Before enlisting for the mandatory military duty required of all able-bodied South Korean males, BTS members Jimin and Jung Kook wanted to take one more road trip and film that trip so fans could virtually tag along. The idea was to create content similar to the travel reality show BTS Bon Voyage, where all the members traveled together. The result of that 2023 road trip became the new Disney+ travel reality show Are You Sure? Naming the show was a collaborative effort between the k-pop idols and the production team, but, according to director Jun Soo Park, the title was inspired by a question Jimin asked more than once.
“It was thanks to Jimin, who kept asking, ‘Are You Sure?!’ throughout the filming, that the final title came to be Are You Sure?!” said Park.
The itinerary includes a trip to the U.S., then Korea’s Jeju Island then Sapporo, Japan, but the plan did not originally cover that much of the globe. First, the production team suggested a trip to the U.S. because Jimin and Jung Kook had never been there for a casual trip.
“When they set off for the States, they had no plans for the second or third locations—Jeju Island and Sapporo,” said Park. “They were disappointed to end the trip in the States and also wanted to do something more as a gift to fans. With that in mind, they proposed the idea to continue the trip to Jeju Island and Japan. After starting with the States, they went on a trip to the other locations at intervals of two to three months.”
Before beginning the trip, the production team asked Jimin and Jung Kook if there were any food or activities they wanted to try in those regions. They then used the answers to design the itinerary, acting as travel guides to prepare various options the BTS members could choose from.
“It is a reality show which fully reflects the two members’ ideas,” said Park. “Right from the start, the show was developed very much in collaboration with Jimin and Jung Kook, who actively shared their thoughts on the locations and activities they wanted to explore.”
As a result, Jimin and Jung Kook got to enjoy some well-earned free time by kayaking and hiking in the U.S., snorkeling and fishing off Jeju Island and skiing in Japan. When visiting the U.S. they initially intended to enjoy outdoor activities somewhere near New York City and wound up in Connecticut.
“While looking for a place within two hours of New York where Jimin and Jung Kook could relax in nature and try out different activities they wanted, we came across Connecticut,” said Park. “It was a location that we weren’t familiar with at first, but it fit perfectly with what we intended to do, so we headed to Connecticut as the first destination for our trip.”
While cast and crew tried to avoid attracting attention, it’s hard to be as famous as BTS and not be recognized by someone. Occasionally they were. However, being recognized did not present any problems thanks to the fans that respectfully gave them space.
“We were able to find and shoot mostly in quiet locations,” said Park. “But we were still prepared to handle any situations that might arise at those locations. Luckily we didn’t draw much attention while shooting, and the whole trip went very smoothly. Additionally, the fans, who encountered the members on the streets, were very considerate of Jimin and Jung Kook, and due to this, we were able to wrap up the shoot in safe, enjoyable conditions.”
The show, which was co-directed by Park ( Tomorrow X Together: Our Lost Summer, j-hope In The Box and the drama Gaus Electronics) and Hana Lee, airs on Disney+.
This story was originally published on Forbes.com.