SBS variety show Pomnyun Road: Monk and Guest dropped a powerful premiere from India, revealing an eye-opening first journey that mixed laughs with raw reality — and a mission of mindful travel.
In the May 19 premiere of Pomnyun Road: Monk and Guest, Noh Hong-chul, Lee Sang-yoon, Lee Joo-bin, and Lee Ki-taek arrived in Kolkata at the invitation of Ven. Pomnyun. With no advance briefing, they set off through lively pre-dawn streets, visibly rattled by the sight of many unhoused people along the way.
But their lodging defied expectations: a five-star hotel with private rooms for each member. Noh joked, "The monk lives simply, but the network sure spends big," drawing laughs. Ven. Pomnyun explained, "On the first day, I wanted our guests to settle in comfortably."
The next morning, the cast met Ven. Pomnyun at the hotel restaurant. True to his breezy style, Noh greeted him as "hyung" (older brother). The monk quipped back, "I’m just glad you didn’t call me your little bro," breaking the ice with humor.
The purpose of the trip was crystal clear. "India lives by a different rhythm," Ven. Pomnyun said. "This will be a chance to reflect on how we should live." Framing it as "a trip and a practice," he stressed that beyond taking in the scenery, the real journey is looking into one’s own emotions and mind.
To drive that point home, the members got a minimalist packing assignment called the 'barang' mission — bringing only bare essentials to move lightly and let go of attachment. After initial hesitation, they pared down their bags and eased into the journey.
Outside the hotel, a harder truth unfolded: glitzy buildings stood right beside people experiencing homelessness and children asking for money. Lee Joo-bin admitted, "I don’t know what to do when I make eye contact," describing her conflicted feelings.
Ven. Pomnyun challenged easy sympathy: "Poverty alone doesn’t make someone a beggar — sometimes it happens because we give," he said, prompting deeper reflection. Lee Joo-bin wondered aloud, "Could the urge to give also be a form of attachment?"
Meanwhile, the show’s first-episode ratings came in at 2.6% (Nielsen Korea). More than a travelogue, Pomnyun Road: Monk and Guest posed soul-searching questions in an unfamiliar setting, stoking anticipation for the journey ahead.