Actor Ahn Jae-hyun will replace actor Lee Seung-gi in the second season of the tvN variety show "New Journey to the West," producers said Friday.

Ahn has left for Chengdu in China's Sichuan Province to shoot the sequel for the online show, which immediately garnered tens of thousands of views on Naver upon release in September, tvN said.

Ahn rose to stardom after playing the younger brother of Cheong Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) on the SBS sci-fi rom-com "My Love from the Star" in 2014.

He also appeared on the same network's police drama "You're All Surrounded" and was the leading man in "Blood," a KBS 2TV vampire series.

Ahn replaces Lee, who started his mandatory military service on Feb. 1. The service is required of all able-bodied South Korean men and lasts about two years.

Produced by Na Young-seok of the legendary KBS variety show "Two Days, One Night," "New Journey to the West" reunites the comedy trio of Kang Ho-dong, Eun Ji-won and Lee Soo-geun. (Yonhap)