Babel 250

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]

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 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

Country	Name	Name in hangul	Birthday	Episodes
Brazil	Matheus Olivério da Silva Rêgo	마테우스	(1987-08-25) August 25, 1987	1–present
China	Chen Lin	천린	(1989-10-11) October 11, 1989	1–present
France	Nicolas Portier	니콜라 포르티에	(1982-12-24) December 24, 1982	1–present
Russia	Angelina Danilova	안젤리나 다닐로바	(1996-12-28) December 28, 1996	1–present
South Korea	Lee Ki-woo	이기우	(1981-10-23) October 23, 1981	1–present
Thailand	Tanon Varaya	타논 바라야	(1978-06-19) June 19, 1978	1–6
Venezuela	Michelle Marie Bertolini Araque	미셸 마리에 베르톨리니 아라케	(1994-06-15) June 15, 1994	1–present
Thailand	Up (real name : Phumipat Iangsamang)	업 (본명 : 푸미팟 이앙쌈앙)	(1994-12-04) December 4, 1994	6–present

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]

• Official website (in Korean)