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| Lee Seo-jin’s Dalla Dalla press conference / Photo = Paeng Hyun-jun |
[Sports Today reporter Song O-jung] Lee Seo-jin’s new series Dalla Dalla sends the actor on a Texas trip tailored to his tastes — and he’s joined by producer-director Na Young-seok, who plays the show’s intentionally playful “bubbly heroine” role.
On the morning of the 24th, Netflix held a press conference for the new variety show Lee Seo-jin’s Dalla Dalla at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall. Na Young-seok PD, Kim Ye-seul PD and actor Lee Seo-jin were in attendance.
Lee Seo-jin’s Dalla Dalla (hereafter Dalla Dalla) captures an unscripted, plan-free American ramble with Lee and Na. Expectations are high — Na Young-seok’s team has produced many hits, including 1 Night 2 Days, Three Meals a Day, Alssul Sinjab, and Ppyong Ppyong Earth Arcade.
◆From YouTube Content to a Global OTT Platform
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Dalla Dalla follows the YouTube series New York New York. So how did Lee react to moving from YouTube to Netflix? He laughed and said, “We shot this for YouTube, but now that Netflix is involved, I felt I should do my best. For YouTube, I could take it easy — but with Netflix, I wanted to step it up.” He admitted the pressure with a chuckle.
The production team felt that pressure as well. Na Young-seok said, “I’d be lying if I said we weren’t nervous. This started as a small project we’d film for YouTube whenever Lee had time, but Netflix’s involvement raised the stakes. We were curious how Lee’s travel content would land on Netflix. It was a lot of pressure, but we still enjoyed shooting it.”
Shifting from YouTube to an OTT platform also changed how they filmed. Producer Kim Ye-seul explained, “The series was usually shot on phones with simple setups, and we worried about telling Netflix that. But Netflix even provided high-end phones to boost quality — it really emphasized that we were on a global OTT platform.” (laughs)
◆A Trip Planned By and For Lee Seo-jin
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This Texas trip wasn’t dreamed up by producers — it was Lee’s. He filled the itinerary with his favorites, acted as guide, and was the traveler at the center of it all.
Kim Ye-seul, who joined Lee on his first trip to Texas, said, “As a PD, this was my first time following rather than leading a travel show. It felt unfamiliar, but it let me see many new sides of him. He can seem tough on the outside but soft inside — and I realized Texas is a lovely place.”
Na Young-seok added, “Every time I go to the U.S., I think there’s no better guide than him. I was happy to follow his lead again this time.”
The team had some initial nerves about leaving the plans to Lee, but Kim said that actually made the trip more special: “At first we wondered if it was okay to lean on him so much, but it turned into a chance to really experience his tastes. It wasn’t just a simple trip — it became a way to get to know Lee, and I hope that comes through on screen.”
Why Texas? Lee revealed he even considers the state as a retirement option. “Some people know, but Texas has been a trend in the U.S. lately. I started visiting more often and found the weather and lifestyle really appealing. I’ve long thought I might retire somewhere like this,” he said.
◆Chemistry Between Lee Seo-jin and His Close Friends
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Because each stop reflected Lee’s lifestyle and preferences, the show goes beyond a typical travelogue and gives viewers a deeper sense of who he is. Na Young-seok described “Guide Lee” as a classic tsundere — grumpy on the surface, warm underneath. “We’d insist on visiting certain spots and he’d grumble, ‘Why go there?’ (laughs) — but he’d still bring us. He drove, explained things, and quietly took care of us. He’s a grumbly yet warm guy, so the tsundere label fits.”
Another highlight is the easy chemistry between Lee and his longtime friend Na. Kim likened their dynamic to a rom-com: “Watching the edits, their back-and-forth felt like a romantic comedy — the bubbly heroine and cynical male lead. It’s the kind of chemistry that only comes from years together, and it made the editing process a joy.”
Na Young-seok, who’s known Lee for 15 years, said Lee was the same as ever on this trip. “He grumbles the way he always does, but he leads warmly. Even when he protests, he finds what we want. There was some aggressive shopping (laughs), but it was all part of the fun. We’d tease him to make him pull awkward faces — it was hilarious, and the time flew by.”
Kim said she found herself completely absorbed by Lee’s vibe on this trip. “Before, I wasn’t as influenced, but this time I fell for his lifestyle.”
This season also puts Na Young-seok in a dual role as director and on-screen participant. Na admitted he felt a little embarrassed watching the cuts. “The concept was to follow a close friend on a trip. In the past I didn’t appear much because I was directing, but with a junior PD at the helm, I ended up on camera a lot — and I felt a bit self-conscious. My aim was to show our chemistry raw and unfiltered, but I probably showed up more than intended. I’m half-director, half-cast, and it felt a little awkward,” he laughed.
He also confessed he enjoyed seeing Lee thrown off-balance. “Because it’s Texas, we did stuff like going to a shooting range — I had this urge to embarrass him a bit,” he joked, teasing the playful banter viewers can expect.
Meanwhile, Lee Seo-jin’s Dalla Dalla premieres on Netflix today (the 24th) at 5 PM.
[Sports Today reporter Song O-jung ent@stoo.com]
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