KwakTube spends 15 million won on luxury flight to Turkey

While travel creator KwakTube has been absent from the filming of MBN and Channel S's 'No Plans At All 4' for two consecutive weeks, he is drawing significant attention by revealing a travelogue in which he personally paid over 15 million won for an overseas flight.

During the broadcast, KwakTube's absence was repeatedly mentioned, and Jun Hyun-moo even used his absence as comedic material, remarking, "That guy isn't here today either." It has been confirmed so far that his absence from filming is due to overseas schedules, and there is no evidence to suggest he is leaving the program or that there are conflicts with the production team.

In the midst of this, KwakTube released a video on his YouTube channel on the 7th titled 'Review of Flying the World's Most Expensive First Class Flight.' Although he was absent from the broadcast, he has essentially returned to 'travel'—the field he excels in—via YouTube.

In the video, KwakTube appeared in Tokyo, Japan. He introduced his destination, saying, "I'm going on a long journey after a long time; I'm going to Turkey," as he set off on the long-distance trip.

However, the most striking aspect of this trip was not the destination, but the price of the airline ticket. KwakTube used 'The Residence,' the highest-tier cabin offered by Etihad Airways, to travel from Japan to Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The amount paid for the approximately 9-hour flight was about 15 million won. For an ordinary traveler, this amount could constitute a significant portion of an entire travel budget, but rather than hiding it, KwakTube used it as the core subject of his content. He emphasized, "I'm doing a real, all-time greatest flex," adding, "Of course, it's my own money."

The reason this spending is even more eye-catching is that KwakTube is a creator who has built his brand by utilizing the 'cost' of travel as content. While he previously specialized in showing the realistic aspects of travel by experiencing relatively inexpensive transportation, accommodation, and local food, he has now done the exact opposite by purchasing and showcasing the world's highest-tier services.

For a travel creator, an airplane is more than just a means of transportation. The flight time itself becomes content, and the seat space, service, in-flight meals, and transfer processes all become part of the travel experience. In particular, choosing a service like 'The Residence,' which sits above standard first class, demonstrates how much KwakTube's content spectrum has expanded.

What is more interesting is that while utilizing the luxury seat, he made a point to emphasize that it was his own spending. Rather than simply flaunting high-cost consumption, he drew a line by saying "it's my money," thereby turning the price itself—a point of curiosity for viewers—into a central topic of conversation. Ultimately, the 15 million won figure became a key part of KwakTube's travel narrative.

Having departed from Tokyo, KwakTube arrived in Istanbul, his final destination, via Abu Dhabi. He stated that he plans to continue his journey for about 6 days and 5 nights while staying at an acquaintance's house in Turkey.

This trip also serves as an example of how KwakTube balances his two roles as a broadcaster and a YouTuber. In TV variety shows, he explores stories involving food and travel alongside Jun Hyun-moo, but on his personal channel, he is free to reveal long-distance travel and personal spending experiences that are difficult to capture on broadcast.

In particular, because his long-term overseas travel content was released on his personal channel at the same time his absence was being noted for the second consecutive week on 'No Plans At All 4,' viewers' interest is naturally flowing toward him. However, since there is no official explanation regarding the specific relationship between his absence from the broadcast and his Turkey trip, it is necessary to avoid hasty interpretations.

KwakTube gained fame by closely capturing local life and stories while traveling in places like Azerbaijan, and since then, he has expanded his scope from travel content into variety shows and broadcasting. His natural presence in programs like 'No Plans At All,' where he experiences local food and people, is a direct result of his long history of placing travel at the center of his work.

Therefore, this 15-million-won airline ticket should not be viewed merely as a headline about 'riding an expensive plane.' It signifies that a creator who once relied on low-cost carriers and local public transportation has now expanded his domain to directly experience and verify the world's most premium services.

Of course, this does not mean a 15-million-won flight is a rational choice for every traveler. KwakTube himself presented it in the video not as a standard way to travel, but as a personal "flex" to experience during his journey.

Ultimately, the most notable aspect of KwakTube's recent move is the contrast: while his seat on a TV variety show has been empty for two weeks, his personal channel has launched its most extravagant travel content yet. While Jun Hyun-moo was searching for him, saying "That guy isn't here today either," KwakTube was flying toward Turkey via Abu Dhabi in a 15-million-won seat.

As this travel creator takes a brief hiatus from broadcast, viewers are eager to see what stories he will bring back from his 6-day, 5-night journey in Turkey.