Ahn Jae-hyun joins second season of New Journey to the West

42 February 19, 2016February 19, 2016

Ahn Jae-hyun joins second season of New Journey to the West

by girlfriday

Ahn Jae-hyun? Really? When there was speculation that Na PD might bring in a new maknae to take Lee Seung-gi’s place in the new season of his web travel variety show New Journey to the West, I was expecting someone more familiar to variety. Okay, I was really hoping for MC Mong to reunite with his 1 Night 2 Days hyungs, because this was the show to ease Su-geun back to variety after his scandal, so why not Mong too?

But the newest member of the second season has been confirmed, and it was model-turned-actor Ahn Jae-hyun (Blood, You’re All Surrounded, You From Another Star) who flew off to Chengdu, China along with Journey West’s original cast members Kang Ho-dong, Lee Su-geun, and Eun Ji-won.

Na PD and crew said that they weren’t looking for someone to replace Seung-gi (who couldn’t join the second season because he’s in the army), and looked for someone who would blend well and follow the hyungs willingly. They described Ahn Jae-hyun as innocent and very malleable, which makes me think that Na PD’s true goal was to find someone that the hyungs could corrupt.

It’s obviously a huge boon for Ahn Jae-hyun, who’s mostly known for his subpar acting and very pretty looks. But acting has little to do with variety stardom, and one good image-ruining turn in variety could mean a whole new career trajectory for him. If anything, the hyungs will have fun inducting the newbie into varietyland; I just hope the end result is entertaining.

The second season of New Journey to the West will air on NaverCast as a web series, and possibly on tvN after Youths Over Flowers in Africa.

Via IS Plus

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1 Ree

February 19, 2016 at 9:07 AM

Malleable. Lol

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Shuerei

February 20, 2016 at 2:59 AM

I love ahn jae hyun

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2 Asterido

February 19, 2016 at 9:09 AM

Hmm how long he can keep that flat expression ya? *oops

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3 loophole

February 19, 2016 at 9:22 AM

I dunno, I just want him to always play a psycopath, not a vampire or pretty boy. Just plain whole batshit crazy psycopath.

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4 bb-chan

February 19, 2016 at 9:27 AM

it's actually interesting... I'm rather curious... him being all fresh and has his reputation yet to be tarnished- and wow what a way to be inducted into variety than by those three... badum.

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5 TrickorTreat

February 19, 2016 at 9:28 AM

Hehehehe. Look at that calm smile, just sitting there rocking that new improved psycho version 10.9 camouflaged laced with minimal audio and smiling visuals.

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6 owl

February 19, 2016 at 9:37 AM

Ahn Jee Hyun just doesn't seem very um, lively, but maybe this will give him a chance to show a different side of himself. I'm game.

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sorrynotsorry

February 19, 2016 at 12:03 PM

I agree. He could be the biggest dork in the world and no one would know, and his acting is on the flat side. Great opportunity to go with the flow and let his personality come through.

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7 isabel

February 19, 2016 at 9:49 AM

He doesn't look interested.

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8 pogo

February 19, 2016 at 10:04 AM

well, this is a stroke of luck for him indeed. His acting sucks but if he does well here (and let's face it, this will have great ratings because Na PD), he's got it made.

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9 TrinPie

February 19, 2016 at 10:53 AM

He has always felt so boring to me. He can't seem to express past a flat expression. I've not been a fan of him or Lee Soo-Hyuk but atleast after Scholar LSH seems to have found something in himself. Hopefully AJH can do the same.

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Gidget

February 19, 2016 at 2:09 PM

LSH has been hilarious in Neighborhood Hero.

His characters were always so predictably pretty and cold, that I under appreciated him as an actor. He's been an utterly lovable goofball in NH.

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crazyahjummafan

February 20, 2016 at 2:16 AM

He's good in Neighbourhood Hero. Keep calling him Gwi, but his acting is nowhere like Gwi. Very likeable n cute. So un-Gwi-like.

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TrinPie

February 22, 2016 at 8:48 AM

That's great he is doing well in NH. Seems like Scholar broke him out of his comfort zone and has gotten him to explore his talents more.

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10 sw33tnshie

February 19, 2016 at 11:08 AM

I think any of the youth boys from reply 88-97 would have been great! I only read recaps b4..I'll prob do the same.

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11 NaijaNoona

February 19, 2016 at 11:26 AM

He's been on Happy Together one or two times. He was cute enough. I see potential :p

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12 stars4u

February 19, 2016 at 12:07 PM

Well that was unexpected!

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13 Pearl~ai88

February 19, 2016 at 12:12 PM

Huh. I'll definitely give him a chance. Could end up with an interesting dynamic.

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14 HopesDD

February 19, 2016 at 12:32 PM

I hope the result is good, but I'm dissapointed as NJttW was all about 1n2d S1 members' bond, they even name their pages on SNS TvNbros, hopefully AJH will blend in well and the show succeeds. Althought I feel like they went for flower boy instead of let's say Kim Jong Min or Kim C (because with Mong... it'll be 100000% harder with the bashing, since you-know, he'd replace a guy who enlisted active duty *shrug*) just for eye candy's sake. I'll see after the response whether to watch or not.

It might sound mean or that I'm a pressed fan (gotta a problem with it?) but Lee Seung Gi will always be this group's baby maknae to me even when he'll hit his 40s/more.

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15 yuelie

February 19, 2016 at 1:57 PM

Best actor ever 'cause no one can impersonate a door like him!!! lol

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16 Jam

February 19, 2016 at 2:05 PM

huhhh? interesting! i wonder how he will do. like some of u are saying, this could really show a diff side of him - which im hoping bc this is a variety show afterall.

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17 amy

February 19, 2016 at 2:38 PM

hey give this guy a chance... I have not seen him in any variety, he looks sweet in MLFTS BTS so I'm anticipating this.

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Shuerei

February 20, 2016 at 3:06 AM

I agree. I think he would do just fine. Lots of people were uncertain about hyeri in reply 1988 and she turned out to be amazing.

There's something very sweet and endearing about AJH and I think that might provide some hilarious contrast to the entire setup.

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18 lemondoodle

February 19, 2016 at 2:54 PM

This guy is devoid of charisma/personality/talent of any kind. Na PD is good, but he's not that good.

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19 Rose

February 19, 2016 at 4:39 PM

He should be going that new TVN show Acting School instead....

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Koola

February 19, 2016 at 7:10 PM

LOL

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HopesDD

February 19, 2016 at 10:13 PM

Loool what you said is the top comment on his Korean article XD

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20 Mandy

February 19, 2016 at 4:59 PM

I love that Na PD is so unpredictable. If someone claims to have predicted Ahn Jae-hyun, I'd call them a liar. I've always loved him as Yoon-jae and he'll forever be that for me, but I am hopeful he'll turn things around for himself here. Na PD has made so many variety stars, he can be the next!

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21 kyl

February 19, 2016 at 5:07 PM

Aside from the new member (I'll hold my judgement until I see the show), has anyone noticed that Ji-won is now Sun Wu Kong aka Monkey King? I bet Su-guen's gonna get his revenge if the electric thing is still in this season.

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22 mindy

February 19, 2016 at 6:36 PM

I'll give him a chance, but I'm honestly not impressed with his acting OR his looks/modeling. He always looks kind of sickly to me...

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23 Nathan

February 19, 2016 at 6:42 PM

I watched his fashion vlog and all I can say is HE IS CUTE! Can't wait to see the hyungs corrupt this cute fella.

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24 rochinipark

February 19, 2016 at 6:52 PM

This was unexpected, NA PD always have something up his sleeve. Taking a novice and putting him in a crowd of veterans I can imagine the non-shenegans as the veteran boys really cannot be all loose over him.

I'm pretty sure this will happen guaranteed 100% is a hidden camera prank to break the bond and make them be easy with each other.

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Shuerei

February 20, 2016 at 8:33 AM

I am sure they see some interesting potential in AJH

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25 Purple Owl

February 19, 2016 at 9:31 PM

Not gonna lie, I kinda forget about him. I liked him in YFAS and fell for him in YAAS (the bromance tho!) Blood didn’t interest me and since then he's been out of sight, out of mind.

But, omo! I finally figured out why I don't like his photoshoots,. He looks like he has no soil and is trying to absorb mine through staring.

That said, I really do wish the best for him. I just probably won't be tuning in.

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26 jazza

February 19, 2016 at 10:45 PM

Wow. This was unexpected. Looking forward to this season. You can always trust Na PD. ?

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Shuerei

February 20, 2016 at 8:31 AM

Yes! Can't wait to see AJH again.

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27 bb-chan

February 20, 2016 at 10:20 AM

yeah i'm thinking about it and really, I'm game. maybe he'll shine like a buried jewel once Na PD's done with him. He's always had stoic characters to portray anyway, so realityTV will give him a chance to show a side which is hopefully different from how we see him when he's acting.

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28 reglest

February 20, 2016 at 5:28 PM

"Okay, I was really hoping for MC Mong to reunite with his 1 Night 2 Days hyungs, because this was the show to ease Su-geun back to variety after his scandal, so why not Mong too?"

My thought exactly!

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Dee

February 21, 2016 at 10:18 AM

MONGGG
T.T

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lilsu

May 29, 2016 at 3:59 PM

I was hoping for Mong too...

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29 WQ

February 21, 2016 at 7:52 AM

I actually saw him in real life in Incheon Airport with his manager(?), and he was wearing that same expression too.. hopefully he can be lively and funny with the other hyungs on the show..

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30 Bembem

April 27, 2016 at 6:42 PM

Ahn Jae Hyun's character was so unpredictable in New Journey to the West 2...He's so cute and very innocent...Dumb and Dumber I would say but in a so cute way...I have watched the few episodes and If it was aired earlier before the the dating News...LOL...He was Caught by Kang Ho Dong when the latter ask if he already texted his Parents and he ask a follow up question ''How about your Girlfriend?'' and Ahn Jae Hyun answered in ''I texted her''...LOL...He was caught Unguarded...Yet so cute!...Awwww...What a sweet guy!...So love it that he was added to the group...He's very charming in his own way!

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