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'Sunim Sonim Soul Trip in India' variety show confirms cast including Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, ALLDAY PROJECT’s Woochan, Noh Hong Chul, and more
BY Demian09 · April 23, 2026
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SBS officially announced its upcoming road variety program, 'Sunim Sonim Soul Trip in India,' set to premiere in May, featuring an unusual and diverse lineup led by Venerable Pomnyun Sunim alongside entertainers and actors including Noh Hong Chul, Lee Sang Yoon, Lee Joo Bin, Lee Ki Taek, and Woochan of ALLDAY PROJECT.
The program title combines the Korean word “sunim” (Buddhist monk) and “sonim” (guest), reflecting its central concept of spiritual travel shared with invited companions. The show follows Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, widely known in Korea as “the nation’s mentor,” as he revisits key locations from his 34-year pilgrimage across India’s sacred sites.
For the first time, the respected Buddhist figure steps into the road variety format, joining guests on a journey that blends spiritual reflection with everyday travel experiences. Along the way, the group navigates India by rickshaw, samples street food, and encounters spontaneous, unscripted moments that contrast sharply with traditional travel programming. At one point during filming, Venerable Pomnyun Sunim reportedly commented, “Variety shows are harder than spiritual practice,” highlighting the unfamiliar challenges of entertainment filming.
The cast also includes unexpected participation from Lee Joo Bin, who notably canceled a planned trip to New York in order to join the project. Together with the other guests, she embarks on an immersive journey through India’s vibrant landscapes and cultural textures.
The show will take viewers beyond typical tourist routes, exploring lesser-seen areas such as tributaries of the Ganges River, crowded local market streets, and a remote school that Venerable Pomnyun Sunim personally helped establish over three decades ago. Through these experiences, 'Sunim Sonim Soul Trip in India' aims to capture the country’s raw atmosphere while revealing the personal and philosophical reflections of its participants.
With its blend of spiritual leadership, celebrity guests, and documentary-style travel storytelling, SBS’s new program is already drawing attention as a unique addition to the road variety genre.
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