[Sportschosun Ahn So-yoon] "Isn't this a healing camp? I came here to heal!"
The ambition of Byeon Woo-seok, a newcomer to variety shows, was brief but clear from his very first appearance. His unfiltered charm, fitting for a variety-show rookie, came across as a special kind of comfort for viewers as well.
Byeon Woo-seok made a successful variety-show debut through Netflix's "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!," his first fixed variety program. In fact, news of his joining the show came as a surprise to many viewers. He had previously shown strong chemistry with Yoo Jae-suk through guest appearances on the YouTube web variety show "Pinggyego" and MBC's "Hangout with Yoo," but taking on the bold challenge of becoming a fixed cast member sparked even greater anticipation.
"Jae-seok's B&B Rules!" is a group camping variety show in which rookie camp leader Yoo Jae-suk, along with unpredictable staff members Lee Kwang-soo, Byeon Woo-seok, and Ji Ye-eun, chat, play, and fool around with guests to create a true escape from everyday life. Byeon explained why he decided to join the show, saying, "I had good memories from when I met Jae-suk hyung on a variety show before, so if I were to do it again, I wanted to do it with him. Also, even though this first variety-show challenge is scary and exciting, I wanted to show fans my everyday side."
As soon as the program was released, his sincerity seemed to resonate with audiences around the world as well. "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!," which premiered on the 26th of last month, rose to No. 1 in the "Top 10 TV Shows in Korea Today" category just two days after its release, proving the strong interest it drew. It also ranked No. 1 in three countries, including Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. In addition, it entered the Top 10 simultaneously in eight major Asian markets, including Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, further fueling its popularity.
Byeon Woo-seok also drew attention by showing different kinds of chemistry with the members of "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!." With camp leader Yoo Jae-suk, he came across as a lovable younger brother. With Lee Kwang-soo, he showed a so-called "doorframe brothers" dynamic, while his interactions with Ji Ye-eun brought out a sibling-like bickering that made viewers laugh.
The production team also expressed satisfaction, saying they discovered a new side of Byeon Woo-seok. PD Lee So-min said, "I thought he was an actor with a strong boyish image in 'Lovely Runner,' but while filming, he seemed so clumsy that I kept thinking, 'Why is he so helpless?'" She added, "Thanks to his honest and gentle personality, the chemistry among the four members came through even better than expected." Writer Yoon Shin-hye also praised him, saying, "Byeon Woo-seok is an actor who represents youthful freshness, but he also had an unexpected clumsy charm."
As the production team noted, Byeon Woo-seok showed great potential as an entertainer through "Jae-seok's B&B Rules!." His naturally flowing reactions, along with his humble yet relaxed manner, blended well with the overall atmosphere of the lodging variety show.
In particular, he won positive reactions from viewers by overcoming the pressure of his first fixed variety show and finding his own rhythm. At first, he was visibly tense in the unfamiliar setting, but as the episodes went on, his gradual adjustment came through clearly. Having expanded his career from acting into variety shows and revealed a new side of himself, he is now drawing attention for what he will do next.
Ahn So-yoon, antahn22@sportschosun.com
