Entertainers Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi have been reunited in a variety show after eight years. The duo, who have had a long association through shows such as SBS's "X-Man", KBS2's "2 Days & 1 Night", "Strong Heart", and "New Journey to the West", are expected to display fascinating chemistry through SBS's "Strong Heart League" and TV Chosun's "Brother Ramen".

Talk Show Revival and Joint Appearance in Cooking Show

On the 23rd, "Strong Heart League" made its anticipated debut. A talk-show styled program, "Strong Heart League" features hot topics from trending personalities and marks the return of the original "Strong Heart", which aired in 2006, after a 12-year hiatus.

In the first episode, many familiar faces appeared, including Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi as the two main hosts, Cho Jung-rin, who transitioned from comedian to reporter, and basketball player Ji Seung-jun. Despite their strong showing and a fresh format, the show opened with a somewhat disappointing rating of 2.9%. This figure is strikingly low compared to the original "Strong Heart", which debuted in October 2009 with a 16.6% rating.

On the 22nd, "Brother Ramen" with Kang Ho-dong, Lee Seung-gi, and Bae In-hyuk lifted its veil. The trio opens a ramen shop in a famous Japanese tourist location, aiming to introduce the taste of Korean ramen to noodle-loving Japan. The first episode recorded a viewership of 2.0%. In the wake of the trend of opening restaurants abroad, Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi have also challenged themselves to a cooking show through "Brother Ramen".

An Affiliation Initiated in 2004, Reunited in Variety After 8 Years

Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi's connection began in 2004 with the show "X-Man". Since then, they have demonstrated exceptional chemistry through programs like KBS's flagship variety show "2 Days & 1 Night" (2007), "Strong Heart", and "New Journey to the West" (2015).

The Mutual Trust between Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi

However, the chance for a comeback is very much alive, which they have proven before in 2015 with "New Journey to the West". When they reunited after a long hiatus, people expressed both worry and anticipation. This was mainly due to the participation of Lee Su-geun, who had been embroiled in an illegal sports gambling controversy, and Eun Ji-won, who had divorce issues.

It may be too soon to express disappointment, as both "Strong Heart League" and "Brother Ramen" have only just begun. Just as "New Journey to the West" gained unexpected reactions, these two programs also have plenty of opportunities to bounce back. The proven chemistry between Kang Ho-dong and Lee Seung-gi could be the key to improving their ratings. There are high hopes that their time-tested chemistry will help boost viewership.

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