Ji Sang-ryeol claims Na Yeong-seok tried to 'cut' Lee Soo Geun from '2 Days and 1 Night'

Entertainer Ji Sang-ryeol has revealed behind-the-scenes stories regarding the casting and composition process surrounding Lee Soo Geun during the early days of the KBS 2TV variety program '2 Days and 1 Night'. An unexpected battle of truths broke out when Ji claimed that PD Na Yeong-seok once expressed concerns about Lee's position within the program, to which Lee countered, "That is the first time I've heard that story."

On the JTBC variety program 'Knowing Bros' aired on the 29th, comedian Lee Eun-gyeol, entertainer Ji Sang-ryeol, fromis_9's Park Ji-won, and Billlie's Tsuki appeared. During the broadcast, Ji's variety career history was shared, along with anecdotes from his time as an early member of several popular programs.

Seo Jang-hoon noted regarding Ji that while he was part of early programs such as 'Happy Together', '2 Days and 1 Night', and 'Infinite Challenge', he often left after the programs became famous. Ji is indeed a figure who showed a strong presence by moving through various programs during the process of establishing Korean variety formats in the 2000s with his unique wit and bold character.

In particular, when the topic of '2 Days and 1 Night' arose, Kang Ho-dong brought up an anecdote where Ji played a role in helping Lee Soo Geun at the time. In response, Ji explained the situation in more detail and revealed a conversation he had with PD Na Yeong-seok.

According to Ji, Na had shared his worries at the time, suggesting that Lee seemed somewhat out of place within the program. Ji explained that "at the time, Sang-geun, whose social position was higher than Lee's, was also being highlighted in the program," and suggested a direction to strengthen Lee's character and role rather than having him leave the show.

The issue arose because Ji's remarks were interpreted as a 'discussion about Lee Soo Geun's departure.' Lee immediately reacted, saying, "He tried to cut me? That's the first I've heard of it." He continued, pointing out that Ji's explanation differed from what he knew at the time, saying, "Rather, I heard that you were being brought in."

Ji also appeared flustered and quipped, "Is Na Yeong-seok the Count of Monte Cristo?", which turned the scene into a sea of laughter. As the two people's memories diverged, it revealed how fluid the process of adjusting a performer's character and position within a program was in past variety production settings.

Since its launch in 2007, '2 Days and 1 Night' has been evaluated as a representative reality variety show that changed the flow of Korean variety through its unique format combining travel and variety. In particular, the combination of early members—including Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo Geun, Eun Ji-won, Kim Jong Min, MC Mong, and Ji Sang-ryeol—played an important role in building the program's identity based on their diverse characters and relationships.

For Lee, '2 Days and 1 Night' was also the program that decisively expanded his status as an entertainer. Based on his characteristic quick wit, ability to banter, and chemistry with Kang Ho-dong, he moved beyond being a simple supporting performer to become a core pillar of laughter for the program, subsequently expanding his field of activity into shows like 'Strong Heart', 'Knowing Bros', and 'New Journey to the West'.

On the other hand, Ji can be seen as an example of someone who experienced the typical variety production system where early members are replaced during a program's long-term success. This is because the departure or stay of a performer in a broadcast program is not determined solely by individual popularity, but by a complex interplay of scheduling, character function, relationships between performers, and the production team's format strategy.

Ultimately, the conversation between Ji and Lee revealed on this broadcast was less an exposé about who tried to 'cut' whom, and more an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the concerns performers and production teams had during the formation of a popular variety show that has now become history. While it was a sensitive issue that could have decided the fates of the performers at the time, the two people's ability to discuss it with humor after time has passed provided unique enjoyment to viewers who remember the early days of '2 Days and 1 Night'.