Kim Shin-young Exits 'National Singing Contest' as 'Again, Where to Go?' Concludes

Channel S's travel show, Again, Where to Go? (다시갈지도), which opened up new avenues for virtual travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, has wrapped up its journey with a special episode featuring local guides showcasing hidden gem tours. The show, which solidified its status as a top travel entertainment program by winning the PP Culture and Arts Award at the 2024 Cable TV Broadcasting Awards, aired its final episode on November 21, 2024, marking the end of its global virtual travel project.

The 135th episode featured a 'Local Guide Tour' special, where Kim Shin-young teamed up with travel creator Jo Gam and guide Kimi to explore 'Five-Star Rated Taiwan Guide: New Taipei & Chiayi.' Lee Seok-hoon, along with Hee-jae and guide Samuel, showcased 'UK Tour: Canterbury & Rye,' while Choi Tae-seong, with flower sister and guide Mu-hui, presented 'Too Much Talker and the Enchanting Tour: Cairo, Egypt.' The final travel companion was Jay Seon, an interior designer and broadcaster, who joined to determine the ultimate travel destination.

Hee-jae was the first to visit the UK, exploring Canterbury and Rye. Samuel, a guide with 13 years of experience in Korea, highlighted the romantic history and fairy-tale scenery of Canterbury, followed by charming local tea houses and a 600-year-old haunted site in Rye. He also introduced Hastings, a resort town, showcasing an ocean-view hotel at an affordable price, along with the breathtaking natural scenery steeped in the history of the Normandy landings, capturing the quaint charm of small-town England.

Jo Gam then took viewers to New Taipei and Chiayi in Taiwan. Kimi, a five-star rated guide, introduced the cat village of Houtong, one of the world's six major cat towns, appealing to the tastes of the MZ generation. She also offered a unique traditional Taiwanese knife massage with a history of 2,500 years for a relaxing experience for parents. The tour included a visit to Alishan, one of Taiwan's three major mountains, featuring a local restaurant known only to locals and a perfect sunrise tour at the summit, creating a family-friendly travel itinerary.

The final destination was Cairo, Egypt, led by Mu-hui, a top-tier Korean guide. He began with a tour of the Bahariya Desert, showcasing exotic landscapes reminiscent of the film 'Interstellar,' including the Black and White Deserts, captivating everyone with his artistic photography skills. The tour also included a visit to the essential archaeological museum, providing a rich knowledge experience for tourists. Additionally, guests enjoyed traditional Egyptian cuisine at a high-end restaurant with stunning views of the Pyramids.

Jay Seon ultimately chose Cairo as the top destination, concluding the cheerful 'final proxy travel' segment. He expressed, "When I get a vacation from my wife, it’s usually just a few days, but here, it feels like I can make the most of a short time." Everyone agreed, celebrating Cairo's victory with warm congratulations.

Again, Where to Go? provided viewers with a refreshing virtual travel format during the pandemic, awakening dormant travel desires and offering vicarious satisfaction. Each episode combined destination exploration, accommodation selection, culinary adventures, and practical travel tips, delivering a vivid experience that felt like an actual trip. The show also evoked nostalgic memories of pre-COVID travels while introducing viewers to unique destinations that are often hard to access, establishing itself as a trusted travel guide.

The program explored over 326 cities across more than 100 countries, becoming a representative travel show for South Korea. Over its 135 episodes and 980 days, it visited familiar destinations favored by Koreans, such as Japan, the USA, France, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan, as well as unique locations in Indonesia, Turkey, India, Africa, and Egypt, uncovering the exotic charms of countries previously unexplored. It introduced lesser-known cities like Inverness in Scotland, Lanzarote in Spain, Zanzibar in Tanzania, and Koh Yao Yai in Thailand, broadening the travel options available to viewers.

Collaboration with 104 ordinary travel creators, known as 'proxy travelers,' was another key highlight of Again, Where to Go? These creators shared realistic and practical travel information that proved helpful for actual trips, offering special attractions that even seasoned travelers might not have known. They presented diverse travel concepts based on unique themes each week, providing viewers with the fun of selecting from various travel routes that showcased different aspects of the same destination. The delightful support from the MCs, starting with Kim Shin-young and Kim Ji-seok and concluding with Kim Shin-young, Lee Seok-hoon, and Choi Tae-seong, further enhanced the joyful travel experience unique to Again, Where to Go?.

Channel S's Again, Where to Go? concluded its run on November 21, 2024, after 135 episodes, transforming nostalgic memories of overseas travel into a reality through a relaxing virtual world travel program. Thanks to the enthusiastic support from viewers, it is also available for streaming on Netflix.