Forget Romance: Lee Seo-jin and Na PD’s Chaos in Ready or Not: Texas

Netflix’s new reality hit, Ready or Not: Texas, is proving that fifteen years of bickering is actually the secret ingredient for a top-tier romantic comedy—minus the actual romance.

What happens when you take South Korea’s most “grumpy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside” actor, Lee Seo-jin, and pair him with the legendary variety mastermind Na Young-suk (Na PD) in the middle of the Lone Star State? You get a travel show that ignores every guidebook in existence. During a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday, producer Kim Ye-seul revealed that the duo’s chemistry was so unexpectedly “sweet” during editing that it felt more like a classic K-drama rom-com than a travelogue.

The “Geotbasokchok” Charm Goes West

The term “geotbasokchok”—usually reserved for perfectly fried chicken (crispy outside, tender inside)—is now the official label for Lee Seo-jin. Throughout Ready or Not: Texas, Lee plays the cynical lead who complains about every task Na PD throws his way, only to secretly smirk when he sees the production team enjoying themselves.

“Lee would grumble, ‘Why are we even doing this?’ but then he’d watch Na PD’s excitement with a satisfied smile,” producer Kim noted. It’s the classic trope: the cold CEO meets the bubbly protagonist, except the protagonist is a middle-aged variety producer with a camera crew.

Forget Tourist Traps, Follow the “Samsung Strategy”

If you’re looking for a Dallas city tour, this isn’t it. Ready or Not: Texas follows Lee’s personal retirement dream list, leading the crew to places most tourists wouldn’t dream of visiting. This includes a remote gamjatang (pork back-bone stew) restaurant located near a massive Samsung factory.

Lee’s logic? “If the factory workers go there every day, the food has to be elite.” Surprisingly, even the skeptical Na PD admitted it was some of the best stew he’s ever had, proving that Lee’s “local-know-it-all” instincts are rarely wrong—even if his historical facts occasionally need an on-screen fact-check caption.

From YouTube Skits to Netflix Global

What started as a casual spin-off on Na PD’s YouTube channel (“New York New York”) has now ballooned into a full-scale Netflix production. While the team admitted to feeling the “Netflix pressure,” the raw, unscripted nature of Ready or Not: Texas remains its biggest draw.

Whether they are cheering at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium or arguing over a GPS route, the show captures a genuine friendship that has spanned over a decade. And for those already craving more, Lee Seo-jin teased that his “retirement bucket list” of cities is nowhere near finished.

Ready or Not: Texas is now streaming on Netflix. Grab some popcorn (or maybe some gamjatang) and witness the bromance of the century.