Comedian Wonho Chung takes on the world in new travel show

Arabic speaking Korean comedian Wonho Chung steps out of his comfort zone for Wonho Around the World, a new humorous Arabic travel show that airs every Tuesday on the free-to-air Al Araby TV.

Wonho Chung has a new travel show. Courtesy Wonho Chung

Dubai-based comedian Wonho Chung has spent the year accomplishing dares. He devoured a fried scorpion as a challenge by an Arab living in Beijing, he was forced to play with cobras at a farm in Vietnam and he was pushed from a 233 metres high cliff for his first bungee jumping experience in Macau.

"I screamed like a little girl on the way down," he recalls. No matter, it all makes for good TV. The Arabic-speaking Korean stand-up comedian has taken a hiatus from stage to film Wonho Around the World, an Arabic travel show that sees him step out of his comfort zone and discover his adventurous streak.

The first season, which sees him travel across more than 10 countries in Asia is currently being aired on the free-to-air Al Araby TV. In each weekly 25 minute episode, the funnyman gives his zany take on a new country, its history, culture, tourist attractions and cuisine.

From stand-up comedy to travel. Why did you decide to switch it up?

Ihab Al Khosousy, the managing director of the production company Future Factory, approached me with the concept of the travel show last year. It’s very hard to say no to that kind of proposal. We spent eight months planning and June was when we set it into motion. Our first trip was to Sri Lanka.

But there are lots of travel shows out there. How is yours different?

It’s pretty much my perspective of the world, but it is also quite informative. Being a comic, everything is presented in light hearted manner and with a lot of spontaneity. The cameras are rolling the whole time as I enter into different situations. Each episode has something historical, something famous and something adventurous presented, along with highlighting the cuisine. What we also do is track down an Arab that has made that country their home. Like in China, we met up with an Egyptian who spoke fluent Mandarin. We focus on how they have adapted their lives, while preserving the Arabic way of living in a foreign country. It’s just like how I adapted my life to be an Arab here.

Were there any activities that you refused to do?

There was one segment that we filmed in Vietnam where the production company didn’t tell me what we were going to do because they wanted to capture my reaction on camera. We ended going to a cobra farm where they breed them and eventually eat them. That was terrifying, which was great for TV. Here I am using a stick to play with a cobra with it trying to attack me. In the end they killed the cobra and made a soup out of its meat. I refused to eat it. I witnessed it being slaughtered and it wasn’t a very appetising sight.

But was there anything weird that you did end up trying?

In Korea I ate a live Octopus. You basically pick up the octopus from the tank, chop it up while it is still alive, drizzle sesame oil on it; and it comes with a dipping sauce. You take a piece of the octopus which is still moving and eat it. I had a tentacle and it ended up sticking to the sides of my throat. That was a weird sensation. In Beijing, I ate a deep fried scorpion. That was crunch and salty.

An activity that knocked your socks off?

The bungee jump in Macau, it’s the world’s highest at 233 metres. It’s like jumping from the top of (Dubai’s) Address hotel. I was fine until the last 10 seconds where you have to slowly walk, stand at the edge and look down. I was freaking out. Never look down when you are that high, just jump.

You are full of energy on TV. What’s it like when the cameras aren’t rolling?

We are always running on a tight schedule, sometimes covering four countries in 10 days, so it does get taxing. We are on a plane, bus, train, bicycle, tuk-tuk, in traffic. So I kept myself hydrated and tried to fit in as much sleep to look good on camera. I’ve mastered the art of sleeping in any moving vehicle. Put me on a plane, train, a donkey and I’ll sleep.

Which country has your heart?

Japan. The city is perfection. You don’t feel claustrophobic, people aren’t frustrated and are very friendly, it’s clean and safe, and the food is amazing. I couldn’t find anything to flaw. I will be going back.

What globetrotting adventures will viewers see next season?

Europe will feature in our second season. It’ll start with Georgia and then we’ll be covering Switzerland, Germany, Munich, Amsterdam and Czech Republic.

• Wonho Around the World airs on Tuesdays at 11.15pm on Al Araby TV