Noh Hong-Chul, a member of one of Korea’s most famous reality TV shows, “Infinite Challenge” (MBC) was caught while drunk-driving at midnight of the 7th of November. The incident has stirred up a great deal of controversy amongst fans of “Infinite Challenge” and many have started asking the question of whether Noh will have to be let go from the program.
South Korea’s World Ilbo reported that the Gangnam Police Department in Seoul told the press that Noh was caught driving his Bentz under the influence at midnight on the 7th somewhere in the Non-Hyun district of Seoul. The police reported that the comedian denied that he had been drinking before driving and even refused to go through the test. It turns out the police ended up drawing blood from him at the celebrity’s request.
The Gangnam Police Department is reported to have transported the blood sample to the National Forensic Service (NFS) for examination. If the concentration of alcohol within the blood sample is over 0.05 percent, which is enough for Noh to lose his drivers’ license, there is a high change that he may be forced to withdraw from his position in MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” as well as other major TV shows that he is appearing in.
This is not the first time “Infinite Challenge” had to say goodbye to one of their actors in such a way, however. Only last year, Seong-jun Kil, a hip-hop singer and member of “Leessang”, who had been appearing in “Infinite Challenge” for almost 4 years at that point had to leave the show after causing an automobile accident after heavy drinking. The entire nation at the time was mourning for the victims of the sinking of the ferry “Sewol” which took the lives of over 300 high school students. Fans of “Infinite Challenge” heavily criticized Kil for his actions in a time of nation-wide mourning.
Noh Hong Chul was originally a student of mechanical engineering at Hongik University. Later after appearing on TV for the first time after winning a facial hair competition, he became comedian who started his TV debut through hosting his first cable TV show called “Dr. Noh’s Pleasure Street” in 2004 through Mnet. He was later brought into the mainstream broadcasting network and was brought in as a member of the panel for MBC’s “Come To Play” with Jaesuk Yu, the MC of “Infinite Challenge”.
Ever since 2005, when the show kicked off, Noh was a fixed member of “Infinite Challenge”. He is 1 of only 3 remaining original members of the show along with the MC Jaesuk Yu, and comedian Hyung-Don Jung.
MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” is a show that features a panel of currently 6 members that literally go through a different challenge every episode. So far, the actors have had to train to bobsleigh, drive race cars, cook, compose music, and survive on an abandoned island. “Infinite Challenge” is still one of Korea’s most popular reality shows and also one of the most long-lasting shows ever in Korean TV history. Loved by viewers of all ages from all over Korea as well as Korean-American audiences for their humor, challenges, and political correctness, many fans have expressed a great deal of fear that the show will have to say goodbye to another core member.
