What’s become of the original 1N2D cast? | 1 Night 2 Days Season 1

If you compile the stories behind each cast member since the departure of MC Mong, it has been nothing but disappointing. To me, 1 Night 2Days portrayed an amazing and hilarious bunch of guys going for a weekend of bromantic getaway, without forgetting, of course, of the difficulties, deception, challenges and shame that went with this genius of a show.

Let’s face it though. It turned out to be like another tragic child of Disney; originally endearing, eventually a train wreck. Here’s a look back to the events that followed the end of season one.

MC Mong | Charged with trying to dodge his military conscription – a serious offence in Korea. As a celebrity such offence is considered dishonourable and had been banned from all major broadcasting stations.

Kang Hodong | Accused of tax evasion and therefore announced an early retirement from the entertainment industry. This is the reason for season one’s unprecedented end in 2012.

Lee Su-geun | Caught gambling illegally online over sports. His various TV appearances have currently been halted while he goes under further investigation.

Eun Ji Won | Is divorced with his wife of two years over ‘not having enough in common’.

With MC Mong and Kang Hodong’s “crimes” having happened over 1-2 years ago, theirs don’t hit me as hard as Ji Won’s and Su-geun’s. Of course I miss Mongie and glad for Hodong resuming his TV appearances, but since Ji Won’s and Su-geun’s news are so fresh in my head right now, it’s a little hard to process.

Hearing Ji Won divorced was quite gutting. I consider him my soul-brother – he’s practically my twin at the other end of the pole in terms of personality so I really do feel for him, because I get him. He never really spoke about his wife except when he announced his marriage and when his brother-in-law came on the show as a guest. Maybe even then it wasn’t a happy marriage and this was for the best?

On the other hand, Lee Su-geun had been caught illegally gambling. I’m not surprised but I am disappointed that it tarnished his image. I remember how amazing and accurate he was when they played any kind of 50/50 chance game on 1 Night 2 Days. He always won. I still think even if he is found guilty, that what he did was an honest mistake. Perhaps lured or tempted? I don’t know. It’s just hard to believe someone with his kind of spirit to commit something so wrong. I mean, this is Su-geun we’re talking about. Not the sharpest pencil in the lot – but nonetheless still well loved.

Despite the image these men have today, I still believe in them. I know it may seem like a far cry to say something like that, but when you’ve lived watching them, growing and evolving with them over a span of so many years, you truly see that they blur the boundary between entertainment and genuine personality. I really can’t help but only see and remember the best of them.

So, MC Mong, Kang Hodong, Eun Ji Won and Lee Su-geun, fighting! :D 

Image from seoulbeats.com