Singer and actor Lee Joon (이준) recently shared his travel habits on a variety show, unexpectedly delving into his past romantic experiences. He admitted that traveling with friends or partners often led to arguments, leaving him with "travel trauma." He even revealed his photography skills improved only after being criticized by ex-girlfriends.
In the MBN variety show "This is Hyunmoo Road" (디스이즈 현무로드), which premiered on May 20, Lee Joon traveled to Da Nang, Vietnam, with Jun Hyun-moo (전현무). The two experienced local culture and discussed their travel philosophies.
During a pre-departure interview, Lee Joon described himself as someone who enjoys "cloud travel" online. Despite being a planner by nature, he admitted he rarely plans itineraries when traveling abroad.
Discussing travel, he couldn't help but bring up past relationships. Lee Joon confessed, "I often fought when traveling with friends or partners." He even joked that he has "travel neurosis" and feelings similar to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
However, he believes the most important aspect of travel is the happiness of his companions. "If I travel, I want the people I'm with to have fun; that's my top priority," Lee Joon stated. He prioritizes his travel partners' satisfaction over his own desires for sightseeing or activities.
His second priority is "local culture." Lee Joon believes that truly understanding and immersing oneself in the local culture creates more profound memories than simply checking off tourist spots. He prefers to personally experience the lives and atmosphere of the locals.
Upon arriving in Da Nang, Lee Joon's "minimalist" travel style astonished Jun Hyun-moo. Calling himself a "minimalist," Lee Joon didn't even bring a suitcase, appearing with only a backpack. Inside, he had just one pair of socks, one pair of underwear, and three T-shirts – an astonishingly light load. Lee Joon explained, "My lower body doesn't sweat much, so the pants I'm wearing now are all I need." Jun Hyun-moo exclaimed, "You're just like Kian84!"
During their trip, Lee Joon's past romantic experiences resurfaced. Without a specific itinerary, the two wandered through Da Nang's alleys, taking photos for each other. Jun Hyun-moo even personally taught Lee Joon how to pose, but was ultimately impressed by Lee Joon's photography skills.
When praised, Lee Joon laughed, "Because I've been trained." He then unexpectedly revealed the secret to his "relationship photography training class": "If you date many times, you naturally become good at taking pictures. After being scolded a few times, you improve immediately." He explained that he frequently took photos for his partners in past relationships, and the repeated criticism and corrections eventually honed his photography skills. Jun Hyun-moo chimed in, laughing, "That's why I got scolded so many times before!" Their banter brought laughter to the set.
Notably, Lee Joon and actress Jung So-min (정소민) were a prominent couple in the Korean entertainment industry. They met while working on the drama "My Father Is Strange" and their relationship was revealed in May 2017 when media captured them on a secret date. However, after nearly three years of dating, they announced their breakup in May 2020. Reports indicated that their busy schedules and lack of time together led to their estrangement. Following the split, both stated they would continue to support each other as colleagues.
Six years after their breakup, Lee Joon's recent discussion of his dating and travel experiences on the show has unexpectedly brought his past romantic life back into the spotlight.
