“When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!” - Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.

Ambitious, creative, reckless. All of these words point to Don Quixote, the titular character of the famous Spanish novel. A middle-aged gentleman, Don Quixote is inspired by the concept of chivalry and sets out on an adventure to achieve his dream of becoming a hero by defending the world from evil.

Despite reality standing as an undefeatable obstacle to his success in becoming a chivalric hero, Don Quixote is not afraid to fight against his invincible enemies and reach for the unreachable stars. 

tvN’s newest variety show The Don Quixotes (“돈키호테”) resembles the ambitious character of the novel Don Quixote, viewing his antics with a positive attitude of respect. Reflecting on how today’s society judges an individual with a dream as absurd, the program embraces the truth in which many tend to give up on their dreams, losing motivation to step up against challenges in life.

The Don Quixotes invites viewers to step out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to challenge themselves to achieve great things even if they seem impossible as it brings more value to an individual’s life. 

Meet The Don Quixotes Cast

Embracing the symbolic theme of the novel, each member of the variety program’s crew resembles the ambitious character of Don Quixote in unique ways.

Out of the five individuals that make up The Don Quixotes crew, comedian Kim Junho takes the role of the oldest member. The famous Korean entertainer’s ambitions to plan a comedy festival, succeed in business, and become a creator perfectly mirrors Don Quixote’s endless aspirations. Despite his fairly old age in comparison to his fellow crew members, he expresses his dreams and isn’t afraid to push himself to his limits when encountering challenges, flawlessly blending into the character of a Don Quixote.

Jo Seho shows his courageousness as the second Don Quixote. The entertainer’s traits surprisingly contrast his appearance, as stated in the character description. His preference of glamour over simplicity and his realistic nature overpower his seemingly-sociable personality, giving a twist to the show and allowing the audience to discover a new side of Jo Seho as he collaborates with his fellow teammates. Be on the lookout for the comedian as he unleashes his limitless charms through The Don Quixotes!

Actor Song Jinwoo represents the third Don Quixote. Recently gaining popularity with his appearance in UV’s music video “Death Tension (저 세상 텐션)” and featuring under his stage name JINU, Song Jinwoo immediately caught the attention of the public. His witty humor is already known to many, but his performance on variety shows still remains a mystery. Tune in to check out how the actor’s personality and enthusiasm help him persevere through the incredible challenges.

Comedian Lee Jinho is featured as the fourth Don Quixote of the program. Depicted as a person who prefers to use all the money he earned on the same day for pure enjoyment, he represents a crazy, spontaneous character. An experienced entertainer, Lee Jinho isn’t afraid to express himself as he is; he’s ready to fully and naturally expose himself to the audience through his comedic actions as he works alongside his fellow Don Quixotes. 

Introducing himself to the public as a contestant in Produce X 101 with his fellow UP10TION member Wooseok (Wooshin), Lee Jinhyuk (formerly known as Wei), the final member of the cast, built up a positive image throughout the course of this year. Lee Jinhyuk is the true rising star of this year as known for his mastery of singing, rapping, and dancing through perseverance. Fulfilling his role as the youngest Don Quixote in the crew, he adds a fresh and lovely vibe to the team. Continuously attracting many fans with his well-rounded skills as an artist, it is exciting to watch how Lee Jinhyuk will showcase his determination to inspire other Don Quixotes. 

As much as society views people in diverse ways, it’s okay to be special. “To dream the impossible dream, that is my quest,” wrote Miguel de Cervantes. Just like the brave romantic Don Quixote, it’s never wrong to dream the impossible because regardless of societal views, one’s self-motivation and sense of righteousness will guide them to achieve his or her dreams.

The Don Quixotes embraces everyone for who they are, and as much as the subhead of the variety show’s title, The Don Quixotes, is “Crazy or Brave,” the five Don Quixotes are ready to exhibit the fearlessness of the crew by venturing out to confront challenges.