Kang Ho Dong exits ‘The Great Escape’ as SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan joins cast
Kang Ho Dong is leaving The Great Escape, and SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan is joining the show’s cast for its new season.
On August 5, CJ ENM announced the new lineup for the series’ return on TVING in the second half of 2026.
CJ ENM announced:
“The new season of ‘The Great Escape,’ scheduled to premiere on TVING in the second half of this year, will feature Kim Jong Min, Kim Dong Hyun, Shindong, Yoo Byung Jae, Go Kyung Pyo, and Seungkwan as the new team of escape artists embarking on a thrilling adventure.“
The company also released a second statement about the returning and new members.
CJ ENM added:
“Original cast members Kim Jong Min and Shindong are returning, while Kim Dong Hyun, Yoo Byung Jae, and Go Kyung Pyo—who have carried on the legacy of ‘The Great Escape’—will be joined by new member Seungkwan. Together, they are expected to showcase fresh chemistry and dynamic relationships.”
Kim Jong Min will return as the sharp-eyed clue finder known for his “occasional genius” moments. Shindong, nicknamed “Commander Shin” and “Shin Zhuge Liang” for his strategic thinking, will return to lead the team.
SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan joins as the youngest member and newest face of the series. The announcement said he is known for his empathy and outgoing personality and is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the show.
The biggest surprise in the cast change is the departure of original member Kang Ho Dong. CJ ENM said he chose to pass the baton to the younger cast members so the franchise could move in a new direction.
Kang Ho Dong shared:
“‘The Great Escape’ has brought me immense joy and happiness every step of the way,“
“I believe my fellow cast members and juniors, who have even greater imagination and wisdom than I do, will give their all to make this season a success.“
“No matter where you are, there’s always a clue.”
The new season of The Great Escape is scheduled to premiere on TVING in the second half of 2026.
A landmark Korean escape room variety series
Produced by CJ ENM, The Great Escape first premiered on tvN in 2018 and aired four seasons through 2021. The franchise returned in 2025 with the TVING original spin-off The Great Escape: The Story.
The show became known for transforming large spaces into elaborate escape room sets, detailed props, interconnected storylines, and large-scale production design. Past episodes included the zombie outbreak “Apocalypse,” supernatural exorcism-themed adventures, the time-travel arc “Time Mix,” the “Evil Spirit Prison,” and the larger DTCU (“The Great Escape Universe”).
With a newly assembled cast and an even larger scale, The Great Escape aims to continue its run with the upcoming season on TVING.