(The CEN News / Reporter Seo Hye-bin) At the press conference for Netflix's new variety series Lee Seo-jin's Dalla Dalla, actor Lee Seo-jin revealed he plans to keep creating U.S.-based travel content.
Speaking at the morning event on the 24th at Yongsan I'Park Mall, Lee said, "I've done a lot of variety shows, but I want to keep this concept alive. The trips I plan are endless." He made it clear how much the show's concept means to him.
The newly announced Lee Seo-jin's Dalla Dalla is an unscripted reality series that follows Lee and producer Na Young-seok as they roam the United States with no script or fixed itinerary. Lee, who considers Texas a second home, steps in as a Texas guide for Na, writer Kim Dae-ju and the rest of the crew.
Lee explained, "Texas is where it's at in the U.S. Companies like Tesla moving in sparked my interest. After visiting often, I found the weather great and the state an easy place to live. I thought, 'This is where I'll retire.' I've long said Dallas might be my retirement spot."
"A lot of U.S. pro athletes went to school in Texas," he added. "The real perk is no state income tax — that's huge. With oil and wealth, people don't depend on federal aid. Because the area is affluent, folks tend to be friendly. I want to live there comfortably," he said, explaining his fondness for the state.
On the show, Lee maps out the travel route and the production crew follows, filming without plans or scripts. That flips the usual travel-reality format, where the crew plans the course and the star simply follows.
Director Na Young-seok noted, "The places we visit aren't in guidebooks, and you won't find many people who go there on Google." Co-director Kim Ye-seul called the series a special chance to savor Lee Seo-jin's tastes, adding, "It's not just entertainment — it's a way to get to know Lee as a person."
Lee, who has lived in New York, previously teamed up with Na on U.S. travel content for the 2020 tvN show Friday Night—Lee Seo-jin's New York New York and again in 2023 with Lee Seo-jin's New York New York 2 on the YouTube channel Channel Sibo-ya.
Dalla Dalla continues the New York New York series and has moved to Netflix to reach a wider audience.
Lee said he felt motivated to work harder knowing Dalla Dalla would be on Netflix, while admitting the move comes with pressure. Producer Na added that it would be a lie to say he doesn't feel the pressure either. Still, both are curious to see how Netflix audiences respond to Lee's travel content.
Kim Ye-seul pointed to the nearly 15 years of chemistry between Na and Lee as a major draw.
The pair first appeared together as guests on KBS2's 2 Days & 1 Night in 2012 and went on to collaborate on many popular variety shows, including Three Meals a Day, Grandpas Over Flowers, Youn's Kitchen and Youn's Stay.
Kim described their dynamic as like a bubbly female lead paired with a cynical male lead. On set their back-and-forth clicked, and in postproduction the footage even took on a rom-com vibe. "It's satisfying to watch Na go from 'Why do we have to do this?' to actually enjoying himself," she said.
Lee said he wants to keep producing U.S. travel content that links the New York New York and Dalla Dalla series.
"I hope it does well. There are so many cities in the U.S., and I have endless travel ideas," he said. "If Netflix doesn't pick it up, I'll take it elsewhere. I hadn't planned to return to variety TV — except for SBS's Bi Seo-jin — but I want to keep this show's concept alive." He expressed clear affection for the project.
Photo = Yonhap News
(The CEN News) Reporter Seo Hye-bin press@mhns.co.kr
