Lee Seo Jin offers blunt life advice to RESCENE on 'My Genie Secretary'

Actor Lee Seo Jin offers blunt, realistic life advice to the girl group RESCENE, whose members have an average age in their early 20s. The meeting between the two groups, spanning a vast generational gap, is expected to go beyond a simple conversation between seniors and juniors, using the differing perspectives on 'happiness' and 'money' between the two eras to create variety-show laughter.

At the end of the SBS variety program 'My Genie Secretary' broadcast on the 18th, a preview for the upcoming episode featuring RESCENE was released. The preview captures the generational gap and bickering that occurs as Lee Seo Jin and Kim Kwang Kyu, with an average age of 56.5, attend to the needs of the RESCENE members, who have an average age of 20.6.

The gap was evident from the start. RESCENE introduced their 'Ya-ho' meme, which has recently become a hot topic among the younger generation, but Lee Seo Jin, failing to understand it at all, asked, "What is Ya-ho?" Kim Kwang Kyu also bewildered RESCENE with an eccentric response, asking, "What does your father do?"

While it was a major piece of content to promote the group and a familiar catchphrase for the younger generation, it was merely unfamiliar internet culture for the middle-aged actors. This scene clearly demonstrates how much the content consumed, the language used, and the way trends are accepted have changed, even while being in the same broadcasting space.

The generational gap immediately led to complaints in daily life. RESCENE members complained that Lee Seo Jin and Kim Kwang Kyu were "walking too slowly" while looking after them, to which Lee retorted, "You should be taking care of us old people." He even went as far as to shout, "This is no different from Seo In-young," throwing out his characteristic blunt joke.

Lee's variety show character has been built through this 'tsundere' style of speaking, where he looks after others despite a blunt tone and cynical reactions. Rather than expressing direct emotions to others, he turns the situation into laughter by leading with grumbling and nagging. In this meeting with RESCENE, this unique character is expected to create additional fun as it combines with the theme of the generational gap.

The most eye-catching part is the unexpected life advice Lee gave to RESCENE. He told the members, "If you make a lot of money, happiness will naturally come to you."

From the perspective of the younger generation, this statement might sound somewhat simple and direct. In fact, RESCENE member Woni questioned Lee's view by asking, "Is money everything?" To this, Lee replied firmly without a moment's hesitation, "It is, it is."

His 'praise for money' continued thereafter. On set, he was even seen harshly teaching the members, saying, "This is all money. Smile."

This is a moment where the difference in perspective between the two generations regarding success and happiness is fully revealed. Of course, Lee's remarks should be read as jokes mixed with advice closer to a variety show character and a skit rather than a philosophical proposition. However, given that this is a meeting between Lee, who has established himself as a top-tier actor through long-term activity in the entertainment industry, and RESCENE, who are just beginning to expand their public recognition, the topics of 'money' and 'happiness' carry a strange sense of reality.

For RESCENE, the entertainment industry is a stage where full-scale competition has just begun. On the other hand, for Lee, the entertainment industry is the field of life where he has accumulated his name and career over a long period. As generations with completely different debut timings, ways of working, and pop culture consumption environments meet in one space, a clash of values naturally occurs.

In particular, it is difficult to conclude that the 'money' Lee emphasized to his young juniors means only material success. For celebrities, income and popularity are realistic indicators that determine the sustainability of their activities. It can also be interpreted as a joke-filled realism thrown by a senior who has experienced the structure of the entertainment industry, where it is difficult to endure with only dreams and passion.

Conversely, the scene where Woni asked, "Is money everything?" aligns with how the younger generation views success these days. As values that emphasize not only economic rewards but also personal satisfaction, relationships, and work-life balance spread, the opposing communication styles of the two generations naturally create laughter.

RESCENE is a group that is expanding its connection with the public by building its own color through music and online content. Since the 'Ya-ho' that was unfamiliar to Lee and Kim is an important cultural code for RESCENE to promote themselves, this meeting holds significance beyond a simple guest appearance.

Ultimately, the core of the RESCENE episode of 'My Genie Secretary' lies not in the discomfort caused by the age gap, but in how different generations perceive each other's culture and how that gap is transformed into variety-show humor. With Lee's signature blunt realism added to the mix, interest is growing in how RESCENE's youth and the experience of Lee and Kim will clash and eventually harmonize.

The RESCENE episode of 'My Genie Secretary' will air on October 2 as a special extended broadcast following a one-week hiatus due to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games coverage.