Netflix has officially announced the cast of its new variety show “Sandokgi Project” — Hong Jin-kyung, Seo In-young, Lee Sun-bin, and Lee Yeon will embark on a physical trip through nature to drain their famously fierce competitive spirit, with all episodes dropping worldwide on November 20.
The show, produced by Kim Tae-ho’s content studio TEO, follows the four stars as they travel across the country in search of good energy under the open sky. Described as a physical trip variety, the series pits four self-proclaimed owners of Korea’s densest “dokgi” — slang for relentless competitive drive — against hiking, trail running, and backpacking through some of the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes. The series is directed by Yoon Ki-bong with Jeon Ah-young serving as producer; both previously worked together on “Earth Marble World Tour” seasons 2 and 3, according to myDaily.
Character teasers released alongside the announcement spotlight the two extremes of the cast’s “dokgi.” Seo In-young, introduced as the “original dokgi” with the tagline “queen is back,” confesses, “I really hate dokgi, and I hate mountains” — before flipping the switch. Once charged up, she declares, “Let’s really go for it,” vowing, “I’ll be carried out by 119,” and is shown climbing a mountain on all fours. “I even overcame divorce,” she shouts, adding that she will shut down her “Gaegwacheonseon” YouTube channel if she fails. Lee Yeon offers the counterpoint, defining dokgi as “the energy to get things done no matter what” and “a heart that never gives up and pushes through to the end,” while preaching a healing approach: “It’s okay not to try so hard.”
The lineup mixes four distinct personalities: veteran variety star Hong Jin-kyung anchors the cast, while Seo In-young rides a career second act through her “Gaegwacheonseon” (repentance) YouTube channel, where she has been connecting with subscribers. Lee Sun-bin brings her “clear-eyed madness” pro-passion energy, and Lee Yeon her well-known love of the mountains. OSEN reported the official announcement on October 21, with XportsNews confirming the November 20 all-episode Netflix release.
With its character teasers already drawing attention, “Sandokgi Project” premieres November 20 on Netflix.
