There are a lot of cast changes going on with Korean variety shows. Lee Kwang Soo left the physically-demanding variety show “Running Man” to give his body time to rest and heal. (He had been involved in a car accident in February 2020 that required surgery.) And just a little while later, “Master in the House” fans were saddened to hear Astro’s Cha Eun Woo — the show’s youngest master — was leaving to concentrate on his acting and singing career. (“Kairos” star Shin Sung Rok also announced his departure).
The cast celebrated one last shoot together in Ep. 177, where they laughed (and choked back tears) reminiscing about the time they spent working and playing together. Lee Seung Gi pointed out that this was the last time they were dining together, while Yang Se Hyung said he wasn’t as upbeat as he usually is during filming because he was sad that it was their last shoot together as castmates.
I don’t know about you guys, but the most touching moment of this particular episode for me was when Eun Woo read aloud the letter he wrote to his friends. He said he looked forward to seeing them all again outside of their work setting and that he promised to continue being the best younger brother to them that he could be.
There were so many great episodes during the past year with Eun Woo, but I wanted to highlight a few of my absolute favorites.
On Ep. 157, Eun Woo proves he’s not just handsome and talented. He’s also incredibly smart. In the past, he has talked about how he was a diligent student who studied a lot to do well in school. In this episode, he and the Masters participate in the Mini Bell Challenge to see whether they can beat Team KAIST, which is led by actress Yoon So Hui. A former biochemical engineering major at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), So Hui was a formidable competitor. But even she was impressed with Eun Woo’s analytical abilities.
Before he became a full-time castmate, Eun Woo had to audition for “Master in the House” in Ep. 116. Hidden behind a screen and with his voice disguised, he teased the cast, asking if they needed a cute, 20ish member to supplement the show. Shy and boyish, he charmed everyone with his wit and his ability to easily fit into new situations. Along with mixed martial artist Kim Dong Hyun, Eun Woo made his official debut on Ep. 118 (which aired on May 3, 2020).
Oh boy, remember when Eun Woo cried a bit after listening to In Gyo Jin and So E Hyun talk about love and marriage? In Ep. 158, he candidly revealed that having someone that he can talk to about all the good (and bad) things going on in his life would be such a comfort for him and that he looks forward to the day that he can have someone by his side to go through life with. Watching him get so emotional was incredibly touching to witness. He seems to have it all: fame, money, good looks, loyal fans. But none of that can replace the loving partner he’d like to find one day.
Ep. 125 was super fun, with the cast members bringing out their real-life besties for the “Meet My Friends Festival” roller skating segment. Everyone dressed up in retro fashion (harking back to the 1970s and 1980s). Lee Seung Gi brought out his long-time friend, Super Junior’s Eunhyuk, and they pretended not to know each other that well. In reality, the two had even served in the military together. And Eun Woo got to show off his Astro bandmate, MJ, who was hilarious! When Eunhyuk was teasing them about their friendship, MJ played along, while Eun Woo kept his cool. Although he is MJ’s junior, Eun Woo playfully scolded MJ a few times to calm down. ㅋㅋ At one point, they had to carry each other. Eun Woo had no problem, but the smaller MJ had a more difficult time lifting his bandmate. This episode also highlights how tender Sung Rok can be. Talking about Ha Do Kwon (“The Penthouse“), who was his guest on the show, Sung Rok started to cry talking about how much his friend suffered to get to where he is today. But then he lightened up the mood to reveal that Do Kwon had a vasectomy!
Thankfully, KOCOWA subscribers can watch all these “Master in the House” episodes as often as we want to. We will miss Eun Woo and Sung Rok. Good luck to you both. Fighting!
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