Kim Jong-kook Mentors Hong Kong TV Hosts in Lively Seoul Travel Episode
Lede
The latest episode of TVB’s travel series Grand Trip to Seoul moves beyond standard sightseeing, offering a blend of celebrity encounters, physical challenges, wellness rituals, and supernatural themes. Hosts High Ling, Chow Gar Lok, and Tsz Minhun are joined by veteran Running Man star Kim Jong-kook for a segment that turns a routine fitness session into an entertainment highlight, followed by visits to a traditional Korean spa and an eerie shaman-inspired bar.
A Star-Studded Gym Session
The episode’s most talked-about moment arrives when the trio meets Kim Jong-kook, widely known in Korean variety as the “God of Capability” for his extraordinary athleticism. Tsz Minhun and Chow Gar Lok react with visible excitement, immediately drawn to the star’s muscular physique. Kim emphasizes the importance of leg training, showcasing his powerful “Kim Jong-kook Legs” while guiding the Hong Kong hosts through a series of exercises.
Tsz Minhun admitted he had intensified his own workouts in advance to match his idol’s standards. “As the strongest being, I had to step up my training to meet him,” he said. In contrast, Chow took a mischievous approach, deliberately performing moves incorrectly to elicit corrections—and physical contact—from Kim. “He touched me at every step. This alone should keep me happy for a year,” Chow joked.
Challenges, Push-Ups, and a Personal Meal
The group also competes in a “Core Challenge,” where participants must hold an iron disc steady with their thighs while rolling a ball into a designated hole. Kim completes the task effortlessly within 10 seconds—while singing—prompting the hosts to kneel in mock worship. He later displays his chiseled abdominal muscles, leaving the duo speechless.
The activities continue with a “Card Push-Up” game, where Kim again proves his endurance. A friendly round of Running Man’s classic “Name Tag Elimination” follows, along with a food segment where Kim teaches the hosts how to prepare traditional “ssam” (lettuce wraps). He personally feeds Chow, who becomes emotional over the gesture—a moment the show presents as both heartwarming and humorous.
From Massage Tables to Mystical Bars
The itinerary then shifts toward relaxation. The hosts visit a spa located within a century-old Korean ginseng establishment. They remove their shirts for oil massages, highlighting their toned backs, and later experience head therapy, facials, and a traditional Korean bath. Chow’s exaggerated state of relaxation provides the episode with comedic relief.
High Ling then guides the group to a bar themed after the Korean shaman, or Mudang. The interior is decorated with twelve zodiac animal heads and covered in talismans, creating an intentionally unsettling atmosphere. “It feels like walking into a force field,” High Ling says. The venue also features a fortune-telling machine that generates a personalized “destiny book” based on a patron’s birth date and time, offering a fictional glimpse into a past life.
A Diverse Portrait of Seoul Tourism
The episode succeeds by packaging multiple facets of Seoul into a single broadcast: the global appeal of K-pop and variety show culture, traditional wellness practices, and modern spiritual curiosity. For viewers, the segment functions as an entertaining guide to experiences that go beyond typical tourist landmarks, presenting the city through the lens of local stars discovering it live on camera. Grand Trip to Seoul continues airing on TVB, offering a fresh format for travel content in the region.
