Broadcaster Seo Jang-hoon reexamines the ‘meaning of wealth’ through the lives of the rich in ‘Neighbor Millionaire’.
On the 8th, a press conference for the EBS and E Channel entertainment program ‘Seo Jang-hoon’s Neighbor Millionaire’ was held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Seo Jang-hoon, Jonathan, PD Kim Min-ji, and PD Park So-hyun were present at the event.
‘Seo Jang-hoon’s Neighbor Millionaire’ (hereafter ‘Neighbor Millionaire’), which will premiere on the 9th at 9:55 PM, is a program where the giant Seo Jang-hoon, worth 2 trillion, visits ‘real rich people’ who have achieved wealth and success to explore their secrets.
Seo Jang-hoon will personally meet the wealthy and hand them ‘blank checks’, listening to their stories and wisdom that contain the secrets of their success, aiming to satisfy curiosity about the lives of the rich. Seo Jang-hoon and Jonathan will not just tell stories of wealthy individuals but will seek to find ‘how should we live’ and ‘what is a truly abundant life?’—questions that everyone is curious about.
PD Kim Min-ji, who is in charge of planning and directing, introduced the program by saying, “As inferred from the title, it’s not about someone special, but rather a program that meets hidden millionaires who are close to us and reexamines their philosophy and the meaning of wealth.” She added, “Everyone is very interested in money. We wanted to find answers to philosophical and difficult questions like ‘What is money really?’ and ‘How much do you need to be happy?’”
She also mentioned, “What people want, broadly speaking, is not just to increase their assets but to find direction in life. While planning, it led to questions about the relationship between money and happiness and what kind of abundance one possesses. I believe that the increase in such content is about finding happiness in life,” and expressed her hope that the program would serve as an opportunity to reflect on life with hope and courage, especially in these uncertain and chaotic times.
PD Park So-hyun stated, “Seo Jang-hoon is an honest and unpretentious MC. I always wanted to work with him. I was very curious about what questions an unpretentious person would ask when meeting millionaires. With Seo Jang-hoon participating, we prepared even harder. We are currently filming, and many things you have never heard before will come out.”
Regarding Jonathan, she said, “Jonathan is a quirky and lively representative of the MZ generation. He is much kinder and more polite than I expected, and I was impressed by his depth of thought. He has thought out life plans B, C, and D. He will fulfill the role of an MZ who speaks his mind.”
What is the definition of ‘wealth’? The rich people featured in this program do not seem to be defined solely by their total assets of hundreds of billions. What criteria will the production team use to define ‘wealth’?
PD Park So-hyun explained, “The amount of money one needs to be considered wealthy varies from person to person. We aimed to capture figures who can be respected by anyone, showcasing the results of their success. We tried to recruit rich individuals with stories, including those who have hit rock bottom.”
PD Kim Min-ji added, “When we say ‘millionaire’, people might think we are just showing off a glamorous life, but the rich we meet are not solely focused on economic success. We aimed to recruit individuals who possess the value of life. The recruitment process was particularly challenging, and we put in tremendous effort that is hard to fully explain.” She continued, “The reason these individuals opened their hearts is that this program is not just about showcasing asset sizes. We requested their participation from a social contribution perspective, where their life stories could serve as a milestone for someone else’s life, and many felt sincerity and authenticity in that.”
She also explained, “EBS is a public broadcaster, and there are many programs that approach with sincerity and trust. During the recruitment process, we were able to show that we do not distort or sensationalize editing. The channel's image played a significant role in the recruitment.”
Currently, Dr. Oh Eun-young is also visiting the homes of the wealthy in the tvN entertainment program ‘Billion-Won Breakfast’ to hear stories about life. At first glance, it seems similar, but are there any differences from other programs?
In response, PD Kim Min-ji said, “I receive many questions related to ‘Billion-Won Breakfast’. I think it’s good news that there are more programs dealing with successful adults in legacy media, showing successful adults to society.”
She continued, “Our program features Seo Jang-hoon, who has a surprising charm. He often conducts programs that penetrate the heart, such as ‘Ask Us’ or ‘Divorce Counseling Camp’. He asks direct and cold questions, yet opens hearts with sincerity and consideration. The natural flow of conversation, rather than a formal interview or talk format, is a virtue of the program.”
PD Kim also mentioned, “EBS is a broadcaster strong in documentaries. The most important thing we consider is to handle a human being with in-depth and dense research. It’s not just about having a conversation; we will look at what kind of life they live and what they ponder, allowing for a multifaceted view of an individual’s biography,” adding, “You will definitely recognize that this is a completely different program.”
Seo Jang-hoon shared, “I first received the offer to participate in mid-September last year,” and added, “At that time, I didn’t even know if that program was happening. I usually try not to participate in programs that are similar to past ones when I receive offers.” He explained, “Until the program comes out, I don’t know what kind of people are preparing what kind of program. So I want to clarify that I received the offer in September last year without knowing about the production of ‘Billion-Won Breakfast’.”
Seo Jang-hoon expressed confidence in the program, saying, “That program is also very good and excellent. However, when you see it directly, you will feel that the essence is different. The people appearing are different.”
Finally, Seo Jang-hoon stated, “Rather than wanting to meet someone specific, I want to meet many people. In today’s era, the best program for broadcasters is one that lasts the longest. I hope ‘Neighbor Millionaire’ will continue until every millionaire in our country is featured.”
‘Neighbor Millionaire’ will premiere on the 9th at 9:55 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
