Six-Year Promise Fulfilled: Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, and Kyuhyun Finally Head to Kenya in Netflix Hit
A game show prize from 2019 has turned into Netflix's newest variety sensation, proving that sometimes the best ideas take years to materialize.
"Three Idiots in Kenya" released its final three episodes on December 2, completing the journey that began when Kyuhyun drew a Kenya giraffe hotel voucher during a 2019 episode of tvN's "New Journey to the West 7." The show brings together Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, and Kyuhyun for their first major collaboration since 2022's "My Shoulder's Been Dislocated."
From Game Show Joke to Reality
During the November 2019 broadcast of "New Journey to the West 7," Kyuhyun's team won a retro racing game. Their prize included five pulls from a selection of 100 prizes, and Kyuhyun drew number 88-a Kenya giraffe hotel stay. The cast laughed it off as an unlikely trip, particularly since Eun Ji-won has a documented fear of giraffes and Lee Soo-geun dislikes flying.
Producer Na Young-seok later admitted the promise nearly faded from memory. "It was a small commitment we made on air," he explained at the show's November 25 press conference. "We tend to forget these things as life goes on. One day while filming, we thought 'let's actually do this.' Thankfully, all three had the willingness and could match their schedules."
The project faced delays due to COVID-19 and scheduling conflicts. During a March 2025 appearance on MBC's "Radio Star," Lee Soo-geun addressed rumors of tension with Na, clarifying that the delay stemmed from normal production queue logistics rather than personal issues.
Netflix Changes the Game
The show marks Na Young-seok's Netflix debut after decades producing hits for Korean broadcast television. His previous works include "2 Days & 1 Night," which averaged 30% viewership ratings, alongside successes like "Three Meals a Day," "Youn's Kitchen," and multiple "New Journey to the West" seasons.
Episodes 1-3 dropped November 25, with episodes 4-6 following December 2. The release strategy differs from Na's typical approach of weekly broadcast episodes, reflecting Netflix's binge-watching model.
Co-producer Kim Ye-seul noted that working with Netflix brought unexpected creative shifts. Music licensing costs differ significantly on the streaming platform, leading the production team to request the cast limit their usual musical interludes. The naturally musical trio responded by creating numerous original songs instead-an unintended highlight that became a viewer favorite.
"Music rights work differently than broadcast," Kim explained. "When we asked them to be mindful of licensing costs, they couldn't contain their enthusiasm and just made up their own songs. That ended up being a fun element viewers enjoy."
What Viewers Are Watching
The show follows the trio through Kenya's landscapes, from Nairobi's urban environment to safari expeditions seeking Africa's Big Five wildlife. Early episodes captured Kyuhyun losing his phone immediately upon arrival, prompting Lee Soo-geun to improvise a mournful ballad that Kyuhyun transformed into comedic gold.
Food became a central theme, with missions built around street food discoveries and fusion restaurant experiences. The December 2 episodes showcase safari tours, hot air balloon rides, and the cast's reactions to encountering wildlife firsthand.
Lee Soo-geun revealed at the press conference that Kenya's natural beauty affected him deeply. "Seeing elephants up close was so overwhelming I cried," he said. "I got lens implant surgery right after returning home because I want to see it clearly with my own eyes if we go again."
Classic Na Young-seok games appear throughout, including "zombie game" breakfast challenges and "word chain" competitions. The December 2 release introduces new accommodation-based missions designed specifically for the trio.
Creative Freedom vs. Broadcast Constraints
Netflix's relaxed content regulations allowed moments that would require heavy editing on broadcast television. Lee Soo-geun acknowledged that profanity appears naturally during intense game moments. "Netflix is a good platform," he noted. "They don't censor emotional outbursts. That authenticity helps convey the actual experience."
Na emphasized he maintained traditional Korean variety aesthetics rather than adapting to international streaming conventions. The show features extensive on-screen text, fast-paced editing, and subtitle-heavy storytelling typical of Korean variety programming.
"For Korean audiences, this should feel comfortably familiar-20 years of variety evolution," Na said. "For global viewers, we're asking 'do people enjoy this style of content?' Netflix said they'd handle translation however needed, so we made it Korean-style through and through."
Future Prospects
Na hinted that strong Netflix performance could greenlight additional travel concepts. "We don't see the numbers, but Netflix headquarters does," he noted. "If viewers enjoy this, maybe 'Three Idiots on a Cruise' becomes possible."
The production company's second Netflix project, "Lee Seo-jin's Dallas Dallas," arrives in 2026, featuring Lee Seo-jin exploring Texas with Na and friends.
Lee Soo-geun, despite initially reluctant about the Kenya trip after difficult experiences filming 2019's "Iceland Three Meals," praised the reunion. "Filming with the PDs and 'New Journey to the West' team again didn't feel like work," he said. "When the cast genuinely enjoys themselves, it shows on screen naturally."
The six-episode series represents a test case for whether traditional Korean variety formats can succeed on global streaming platforms while maintaining their distinctive cultural characteristics.
