Yoo Jae-suk Couldn't Save Him: Jung Joon-won's Variety Show Debut on 'How Do You Play?' Sparks 'Passive Attitude' Criticism

South Korean actor Jung Joon-won has appeared in numerous dramas, including 'VIP,' 'Recalled,' and 'A Model Family.' This year, his popularity surged after starring in 'Hospital Playlist.' However, his first variety show appearance left him visibly nervous, leading to a reserved performance and an inability to complete challenges. This created awkward moments on set and sparked online debate after the broadcast.

Jung Joon-won and Gong Hyo-jin recently appeared together on MBC's variety show 'How Do You Play?' to promote their new drama 'Mommy Killer.' This marked Jung Joon-won's first official variety show appearance since his debut. However, his overly nervous and reserved reactions, which even prevented him from completing program challenges, led some viewers to question his 'passive attitude,' unexpectedly igniting a discussion across Korean online communities.

The 'Short-form Drama 'Shoot'' special of MBC's 'How Do You Play?' aired on the 1st, featuring Gong Hyo-jin and Jung Joon-won as guests. From the start of the show, Jung Joon-won appeared noticeably reserved, with a tense expression and rigid posture, looking visibly nervous.

Host Yoo Jae-suk (유재석) initiated a conversation by asking if he had watched 'How Do You Play?,' to which Jung Joon-won replied, "It's good for casual viewing." Yoo Jae-suk and Joo Woo-jae (주우재), noticing his extreme nervousness, jokingly commented, "Why are you sitting so awkwardly? You look like you're about to fall off," attempting to help him relax and liven up the atmosphere.

Later, during the 'One-Line Dialogue Challenge,' where guests had to interpret the same line with different emotions, Jung Joon-won first asked, "Where should I look to perform?" showing willingness to participate. However, when it was his turn, he hesitated to speak, even closing his eyes and remaining silent for a long time, causing an awkward silence on set.