Na Young-seok
Overview
Na Young-seok (羅䁐錫, born April 15, 1976) is a South Korean broadcast producer (PD) and planner. During his time at KBS, he created the nationally beloved entertainment program '1 Night 2 Days'. After moving to CJ ENM, he successively launched numerous hits such as 'New Journey to the West', 'Youn's Kitchen', 'Three Meals a Day', and the 'Flower' series, earning recognition as a figure who transformed the landscape of Korean entertainment. His programs offer viewers both healing and fun through unique codes of 'natural laughter', 'chemistry among members', and 'travel and cooking'.
Main Content
Early Life and Joining KBS
Na Young-seok was born in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, and graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in Public Administration. During college, he developed an interest in directing through theater club activities, and in 2001, he joined KBS as a producer in the 27th open recruitment. Initially, he gained experience directing documentaries such as 'The Secrets of Life and Death' in the current affairs and culture department.
The Birth and Heyday of '1 Night 2 Days'
In 2007, after moving to the entertainment department, Na Young-seok planned '1 Night 2 Days' as a segment of 'Happy Sunday'. The format of traveling domestically with early members including Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Kim Jong-min, Lee Seung-gi, and MC Mong became explosively popular. It grew into a national program with viewer ratings exceeding 40%, earning nicknames like 'penalty games', 'sleeping missions', and 'national travel variety'. During this period, he was dubbed the 'God of Entertainment'.
Move to CJ ENM and Independence
In 2013, Na Young-seok left KBS and moved to CJ ENM (then CJ E&M). His first project after the move, tvN's 'Grandpas Over Flowers', was another success. He subsequently completed the formula of so-called 'Na Young-seok-style entertainment' with 'Three Meals a Day', 'New Journey to the West', 'Youn's Kitchen', and 'Youth Over Flowers'. His programs are characterized by keywords such as 'voluntary labor', 'mukbang (eating shows)', and 'travel', emphasizing the genuine aspects of the cast.
Analysis of Major Programs
- New Journey to the West: Starting as a web entertainment show inspired by the Chinese classic 'Journey to the West', it became a flagship program for tvN. The chemistry among members like Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Ahn Jae-hyun, Kyuhyun, Song Min-ho, and P.O, along with various games (e.g., character quizzes, song guessing), gained popularity.
- Youn's Kitchen: With a concept where actors Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Seo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, and Park Seo-joon run a Korean restaurant overseas, it was praised for contributing to the globalization of Korean cuisine.
- Three Meals a Day: Depicting Yoo Hae-jin and Cha Seung-won farming and cooking in the countryside, it reached the peak of healing entertainment.
- Flower Series: A backpacking travel entertainment series including 'Grandpas Over Flowers', 'Noonas Over Flowers', and 'Youth Over Flowers', showcasing the genuine friendships of the cast.
Directing Style and Philosophy
Na Young-seok's directing style is summarized as 'minimal intervention'. He creates an environment where the cast can act naturally and focuses on capturing real reactions in unexpected situations. He is also a pioneer of 'subtitle entertainment', amplifying laughter with witty subtitles and editing. His programs generally emphasize 'positive influence' and avoid conflicts among cast members or malicious editing.
Recent Trends
From 2024 to 2025, Na Young-seok continues his collaboration with tvN, presenting various new projects. In 2024, 'Seojin's 2' depicted Lee Seo-jin, Choi Woo-shik, Park Seo-joon, and Go Min-si running a Korean restaurant in Mexico, while the 'Earth, Globe, and Money' world travel series expanded content to the other side of the globe. He also actively operates the YouTube channel 'Channel Fifteen Nights' through the 'Business Trip Fifteen Nights' series, strengthening synergy with digital content. In 2025, news has emerged that he is planning a new travel entertainment show called 'Sisters' Santiago', and he is showing interest in technological innovations such as introducing AI-based editing techniques. His programs continue to maintain high viewership ratings and buzz, leading trends in Korean entertainment.
Related Topics
- [[New Journey to the West]]
- [[1 Night 2 Days]]
- [[tvN Entertainment]]
- [[Channel Fifteen Nights]]
- [[Youn's Kitchen]]
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