Venerable Pomnyun is making his first-ever appearance on a road variety show.
On the 22nd, SBS announced that the new variety program Beomnyun Road: The Monk and the Guests will premiere in May. Framed as an on-the-spot, ask-anything Q&A road journey to discover one’s “true self,” the show will, for the first time in variety history, capture parts of Venerable Pomnyun’s 34-year-long pilgrimages across India’s holy sites.
The mere fact that Venerable Pomnyun—who has long declined countless TV offers—is stepping into variety has already sparked major buzz. Producers say the trip will reveal a warmer, more human side of him, beyond the widely known image of a mentor and teacher.
In the show, Venerable Pomnyun rides rickshaws through Indian streets with guests, shares street food, and bursts into laughter amid unexpected situations. Contrary to his typically calm and serene public image, viewers will see a down-to-earth and candid personality. At one point, he even quips, "Variety is tougher than spiritual practice," drawing laughter on set.
The celebrity lineup traveling to India with him is equally eye-catching. Hong-chul Noh energizes the set with his trademark vibe while engaging in the deepest conversations with Venerable Pomnyun, and Sang-yoon Lee sheds his neat, composed image to tackle the rough-and-real challenges of adapting locally in India.
Joo-bin Lee reportedly canceled a planned trip to New York to join the cast, showcasing her easygoing charm, while Ki-taek Lee brings quirky honesty as the group’s mood-maker. The youngest, Woochan, adds depth to the journey with his signature sincerity and easy rapport.
The India portrayed in Beomnyun Road: The Monk and the Guests also sets itself apart from typical travel shows—spotlighting not flashy tourist hubs, but the raw reality of market alleys and a tributary of the Ganges where life and death coexist, as well as a remote school Venerable Pomnyun founded 34 years ago.
Blending laughs and reflection, travel and conversation, Beomnyun Road: The Monk and the Guests premieres this May on SBS.