New Journey to the West () is a South Korean travel-reality show that airs on tvN. This program started broadcasting on September 4, 2015, and has currently aired for 8 Seasons.
New Journey to the West's cast members are Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Ahn Jae-hyun, Cho Kyu-hyun, Song Min-ho, and Pyo Ji-hoon. Inspired by the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West, in each season every cast member was dressed as a certain character and traveled to places on a mission to find mystical dragon balls. They must complete a task in order to receive dragon balls. If the members successfully gather seven dragon balls, their wishes would be granted. Over the years, this program has gained popularity and garnered high viewer ratings with its fresh ideas, fluid storyline, varying roles, and fun costumes.
History
New Journey to the West was first announced on 16 July 2015, with Na Young-seok as the chief director. The show's initial concept came from one of the original member, Lee Seung-gi, which was to travel with the other cast members and film all their activities. It was originally broadcast online via Naver TVCast and was the first project from "tvN Go", a digital-content brand from cable channel tvN.
The show's first season reunites the former 2 Days & 1 Night Season 1 members Lee Seung-gi, Kang Ho-dong, Eun Ji-won and Lee Soo-geun. The four members each take one of the characters from the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West as they go on a 5-days and 4 night backpacking trip through Xi'an, China, to play various games. The show was a success with over 42 million views on Naver TV Cast and 10 million views on Chinese portal site QQ.
After gaining positive response on the first season, the second season of the show was filmed in Chengdu, which included a new cast member Ahn Jae-hyun (replacing Lee Seung-gi who left for military conscription). Aside from airing on online platforms, the show was aired on cable channel tvN. It garnered over 100 million views in China. The third season of the show, added boy band members Kyuhyun (Super Junior) and Mino (Winner), filmed in Guilin. The fourth season of the show was filmed in Vietnam. The fifth season was filmed in Hong Kong with a new member P.O (Block B), replacing Kyuhyun who could not participate due to his mandatory military service. Then, it is continuously followed with the sixth season that was filmed in Hokkaido. The show returns for the seventh season in October 2019, with a returning Cho Kyu-hyun and was set in South Korea. However, Ahn Jae-hyun did not participate in the seventh and eighth season due to his personal family issue.
Series overview
Cast
Members Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Xi'an Chengdu Lijiang Guilin Xiamen Hanoi,Hai Phong Sa Pa Hong Kong Hokkaido Kang Ho-dong Zhu Bajie Sun Wukong Zhu Bajie Sun Wukong Zhu Bajie Sun Wukong Kaonashi(No-Face) Watermelon Lee Soo-geun Sun Wukong Monk Xuan Zhang Sha Wujing Master Roshi Sha Wujing Piccolo Krillin Chucky Pear Eun Ji-won（Sechs Kies） Sha Wujing Sun Wukong Monk Xuan Zhang Bulma Monk Xuan Zhang Sun Wukong Sha Wujing Grim Reaper(Death Angel) Farmer Kyuhyun（Super Junior） colspan=3 Sun Wukong Zhu Bajie Sha Wujing Zhu Bajie colspan=2 Song Mino（Winner） colspan=3 Sha Wujing Bulma Krillin Piccolo Virgin FemaleGhost Grape P.O（Block B） colspan=7 Dracula SproutsAhn Jae-hyun Sha Wujing Zhu Bajie Monk Xuan Zhang Master Roshi Monk Xuan ZhangChinese Zombie Peach Lee Seung-gi Monk Xuan Zhang colspan=8
Members Season 7 Season 8Homecoming Retro Special Global Special Cinema Special Tale of Hengbu Dragon King Kang Ho-dong Shin Myohan Park Jin-young Panda King Choi Ik-hyunHeungbu's sonRock bream Lee Soo-geun Knee-drop Guru Lee Jung-hyun Sugeuras Na'viGourdHijiki Eun Ji-won（Sechs Kies） Gandalf Rain Santa Claus Elliott Swallow Dragon King Kyuhyun（Super Junior） Genie Kang Joon-sang Statue of Liberty Joker Nolbu's wife Black sea bream Song Mino（Winner） Radish Guru Red Devil Cleopatra Jack Sparrow Heungbu Terrapin P.O（Block B） Cabbage Guru Song Eun-chae Pharaoh Olaf Nolbu Red sea breamAhn Jae-hyun colspan=7
Story plot Season 1 In Season 1, Lee Seung Gi plays Tang Sanzang (a Buddhist monk in the novel) who leads and worries constantly about the monsters hyungs (his co-cast members) who do not listen to him. Lee Soo Geun plays Sun Wukong a monkey character with the greatest sin, Eun Ji Won plays Sha Wujing (a celestial being) who is either immature or genius villain, and Kang Ho Dong plays Zhu Bajie (a pig character) with low brain power but great strength and appetite. Together, they take a journey to the west (Xi'an, China) while completing various missions to find seven dragon balls which can grant wishes for those who collect them.
Na Young Suk PD expressed, "The four are too familiar with each other, and they know what each other is thinking just from looking at each other's eyes. Everyone had a great and fun time during the 5 days four nights trip. We are working hard on the post-production at the moment, so that the viewers can experience the fun that we all had." Prior to the start of Season 2, tvN rebroadcast the online version of Season 1 to the TV by compiling it to two episodes on 8 and 15 April 2016.
Season 2 to 4
In Season 2 to 4, the show followed the similar concept as Season 1 as they travelled with new characters and new cast members to several parts of China and Vietnam to find the seven dragon balls.
In Season 2, Kang Ho-dong, Eun Ji-won and Lee Soo-geun with Ahn Jae-hyun (replacing Lee Seung-gi) travel to China (Chengdu and Lijiang). Each member takes on one of the characters as in Season 1 and played various games. The season started on 22 April and ended on 17 June 2016. Simultaneously, the show was also broadcast online via Naver TVCast between 19 April and 14 June 2016.
Season 2.5 consists of two new members (Mino and Kyuhyun) for familiarizing with the current members from Season 2.
In Season 3, Kang Ho-dong, Eun Ji-won, Lee Soo-geun, Ahn Jae-hyun, Mino and Kyuhyun travel to China (Guilin and Xiamen). New characters (Master Roshi and Bulma) were also introduced. The season started on 8 January and ended on 12 March 2017.
In Season 4, the show continued with the same members from Season 3 as the whole group takes a journey to Vietnam. The season started on 13 June and ended on 22 August 2017. With the new theme of "The apocalypse of Hell", each member has his new character: Kang Ho-dong plays Zhu Bajie; Lee Soo-geun plays Piccolo; Eun Ji-won plays Sun Wukong; Ahn Jae-hyun plays monk Xuan Zhang; Kyuhyun plays Sha Wujing; and since Min-ho loses the Ping-pong competition and shaves his hair, he plays the character of Krillin. In Gangshi Game, members complete all the tasks in time, Mino accurately selects the gift buttons (luxury cars) after spinning 15 turns around. Instead of giving expensive cars, Na Young-suk PD promises to give them dragon balls and other rewards. Min-ho also receives a new nickname as Song Garak (Song finger). In this Season, members successfully collect all seven dragon balls and receive their rewards from the production team. Na Young-suk PD promises to put "Kang's Kitchen" and "Youth Over Flowers" into schedule.
Season 5, 6 and 6.5 In Season 5 and 6, new sets of characters and themes (Ghost Special and Season of Harvest) were introduced as the cast members traveled to Hong Kong and Hokkaido. As Kyuhyun started his military conscription, P.O joined in as a replacement and guest member.
In Season 5, they make a journey to Hong Kong (China) with a new theme of "Ghost Special or Horror Special". In Season 6, members travelled to Hokkaido (Japan) with a new theme of "Geobong Geobong Geobong (Kyoho grape)". Then in Season 6.5, members return to Seoul (South Korea). They spend time together in a house and play different games to win the rewards. The season started on 30 September and ended on 2 December 2018. At the end of the show, the production team announced that "Kang's Kitchen 2" would return soon.
Theme Plot Ghost Special Each member has his new character: Kang Ho-dong plays Kaonashi (No-Face); Lee Soo-geun plays Chucky; Eun Ji-won plays Grim Reaper (Death Angel); Ahn Jae-hyun plays Chinese Zombie; Song Min-ho plays Virgin Female Ghost; and P.O plays as Dracula. In the final mission, members did not receive the dragon balls as Lee Soo-geun and Song Min-ho failed fast changing of clothing challenge in a given time. Na Young-suk PD suddenly announces that Season 5 is over and Season 6 starts. Season of Harvest Each member dresses up as a fruit: Kang Ho-dong plays watermelon; Lee Soo-geun plays pear; Eun Ji-won plays farmer; Ahn Jae-hyun plays peach; Song Min-ho plays grape; and P.O plays sprout. In this Season, members pair up as teams to play games. In the game, Lee Soo-geun becomes the "Golden Hand" since he picks out 2 super rewards out of 3 in a hundred options.
Season 7 In Season 7, Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Song Mino, P.O, and a returning Cho Kyu-hyun travel around South Korea. The season started on 25 October 2019 and ended on 3 January 2020. In this season, the show was filmed in South Korea with the theme "Homecoming" and Na PD got the concept from the Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Theme Plot Homecoming The dragon balls have fallen into Mount Gyeryong of South Korea and each member will become a spiritual guru. The members played "Signal Quiz" as the character selection game. Kang Ho-dong plays Shin Myohan; Lee Soo-geun plays Knee-drop Guru; Eun Ji-won plays Gandalf; Cho Kyuhyun plays Genie of the Lamp; Song Mino plays Radish Guru and P.O plays as Cabbage Guru. Retro Special The members played "Go Back Jump" as the character selection game. Kang Ho-dong plays Park Jin-young; Lee Soo-geun plays Lee Jung-hyun; Eun Ji-won plays Rain; Cho Kyuhyun plays Bae Yong-joon; Song Mino plays Red Devil and P.O plays as Im Soo-jung. Innocence Special The Innocence Special was initially not able to be accomplished as the members won the Great Release of Dragon Balls games and ended the filming earlier. After Na PD revealed that the production team has previously agreed with the sponsor to have the members to appear on a costume parade in Yong-in for Halloween, the members agreed after Na PD provided a sumptuous breakfast for the members. Kang Ho-dong plays Papa Smurf; Lee Soo-geun plays Smurfette; Eun Ji-won plays Grouchy Smurf; Cho Kyuhyun plays Brainy Smurf; Song Mino plays Hefty Smurf and P.O plays as Vanity Smurf. Global Special The members played "Classical Music Quiz" as the character selection game. Kang Ho-dong plays Panda; Lee Soo-geun plays Sugeuras; Eun Ji-won plays Santa Claus; Cho Kyuhyun plays Statue of Liberty; Song Mino plays Cleopatra and P.O plays as Pharaoh. Cinema Special The members played "Guess the Movie" quiz as the character selection game. Kang Ho-dong plays Choi Ik-hyun; Lee Soo-geun plays Na'vi; Eun Ji-won plays Elliott; Cho Kyuhyun plays Joker; Song Mino plays Jack Sparrow and P.O plays Olaf.
Season 8 In Season 8, current members from Season 7 returned. The theme is based on Korean traditional fairytale and is being filmed in South Korea. The season started on 9 October 2020 (Hangeul Day) and ended on 18 December 2020.
Theme Plot Tale of Hengbu The members played "Boom Boom game" as the character selection game for Tale of Hengbu, Kang Ho-dong plays Heungbu's son; Lee Soo-geun plays the gourd; Eun Ji-won plays the swallow; Cho Kyuhyun plays Nolbu's wife; Song Min-no plays Heungbu and P.O plays Nolbu. Dragon King and his friends The members had an election on who will be the Dragon King and the elected Dragon King will decide on the remaining characters. Kang Ho-dong plays Rock bream; Lee Soo-geun plays the Hijiki; Eun Ji-won plays the Dragon King; Cho Kyuhyun plays Black sea bream; Song Min-no plays Terrapin and P.O plays Red sea bream.
Production Season 1