10 Korean variety shows you should follow
If you think Kdrama is addicting, wait until you've seen a Korean variety show and you'll know what “addiction” really means.
In a nutshell, Korean variety shows are a totally different monster. Unlike the Filipino entertainment shows we are accustomed to, Korean variety shows come in different formats. From travel shows, music competition, survival, quiz show, and reality TV, there is certainly something that will catch your eye.
It only takes one variety show to go spiraling down the rabbit hole. Whether you are looking for something to start your journey into Korean entertainment or you just want a new recommendation to add to your growing list, here are the 10 shows we recommend:
(Beware: once you start watching Korean variety shows, there is no turning back. So, are you ready to cross the line?)
Running Man
Starring “National MC” Yoo Jae SeoK, actor Lee Kwang Soo, rapper Haha, actresses Song Ji Hyo and jeon So Min, comedians Yang Se Chan and Ji Seok Jin, and singer Kim Jong Kook, Running Man is a reality-variety show where the cast members have to complete missions, often entails a lot of running, to win the race and avoid punishments. Famous for its name tag ripping, the show is filled with tension, as well as cunning tricks from the members.
Now on its 10th season and with over 500 episodes, Running Man is known for its unpredictability, the comic banter, the celebrity guests, and the great chemistry among the cast members.
First aired in 2010, the longest-running variety show on SBS (Korean channel) was supposed to head to Manila for their grand fan meeting last February, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Running Man – A Decade of Laughter Tour in Manila has been rescheduled to December 6, 2020.
There has been news that GMA 7 struck a deal with the Korean network to co-produce the Philippine version slated to air in 2021, it will follow the same format, with the hosts and guests engaging in different challenges and missions, but with a Pinoy twist.
Knowing Brothers
Also known as Ask Us Anything and/or Men On A Mission, Knowing Brothers follows seven individuals, playing high school students, as they welcome "transfer students" every week.
Each week, Super Junior member Kim Hee-chul, former wrestler/host Kang Hodong, singer-comedian Kim Young-chul, comedian Lee Soo-geun, Buzz singer Min Kyung-hoon, former basketball player/host Seo Jang-hoon and rapper Lee Sang-min exchange witty conversations with their celebrity guests and engage in battles of humor and slapstick.
The format of the show has gone through several changes over the years. These days, the variety show is popular for its various segments: the Entrance Application where Lee Soogeun reads the application forms the guests filled out; Guest About Me where guests prepare questions related to them, which the cast members will try to answer; and XXX Scholarship Quiz, hosted by Super Junior member Shindong. The latter includes various games such as the Consonants Charades and the Mix Music Quiz (where Shindong sings the lyrics of Song A to the tune of Song B; which the paired up members have to guess the titles and singers of both songs).
As of today, there are 246 episodes. If you don't know where to start, try watching the Super Junior episodes first. We also recommend all SM idol groups episodes. The IU and Lee Joon Gi episode is equally hilarious, as well as Seventeen and Queen of Volleyball KimYeon Koung.
2 Days 1 Night
After the controversy surrounding some of its former members, travel variety show 2 Days 1 Night returns for Season 4 with the most unlikely new cast – Youn Jung Hoon, the hyung; actor Kim Seon Ho, the variety rookie; comedian Moon Se Yoon, the passionate food fighter; rapper Dindin; VIXX member Ravi, the “doberman” maknae; and Koyote member Kim Jong Min, the living history of the show (he's been with the show since Season 1 in 2007).
The show lets viewers travel to different places in South Korea and experience what each destination can offer. For two days and one night, the members have to deal with unpredictable situations and severe environments. They have to compete with each other or as a group to know who can savor local food for lunch and dinner, and who will sleep outdoors.
Hometown Flex
Actors Cha Tae Hyun and Lee Seung Gi take viewers to different destinations in South Korea through the new travel variety show from tvN. The two hosts – often called Seoulites – go on a local tour guided by celebrities who are born and raised in that area. As the name suggests, the guests flex their hometown, showing the must-visit places and must-eat local fare, while reminiscing on memories of the old days.
So far, the show has eight episodes – two episodes per hometown. For the first two episodes, Cha Tae Hyun and Lee Seung Gi traveled to Busan with actor Jang Hyuk, actor Lee Si-eon and rapper Simon Dominic. The next episodes, they visited Gwangju with baseball player Kim Byung-hyun, trot singer Hong Jin Young and TVXQ member Yunho.
For their latest episodes, the duo found out the interesting places in Daejeon with comedian Kim Jun-ho, actress Han Da Gam and professional golfer Park Se-ri.
In the upcoming episodes, we will see the Seoul locals traveling around Jeonju with hiphop artist Defcon, actor Yoon Kyun-sang and actress So Yi-hyun.
The Return of Superman
If you love babies, The Return of Superman is the best show for you. Celebrity dads Sam Hammington, Kang Gary, Moon Hee-joon, Hong Kyu-min and Do Kyung-wan are left to care for their kids for 48 hours without the help of anyone, with their wives leaving home to have some "me time."
Through hidden cameras installed in their homes, ROS shows bonding moments between the fathers and their children, as well as the personal family lives of famous Korean celebrities. Occasionally, the family interacts with other celebrities. The unscripted, funny antics of the children will endear the show to any viewer.
Master in the House
Some fans know this show as All The Butlers. In this show, the cast members – namely actor Lee Seung-gi, comedian Yang Se-hyung, actor Shin Sung-rok, MMA fighter Kim Dong-hyun, and Astro member Cha Eun-woo – spend time with “masters” or reputable figures in various fields to learn about their lives and their crafts.
TRIVIA: This is the first variety show for Lee Seung-gi after his discharge from his military enlistment. This was also the first variety show of actor Lee Sang-yoon in his entire career; he left the show early this year. It's also Shin Sung-rok's first foray into variety shows.
I Live Alone
Want to know how Korean celebrities live? Watch I Live Alone. This reality TV show follows single celebrities as they go about their daily lives. With its unscripted, documentary-like format and a touch of variety show elements, the show gains popularity among viewers because they find that they can relate to the lifestyle of the guest celebrities.
Every now and then, the hosts of the program formed the Rainbow Club, a gathering of single celebrity guests. Current members of the club include: Park Narae, Lee Si-eon, Sung Hoon, Kian84, Henry Lau, Han Hye-jin, Han Hye-yeon and Hwasa.
Problem Child In House
This is not your average quiz show. Every week, a special guest (or two) comes to the rooftop house to solve some informative problems. Hosted by Kim Young Man, Jeong Hyeong-don, Kim Sook, Song Eun Yi and Min Kyung Hoon, the show doesn't end until all the questions are solved. In some instances, the guests have to show their “special talents” to get some hints.
If they get all the questions right, the hosts and their guests will receive a special treat. The guests also choose the “best host” who will sit in the center in the next episode.
Omniscient Interfering View
Hosts Jun Hyun-moo, Lee Young-ja, Song Eun-Yi, Yang Se-hyung, and Yoo Byung-jae meddle with the little details of their Korean celebrity guests. An observational entertainment show, the hosts and their guests gather in the studio to watch and comment on the videos of the celebrity guests' daily lives and how they interact with their managers.
Hang Out With Yoo
What started out as a way to find out how "National MC" Yoo Jae-suk spends his day off evolves into a reality show where the host tries various projects such as making fried chicken (in support of many shops selling this favorite comfort food and that have been shutting down), learning how to play musical instruments, and serving ramyeon he cooks for celebrities, among others.
His recent activity involved forming an idol group – named SSAK3 – with Kpop sensations Rain and Lee Hyo-ri. The episode continued with Yoo producing a special four-member girl group, Refund Sisters. The project started when Lee Hyo-ri named singer Uhm Jung-hwa, rapper Jessi, and Mamamoo member Hwasa as the members she wanted in her dream group.
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