‘Animal is Wonderful’ returned to viewers with richer stories for the Lunar New Year holiday.
In the special Lunar New Year episode aired on the 27th, the KBS2 variety show ‘Animal is Wonderful’ featured the living legend of trot music, Jinseong, as a surprise guest.
Dressed in a vibrant hanbok, Jinseong greeted the audience and performed his hit song ‘At Andong Station’ live on the spot, drawing cheers from the MCs. The following video depicted Jinseong embarking on a special winter trip with his 15-year-old dog, ‘Bori’. After a walk with ‘Bori’, Jinseong was seen giving him a massage, which prompted trainer Ko Ji-an to exclaim, “That’s a great massage for senior dogs,” while Defconn expressed his admiration for their friendship, saying, “They are the best partners for each other.”
In particular, Jinseong expressed his gratitude towards ‘Bori’, who stayed by his side during his battle with lymphoma and heart valve disease. He revealed, “During that difficult time fighting cancer, ‘Bori’ was always by my side. I felt and learned love because of ‘Bori’,” showcasing his deep affection for his pet.
After taking photos with ‘Bori’ in hanbok to preserve the memories, Jinseong performed a live snippet of another hit song, ‘Don’t Tackle Me’, and shared his New Year’s wishes with the viewers, saying, “I hope this year will be one where we neither tackle nor get tackled.”
In the ‘Animal Friends’ segment, a guardian who lives with various types of snakes appeared in celebration of the Year of the Snake in 2025. The guardian, who takes care of about 30 pet snakes, including the endangered ball python and the hog-nosed snake, shared, “I started raising reptiles after rescuing a lizard that boys were bullying in middle school.” He also mentioned, “My father hates snakes the most, but he is trying to see them positively,” creating a warm atmosphere.
The second ‘Animal Friend’ featured ‘Ppukku’, a Pomeranian that has become a local celebrity in Cheonan Central Market with its charming looks and short legs.
The grandfather was seen walking with ‘Ppukku’ in his arms and even preparing food, surprising everyone. Veterinarian Kim Myung-cheol remarked, “It’s unconditional love,” while Jang Do-yeon smiled warmly, saying, “Just looking at its expression, I can see hearts in its eyes.” The story of how ‘Ppukku’ ended up living in three different households due to a cute competition for its affection was shared, and trainer Ko Ji-an provided useful information explaining why a primary guardian should be designated.
