,’ as well as various cast members connected through programs like ‘Jinny’s Kitchen,’ ‘GBRB: Reap What You Sow,’ and ‘Nana Tour.’ PD Na Young-seok is famous for discovering unique charms in cast members he has worked with before and creating new program formats centered around them. The latest additions to Na Young-seok’s lineup of men are undoubtedly Kim Dae-myung and Park Byung-eun.
Through ‘Channel Fullmoon,’ a YouTube channel run by Egg is Coming (an independent production company established by Na Young-seok’s division) and CJ ENM035760, Kim Dae-myung and Park Byung-eun have stepped up as the protagonists of the web content series ‘Follow My Taste, My Style, Follow Dae-myung’ and ‘I Am a Regular Person,’ respectively. While previous programs starring men handpicked by Na Young-seok supported the performers' unique personalities, these two shows are projects that likely wouldn't have been conceived without the distinct individuality of Kim Dae-myung and Park Byung-eun. Of course, this is also due to the drive PD Na has shown since ‘Grandpas Over Flowers’—the willingness to proceed without hesitation with somewhat niche ideas that make one wonder, “Will this actually work?”
‘Follow My Taste, My Style, Follow Dae-myung’ is a restaurant exploration series where we follow actor Kim Dae-myung—nicknamed “Master of Pollock Roe” and “Gwanghwamun Insider”—as he searches for old-school eateries that reflect his definitive tastes. Kim has mostly frequented long-standing restaurants and pubs within the four main gates, such as Jongno, Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung, Namdaemun, and Seoul Station. The series features spots that rely entirely on his personal preferences, such as a Namdaemun cold noodle shop where you can enjoy spicy seasoned chicken with your Pyongyang naengmyeon, a pub where it wouldn't be strange to sing along to Kim Kwang-seok’s songs, a Chinese restaurant that serves such “gourmet” food you forget what you ate previously, and the famous pollack roe spots he never misses. While some of the food—with its strong, funky, and pungent aromas—might not suit the palates of today’s “Gen Z,” his recommendations, driven by the mindset of “If you disagree, you’re right, but I like this,” are compelling. If you love delicious food but are terrible at finding good spots or making decisions, beware: you might get hooked on the “Follow Dae-myung Course,” which clearly dictates everything from selecting the restaurant to the best way to eat the food. You might also become addicted to Kim’s unique, flavorful expressions, such as “Eastern Propriety Jajangmyeon” or “Hedgehog of the Daytime Drinking World.”
‘Follow My Taste, My Style, Follow Dae-myung’ first aired in February last year, later spawning the overseas spin-off ‘Follow My Taste, My Style, Follow Dae-myung: Taiwan Edition.’ It returned this July to showcase Kim’s firm favorite eateries in Iksan and Jeonju, Jeolla-do. The Iksan segment, featuring a pub crawl that started in the afternoon, was the highlight, especially since Iksan has had little presence as a travel destination compared to nearby Jeonju or Gunsan. I’ve even added ‘Elbe River’ and ‘Berlin’ to my map list based on his recommendations. Every region must have long-standing eateries worth bragging about; if I were a public relations officer for a local government, I would start by trying to cast Kim Dae-myung immediately.
The new man who has strongly captivated PD Na Young-seok, who is already deep in the vibes of Kim Dae-myung’s tastes, is actor Park Byung-eun. His unconventional lifestyle has been revealed through Channel Fullmoon and various entertainment programs, but ‘I Am a Regular Person’ is a segment where we can really dive into Park’s life. Park had already showcased his eccentric character when he appeared on Channel Fullmoon to promote the films ‘Dirty Money’ and ‘Lobby.’ A man who travels across the country to fish, lives like a natural person—foraging for wild greens in the spring and mushrooms in the autumn—and then uses his harvest to make various infused liquors. PD Na had previously named Yoo Hae-jin as the “worst groom material among Lee Seo-jin, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo Hae-jin, whom I would never let my younger sister marry,” but after hearing Park’s stories, he immediately retracted his statement and chose Park instead. That’s how extraordinary Park Byung-eun’s life is.
Even if it might be the “worst” for my wife, Park Byung-eun’s life comes across as attractive content to Na Young-seok and the public. ‘I Am a Regular Person’ is a content series that offers a glimpse into the daily life and hobbies of Park, who insists to the end that he is just a regular person, not a “natural person.” In the spring episode, he already showed off “middle-aged” schedules, such as platform fishing and karaoke, making the production crew burst into laughter. The summer season, presented in two episodes on August 29 and September 5, is even more dynamic. Actor Do Kyung-soo (formerly of EXO) joined him in Jeju Island, Park’s second home, where they swam in a valley and caught spear squid directly from a boat to prepare their own meals. Even if I don’t have the confidence to fish myself, watching the life Park Byung-eun presents is incredibly enjoyable. Like Kim Dae-myung, his exquisite expressiveness and high-purity “dad jokes” blend together, leaving no room for the laughter to stop.
Furthermore, the way Kim Dae-myung and Park Byung-eun subtly keep each other in check(?) is also a point of laughter. Kim, who has already firmly captivated Na, feels threatened by the witty banter of Park, who birthed the buzzword “OO Style~,” while Park feels threatened by Kim’s vibe-filled eateries and trend-leading food. The head copy for the second part of the summer episode of ‘I Am a Regular Person’ even says, “Dae-myung~ You ate squid mouths, but we caught the whole squid~!” Just as the meeting of Lee Seo-jin and Cha Seung-won in ‘Three Meals a Day’ became a hot topic, it seems likely that a “joint broadcast” between Kim and Park could happen in the future.
Both ‘Follow My Taste, My Style, Follow Dae-myung’ and ‘I Am a Regular Person’ are, at their core, classic content about restaurant exploration and travel. Yet, it is interesting that they have evolved into differentiated web content by infusing the personalities of these two charming men, who are like jewels unearthed by PD Na. How far will Na Young-seok’s jewelry box expand? I’m curious to see what kind of extraordinary content will emerge from his jewelry box, which caters to people of all ages.
About the author, Jung Soo-jin?
She has worked for various magazines, covering film, travel, and pop culture. She doesn’t want to fall behind on trends, but she has become an “old-school person” who watches the latest dramas and predicts only the obvious clichés for the next scene. She is currently trying to regain her lost edge while drifting through the vast world of OTT platforms; her only wish right now is for an integrated OTT subscription plan to be released.