From ‘Bonjour Bakery’ to ‘2 Days & 1 Night’... 3 Fixed Cast Roles: How Lee Ki-taek Became a Variety Show Blue Chip
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Lee Ki-taek has a face that doesn't typically scream "variety show," but among production crews, he early on gained a reputation as someone with "unexpected charm." PD Ryu Jin-hwan of ‘Venerable Pomnyun's Road: Monk and Guest’ stated in an interview with Ilgan Sports, “After seeing the drama ‘Efficient Meeting of Unmarried Men and Women,’ I was attracted to his visuals, which resemble a Japanese actor, so I reached out.” He highlighted Lee's appeal on set, saying, “Seeing him follow his seniors around, filling in for auditions, and taking care of them, I felt his unique purity. At the same time, it was a bit heartbreaking.”
The production team of ‘Bonjour Bakery’ also commented, “Lee Ki-taek is endearing because he speaks his mind even while nervous. It's funny how he's so immersed and hardworking, yet there's that 2% missing piece.”
The real test is expected to be the KBS2 variety show ‘2 Days & 1 Night.’ With the recent departure of fixed member Yoo Sun-ho, Lee Ki-taek joined as a new member alongside entertainer Lee Yong-jin. Given the nature of the program—dominated by fierce games of chance and raw situations like sleeping outdoors—the cast member's personality and chemistry with other members are paramount. This is a chance for Lee Ki-taek to truly prove his worth as an entertainer, showing how his signature clumsiness and pure charm, proven in previous shows, will blend with the existing members.
Professional Summary
Source: https://cafe.daum.net/subdued20club/ReHf/5660514