Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu, who have transformed into managers for 'Secretary Jin', are going head-to-head with 'I Live Alone'.
On the morning of the 2nd, at the Myeongdong Community House in Jung-gu, Seoul, the production presentation for SBS's new variety show 'My Too Picky Manager - Secretary Jin' (hereafter 'Secretary Jin') was held, attended by PD Kim Jung-wook, Lee Seo-jin, and Kim Kwang-kyu.
'Secretary Jin' is a real-life service road talk show that closely follows a star's schedule and spends a day together. The 'picky service providers' Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu will act as daily managers, drawing out the stars' real faces and inner thoughts.
When asked how it feels to be in a caring position instead of being cared for, Kim Kwang-kyu said, "We've filmed about four times so far. I have to closely care for and serve the stars, but it seems like I'm the one taking care of Lee Seo-jin more and more. I'm in the process of finding my identity, so it's hard to answer clearly," which brought laughter.
In response to the same question, Lee Seo-jin said, "Since the program's concept is 'Secretary Jin', I'm trying hard to do well, but how well can I really do? In fact, the guests often end up taking care of us, so we are becoming the ones being cared for," adding, "Actually, Kim Kwang-kyu doesn't do much. Rather than caring, I tend to give him a lot of tasks."
Lee Seo-jin, a representative 'multi-secretary' in the entertainment industry, has a glamorous background, including a major in business administration from New York University, serving as a head of an asset management company, and holding a leisure sports rowing license, along with the delicate empathy of a 26-year veteran actor. Meanwhile, Kim Kwang-kyu is a hands-on character with various job experiences, including nightclub waiter, salesman, and taxi driver.
When asked to rate 'Manager Kim Kwang-kyu', Lee Seo-jin said, "He falls short of the standard. This guy can only do one thing at a time. He mostly just drives, and even though he has experience as a taxi driver, he's quite clumsy at it. So, while we go around together, he often gets scolded by the stars."
In response, Kim Kwang-kyu said, "Lee Seo-jin has a rich kid vibe, doesn't he? Since I'm easy to deal with, stars take out their frustrations on me for things they can't say to Lee Seo-jin. Lee Seo-jin graduated from NYU's business school, so I would give him a 9 out of 10 for that. But as a manager, not so much. I think I'm the one who makes them feel comfortable."
Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu previously brought laughter with their bickering chemistry in the variety show 'Three Meals a Day - Jeongseon Edition'. This raises curiosity about the 'service chemistry' that these two veterans will create in their daily lives.
PD Kim Jung-wook said, "I think the charm point of 'Secretary Jin' is the bickering chemistry between the two. When they are fighting, the guests want to escape the situation. Although they bicker, they show that they care for each other, like a mother and father."
He added, "During the recording, when the stars run out of energy in the afternoon, they start to reverse serve, which is a fun point. Also, Lee Soo-ji's alter ego 'Ham Buggy' couldn't remember the name until the end of the recording. There are small points of laughter that come from such moments."
So far, guests on 'Secretary Jin' have included Lee Soo-ji, Sunwoo Yong-yeo, Um Ji-won, Jang Ki-yong, and Ahn Eun-jin.
When asked what kind of guests he would like to see in the future, Lee Seo-jin said, "Kim Kwang-kyu keeps talking about girl groups," to which Kim Kwang-kyu replied, "It's not my selfish desire; I think the viewers want it. When you turn on the TV and see young friends, it feels good, right? Boy groups are also fine. GOT7 and TVXQ would be great."
Lee Seo-jin then exposed, "Kim Kwang-kyu keeps lying. He keeps saying he wants to meet Jang Won-young. He talks about Jang Won-young every day," and Kim Kwang-kyu admitted, "That's true. If Jang Won-young or Jennie comes out, the ratings will surely rise," which brought laughter.
In conclusion, Lee Seo-jin said, "I heard 'Secretary Jin' is a seasonal program, but I can't do it. It's already tough. SBS has put it up against 'I Live Alone'. I don't know if they're in their right mind. I think it will be hard to beat 'I Live Alone', but I hope we can survive and do well this year."
On the other hand, Kim Kwang-kyu said, "I am from 'I Live Alone' and was a key contributor. Lee Seo-jin kept saying during the shoot, 'This is totally a failure.' But every time Lee Seo-jin said it was a failure, the program did well. Unexpectedly, the ratings might explode."
Meanwhile, 'Secretary Jin' will premiere on the 3rd at 9:50 PM.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
