Seoul, Korea – CJ E&M will launch Friends Over Flowers, an all-new variety show from its hit “Flowers” series line-up, starting next month on entertainment channel tvN. Following the massive success of Grandpas Over Flowers and Sisters Over Flowers, Friends over Flowers features two separate groups of younger men travelling to different destinations – and this time without the porters. Teaser photos of the first group at the airport were released late last month creating wide buzz among fans across Asia.

The first team, which departed for Peru on June 25, is comprised of middle-aged Korean musicians Yoo Hee-yeol, Lee Juck, and Yoon Sang. Having been friends for two decades, the musicians are known for their unique, cutting-edge style of music since debuting in the 1990s. The second group consisting of three young actors Baro, Son Ho-jun, and Yoo Yeon-seok departed for Laos on July 7. The three actors starred in tvN’s hit drama Reply 1994 last year, portraying the lives of college freshmen in the 1990s. The producer of Reply 1994, Shin Won-ho, also joined the trip and will take part in local production. Moreover, CJ E&M announced that producer Shin Hyo-jung, who previously worked on variety shows at KBS and SBS, will also newly join the production cast of Friends Over Flowers.

Friends Over Flowers

“CJ E&M is recognised for creating new trends in Korean TV programming, for example its unique approach to variety show formats,” said Na Young-suk, producer and creator of the “Flowers” series. “It is not about simply changing characters and locations, but for each new season, we evolve show formats by making changes to the themes and concepts. With Friends Over Flowers, get ready for all-new fun and unexpected travel stories.”

A Chinese version of Grandpas Over Flowers is currently being aired by Dragon TV in China, and discussions for adoption of the format are ongoing with broadcasters in the U.S. and U.K. CJ E&M will begin airing Friends Over Flowers via its total entertainment channel tvN in August.