Park Bo-gum Embraces New Life as an 'Insider' in Dublin on Multiverse-Themed Variety Shows

▲ A still photo of ENA's variety show "Wake Up and You're in OOO," provided by the broadcaster on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 6 (Yonhap) -- K-pop star Kwon Eun-bi is seen chatting and snacking with Taiwanese high school students, while actor Ji Chang-wook toils under the scorching sun in a field alongside local workers. This trend of experiencing completely different lives, or 'multi-life' scenarios, is gaining popularity in variety shows.

ENA's variety show "Wake Up and You're in OOO," which has been airing since last month, captures participants waking up in unfamiliar settings and living new lives. Kwon Eun-bi, for instance, dozes off to the soundtrack of the Taiwanese drama "Someday or One Day" and awakens in a Taiwanese high school. There, she immerses herself in local cuisine and school activities, enjoying a second life as if she were the drama's protagonist.

In the same show, former boxer Kim Dong-hyun transforms into a rickshaw driver in Vietnam. After being knocked out during a sparring session, he wakes up on a Vietnamese rickshaw and learns the ropes of navigating the chaotic streets and attracting customers.

▲ Still photos of ENA's variety show "Wake Up and You're in OOO," provided by the broadcaster on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

JTBC's upcoming show "My Name is Gabriel," set to premiere on the 21st, follows a similar concept. Directed by Kim Tae-ho, this variety show has participants live as different individuals for 72 hours in unfamiliar countries like Dublin, Ireland; Chongqing, China; and Guadalajara, Mexico. Participants are assigned identities based on an AI program named 'Gabriel,' which selects names from the global population.

Park Bo-gum, for example, enjoys a laid-back time with friends in an Irish pub, Ji Chang-wook sweats it out farming in Mexico, and Yeom Hye-ran works in a Chinese restaurant kitchen, handling oversized utensils.

While the idea of experiencing unfamiliar lives has been explored in various shows, "Wake Up and You're in OOO" and "My Name is Gabriel" emphasize 'realness' by immersing participants deeply into their new roles. Despite the scripted nature of such shows, the genuine interactions and experiences of the cast as locals provide a refreshing perspective.

▲ Still photos of JTBC's "My name is Gabriel," provided by the broadcaster on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

This trend of multi-life themes in media reflects the young generation's fascination with living different lives, fueled by the sentiment that their current lives are unsatisfactory. This is evident in their consumption of 'regression' genres in webtoons, dramas, and other forms of pop culture.

Director Ahn Je-min of "Wake Up and You're in OOO" shared at a press conference, "The idea for this program came from my personal desire to live a different life, as working as a PD has become challenging with the rise of OTT platforms and YouTube content. The popularity of dramas with similar themes, such as 'Marry My Husband' and 'Lovely Runner,' gave me the confidence to pursue this concept."

▲ A poster of JTBC's "My name is Gabriel," provided by the broadcaster on June 6, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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