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Babel 250

Babel 250

Babel 250 (Korean: 바벨250) is a South Korean reality television program on tvN, which first aired on July 11, 2016. The show features a cast of four men and three women, all from different countries, who live together as an experiment, speaking their own languages and attempting to create a universal one. The show's title is loosely based on the story of the Tower of Babel and 250 families of languages currently in use in the world.[1][2][3]

On September 27, 2016, the first season ended with Episode 12.[4][5]

Babel 250
GenreReality television
Directed byLee Won-hyoung
Starring
  • Lee Ki-woo
  • Matheus Olivério da Silva Rêgo
  • Nicolas Portier
  • Tanon Varaya
  • Angelina Danilova
  • Michelle Marie Bertolini Araque
  • Chen Lin
  • Up Poompat
Country of originSouth Korea
Originallanguage(s)Korean
Production
Running time60 minutes
Productioncompany(s)Creative Group Gamja
Urban Works Media
DistributortvN
Release
Original networktvN
Original releaseJuly 11 (2016-07-11) –
September 27, 2016
External links
Website [35]
Babel 250
Hangul
바벨250
Revised RomanizationBabel ibaegosip
McCune–ReischauerPapel ipaekosip

Background

The concept of the show is a global language project showing what happens when six foreigners living together with one native, in South Korea, must create a lingua franca or "common language", by using their own native languages, not just Korean, and not English.[2][6] The cast members are from South Korea, Brazil, France, Thailand, Russia, Venezuela and China.[3][7] Only the South Korean member speaks Korean, and only the Thai and Chinese members have visited South Korea.[1][2] In an interview with Yonhap, Program Director (PD) Lee Won-hyoung said the ultimate goal was to create a "new world" and mentioned the possibility of "unexpected love lines" developing among the cast.[8]

For the first episode they gathered to live in a southern town they called "Babel 250", the real town of Darengyi in Namhae County, along the South Sea.[1][9] They elect a leader every day, eat their meals together and attempt to work together in community life and mutual understanding.[3][6][7] They initially communicate using their own languages, their eyes and other body language.[10] On the second episode the show's many language interpreters assist the cast, via headphones, as they acquaint themselves with each other.[11]

Filming for the show ended the week the second episode was aired. By that time, South Korean cast member Lee Ki-woo said communicating had become much easier. He said, "We could tell what the other person wanted just from their eyes and expressions," and, "I began to understand that language and nationality are not that important."[9]

On July 25, 2016, the date of the airing of the third episode, PD Lee said in a press conference that their new language "Babel" was not really possible, adding, "We wanted to show that people can communicate with a limited vocabulary like we do with English when we travel." He said the first three episodes were a struggle for the cast getting to know one another, but they would start forming their new language in the fourth episode.[1]

Cast

Producers selected the cast after three months of searching Google and other social networks.[9] Brazil's Matheus Olivério da Silva Rêgo is a samba dancer whose school would soon perform at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics. China's Chen Lin is a professional concert planner, whose concerts have included Jackie Chan's. France's Nicolas Portier is an actor. Russia's Angelina Danilova is an interior design college major who likes windsurfing and horseback riding. South Korea's Lee Ki-woo is a film, drama and variety show actor. Thailand's Tanon Varaya has investments in real estate, renting and restaurant operations, and has a luxury philosophy. Venezuela's Michelle Marie Bertolini Araque placed second in the Miss Venezuela 2013 beauty pageant and retired from tennis playing with a knee injury.[2][12]

On August 15, 2016, the date of the airing of the sixth episode, Tanon Varaya had to leave the show midway for health reasons, which he shared in a videotaped farewell. He was replaced by Thailand's Phumipat Iangsamang, a student and drum major at Chulalongkorn University and active on social media with the nickname "Up Poompat."[12][13] The newcomer was previewed by media as the show's new 'flower boy'.[14]

Current members

CountryNameName in hangulBirthdayEpisodes
BrazilMatheus Olivério da Silva Rêgo마테우스(1987-08-25)August 25, 19871–present
ChinaChen Lin천린(1989-10-11)October 11, 19891–present
FranceNicolas Portier니콜라 포르티에(1982-12-24)December 24, 19821–present
RussiaAngelina Danilova안젤리나 다닐로바(1996-12-28)December 28, 19961–present
South KoreaLee Ki-woo이기우(1981-10-23)October 23, 19811–present
ThailandTanon Varaya타논 바라야(1978-06-19)June 19, 19781–6
VenezuelaMichelle Marie Bertolini Araque미셸 마리에 베르톨리니 아라케(1994-06-15)June 15, 19941–present
ThailandUp (real name : Phumipat Iangsamang)업 (본명 : 푸미팟 이앙쌈앙)(1994-12-04)December 4, 19946–present

2016 episode summary (1–present)

Ep.#DateSummary[15]
1July 11Meet in Namhae County settlement; labor in rice planting field, transport chickens and build chicken coop.[16]
2July 18Get acquainted meeting with interpreters' help;[11] Lin and Nicolas work in anchovy fishery;[17] rest of cast play at beach and town.[18]
3July 25Ki-woo, Angelina (grocery shop); Lin, Nicolas (anchovy fishing); Ki-woo, Matheus (eel fishing); Lin sick visit to hospital; meeting and meal all together.[17][19]
4August 1Ki-woo, Matheus (eat eel); Lin, Nicolas (grocery shop, cook); Angelina (shares face masks), Ki-woo, Nicolas (build fire); catch chickens, meeting and meal together.[20]
5August 8Matheus, Michelle (seaside walk); Matheus, Angelina (garlic field work);[21] Tanon, Michelle (chicken farm work);[22] Ki-woo (fishing/handyman work); meeting, and meal all together with visiting neighbors.[23]
6August 15Matheus (samba lessons);[14] Lin, Ki-woo, Tanon, Angelina, Nicolas (beach); Matheus, Michelle (fishing/cooking); (Vacation break to homes); Tanon sick farewell, introduce new member Up.[12][13]
7August 22Ki-woo, Up (goat farm work); Matheus, Lin, Michelle (wine and music); Michelle telephones Tanon; all prepare and join in dinner and drinking party.[24][25]
8August 29Matheus, Lin (temple stay/work); Anjelina, Michelle, Up, Ki-woo, Nicolas (wash clothes/housework/play at home); all share dinner and make-up/beauty contest for males.[26][27]
9September 6Up (DJ cast wake-up); Matheus, Michelle, Angelina (farm work/gift injeolmi to neighbors); Ki-woo, Nicolas, Lin, Up (traditional Korean medicine); all dinner/meeting; Ki-woo, Matheus, Angelina, Up (fishing/beach).[28][29]
10September 13Lin (leads tai chi exercises), Angelina, Up (wall painting/cooking), Tanon (video message reveals real-life dating with Michelle, Matheus is heartbroken), Kiwoo, Matheus (make scarecrows and makgeolli), Michelle, Lin, Nicolas (paint t-shirts), Ki-woo/Lin vs. Matheus/Michelle (dodgeball), Michelle vs. Ki-woo/Nicolas (tennis), Lin (gifts cards), meal and meeting all together.[30][31]
11September 20Matheus, Anjelina (farm work/ride bicycle); Kiwoo, Lin, Michelle (inflatable boat fishing); Nicolas, Up (traditional Korean medicine/restaurant work); Michelle (phone chat with Tanon); Michelle, Up (pick corn); cleaning, cooking, meal and meeting all together.[15]
12September 27All (beach day/dinner at home); Tanon visits (romantic walk with Michelle); all visit village neighbors, share native foods and hold tearful farewell meeting with interpreters.[4][5]

Ratings and reception

On the show's debut, Chosun Ilbo writer Lee Seung-mi pointed out the obvious comparison (and competition) of this new cable television show, with the recently re-organized older cable television show, JTBC's Non-Summit, that also has foreign cast members, and airs on the same night.[6]

In August 2016, PD Lee was contacted by linguist Mark Dingemanse from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics praising the show's concept and value for human communication and language studies; and proposing a future collaboration.[32]

Cast popularity

On August 17, 2016, Danilova appeared as an actress in Hanhae and Jung Eun-ji's music video "Eyescream". [33]

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.koreatimes.co.krKim, Jae-heun (July 25, 2016). "'Babel 250' aims to create new common language". The Korea Times. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[2]
Citation Linknews.khan.co.kr‘말 안통하는’ 예능 <바벨250>…어떻게 소통할까?. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[3]
Citation Linknews.joins.comSeong, Ji-yeon (July 11, 2016). '바벨250' 첫방, 7개국 청춘 모인 신개념 예능이 온다. JoongAng Ilbo/Osen (in Korean).
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.ytn.co.krPark, Gwi-im (September 28, 2016). “국적 뛰어 넘었다” 타논♥미쉘, ‘바벨250’ 첫 커플 탄생. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved September 28, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[5]
Citation Linksports.khan.co.krYu, Ju-yeon (September 28, 2016). ‘바벨 250’ 이기우, 눈물의 최종화…7명 글로벌 청년의 눈물바다. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved September 28, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[6]
Citation Linksports.chosun.comLee, Seung-Mi (July 11, 2016). [SC초점]'비정상회담'vs'바벨250', 月夜 외국인 예능 대결. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 11, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[7]
Citation Linkstoo.asiae.co.krJang, Min-Hye. tvN 새 예능 '바벨250' 내부 시사 호평 일색… 관전 포인트 3. Sports Today (in Korean). Retrieved July 11, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.yonhapnews.co.krCho, Min-jeong (July 17, 2016). 이가 없으면 잇몸으로 소통하라…tvN '바벨250'. Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved July 18, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[9]
Citation Linkenglish.yonhapnews.co.krLee, Haye-ah (July 26, 2016). "Reality show seeks to break down barriers in language, culture". Yonhap. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[10]
Citation Linktenasia.hankyung.comYoon, Joon-Pil (July 17, 2016). ‘바벨250’, 단비 같은 소통의 시간…6개국 언어 동시통역 ‘진풍경’. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved July 18, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[11]
Citation Linknews.topstarnews.net[예능리뷰] ‘바벨250’, 카메라 뒤 엄청난 통역자 수에 ‘깜짝’. Top Star News (in Korean). July 18, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[12]
Citation Linkprogram.interest.me바벨250. tvN (in Korean). Retrieved July 11, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[13]
Citation Linknews.joins.comKim, Ye-Eun (August 15, 2016). [결정적장면]‘바벨250’ 타논, 지병으로 하차 “보고싶다, 계속 파이팅하길”. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 16, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.asiatoday.co.krPark, Seul-gi (August 15, 2016). [친절한 프리뷰] ‘바벨250’ 5일차 리더 니콜라, 파업 선언…춤판 열렸다. Asia Today (in Korean). Retrieved August 17, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[15]
Citation Linkprogram.interest.metvN 바벨250. tvN (in Korean). Retrieved August 11, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[16]
Citation Linkheraldk.comSeob, Yeong-gi (July 12, 2016). [서병기 연예톡톡]‘바벨250’ 참신하고 특이, 엉뚱하다. Herald Business (in Korean). Retrieved July 13, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[17]
Citation Linkwww.etoday.co.krYu, Jeong-seon (July 25, 2016). '바벨250' 이기우·안젤리나 vs 니꼴라·천린, 2:2 파트너 미션 '핑크빛 기류'. EToday (in Korean). Retrieved July 25, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.etoday.co.krKim, Jun-yeong (July 19, 2016). 바벨250 보일듯 말듯 '애정 라인' 등장…이기우 썸 커플 합류. EToday (in Korean). Retrieved July 18, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.xportsnews.com'바벨250' 이기우X마테우스·천린X니꼴라, 언어장벽 뛰어 넘은 우정 (종합). Xports News (in Korean). July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM
[20]
Citation Linkisplus.joins.comBak, Jeong-seon (August 2, 2016). [리뷰is] '바벨250', 외국인 버전 '삼시세끼'. Daily Sports (in Korean). Retrieved August 1, 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 9:20 PM