Category: VARIETY

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You Quiz on the Block: 4 Most Memorable Guests

IU on Yoo Quiz on the Block. Photo: 유 퀴즈 온 더 튜브/YouTube

On the September 1 episode of You Quiz on the Block, the legendary girl group Girl’s Generation reunited—finally—after four years since their last activities as eight. Viewers were regaled with new stories as the girls reminisced of their 14 years as the nation’s leading girl group. Now, if you’re looking for other outstanding episodes of the show, here are other personalities that have made Yoo Jaesuk and Jo Seho’s program a must-watch:

1. IU

The Nation’s Sweetheart is definitely a fixture in Korean contemporary pop culture – she’s a singer, she composes some of the songs, has a constant presence in ads and product endorsements, not to mentioned she has also acted on both television and even on film. But one thing she hasn’t done much is giving interviews, so much so that even if she had been involved in a number of scandals and controversies especially in the earlier years of her career, the public is still left wanting more, hoping to know her better.

So, it came as no surprise that her You Quiz on the Block guesting just in April this year to promote her album Lilac eventually became one of the show’s highest-rating episodes. She did not disappoint at all as she revealed quite a lot during the interview, including her struggles with self-hatred that she reflected in the songs she composed. As for her acting career, she admitted feeling a lot of commonalities with her character in the drama My Mister, which a lot of people considered too dark, although many were impressed with her performance.

2. Gong Yoo

When Gong Yoo went to You Quiz on the Block to talk about his film Seobok late last year, people were reminded why he continues to be one of the most well-loved personalities in Korean showbiz. Actually, he started off by claiming that he, as Gong Jichul (his birth name), is just a normal person whose personality doesn’t stand out and whose life is not as extraordinary as Gong Yoo the actor. He adds that this may be the reason that he likes being an actor – because he gets to play more exciting characters who are braver and get to do things that he may not have the courage to act on in real life.

The actor also commented on his co-star Lee Dongwook, who sent a snack and coffee truck to the location where the interview was conducted. He claimed that the Grim Reaper to his Goblin is a smart one who wanted to hit three birds (i.e., endearing himself to Gong Yoo and the two hosts) with one stone by sending the coffee truck. He further commented that his friend is a real fox, referring to Lee Dongwook’s role as gumiho (a mythical nine-tailed fox) in Tale of the Nine-Tailed.

Finally, Jo Seho also played a recording of Gong Yoo reading a Korean translation of Australian poet Erin Hanson’s Not, in relation to the episode’s theme of “How to Live.” If you still weren’t swooning at the man, the poem reading was definitely the final guarantee you will.

3. Ju Jihoon

Kingdom lead actor Ju Jihoon made sure no stone was unturned to make his guest appearance in You Quiz on the Block as memorable as possible. The guest wore a leather jumpsuit to the interview, leaving the two hosts in awe of their guest’s fashion statement, with Jo Seho left commenting, “Just wow.” The Princess Hours star is still somehow getting used to his newfound fame as the face of Netflix’s hit show Kingdom that when he was asked how it feels to be an international star, he answered “I feel bitter.” After everyone in the audience laughed, he corrected himself by saying that he actually meant he feels dazed about the experience of international stardom.

Netflix’s Kingdom is what the actor considers his second wind in his acting career. After experiencing a phenomenal rise to his popularity with his debut performance in Princess Hours, his career immediately took a blow after he was found guilty of drug use in 2009. After enlisting in the military and making moderately successful comebacks, his career experienced a major resurgence with the two Along With the Gods movies, followed by his role in Kingdom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAHQuZC2hu4&t=175s

4. BTS

Of course, this list will not be complete without acknowledging the March 24, 2021 appearance of the world’s biggest musical group, BTS. After all, the show dedicated a full episode to feature the fabulous seven only, not dividing the show with other personalities like it usually does. The group revealed several details of their struggles when they started in the music business as they faced several obstacles, from shoddy treatment when they guested in variety shows to sharing one bedroom and one bathroom for seven people. Jimin even had a long-standing (albeit one-sided) feud with V about who gets to sleep on the upper deck of the bunk bed they shared.

A majority of ARMY may know BTS since DNA or Spring Day eras, but as far back as 2016, the group was still facing a number of challenges despite already slowly gaining an international following. Suga and Jungkook narrated that they were mistreated in variety shows, although they were not sure if those encounters were done in jest or if there was some sort of malice on them. In the 2016 Busan One Asia Festival, their live performance was eventually cut from the TV broadcast. Imagine if a TV station were to do this now? There would be protests in front of the TV station the same day for sure.

Who have been your favorite guests on You Quiz on the Block? We hope the show features more legendary interviews on future episodes.

Featured image: IU on Yoo Quiz on the Block. Photo: 유 퀴즈 온 더 튜브/YouTube
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New Teaser Drop for Girls’ Generation’s Guesting on Yoo Quiz on the Block

Teaser for Girls' Generation's reunion on Yoo Quiz on the Block. Photo: youquizontheblock/Instagram

Finally!

After four years and a month after their 14th year anniversary, our beloved OG girl group Girls’ Generation (also known as SNSD, short for Sonyeo Sidae or in Korean, 소녀시대) comes back on broadcast as a full group. On September 1, Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun will all appear on National MC Yoo Jae Suk’s Yoo Quiz on the Block (유 퀴즈 온 더 블럭).

Watch this teaser posted a few hours ago!

https://youtu.be/PGXz-TyCzoc

Even though the girls are active on social media and their respective careers, fans both old and recent are excited about this reunion. The eight members of Girls’ Generation are, too!

Stay tuned as we all wait for this much-anticipated SNSD reunion on Yoo Quiz on the Block! For now, let us all enjoy the preview:

Featured image: Teaser for Girls’ Generation’s reunion on Yoo Quiz on the Block. Photo: youquizontheblock/Instagram
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Call of Duty: Five K-pop Idols Due for Enlistment in 2021

Best friends Mino and P.O. in New Journey to The West. Photo: tvN Asia/YouTube

Enlistment. The dreaded E-word for K-pop fans everywhere. Every year, fans go through the painful process of sending their idols off to serve in the military. South Korean law requires all able-bodied Korean men aged 18 to 28 (or 30, according to the revised military enlistment law that will allow entertainers to apply for deferment, if they are recognized by the government to have elevated South Korea’s image globally) to undergo mandatory military service. 

Most 1993-born idols—who are or will turn 28 this year—have already enlisted, but there are still quite a few who have yet to enter military service. Here are some idols born in 1993 that are due to enlist this year: 

Block B’s P.O. (born 2 February 1993) 

P.O debuted with Block B as one of the group’s rappers in 2011, and in the group’s first sub-unit, Bastarz, in 2015. He is also an actor, making his acting debut in the 2017 SBS drama Temperature of Love. He has since landed roles in other dramas such as Encounter, Hotel Del Luna, and more. 

P.O is also a variety show regular. He has been a fixed cast member of New Journey to the West (NJTTW) with his best friend, Song Mino, Great Escape, and Amazing Saturday since 2018. He is also on Kang’s Kitchen, a NJTTW spin-off program. 

Winner’s Mino (born 30 March 1993)

The rapper and producer has been active as a member of Winner since 2014. Following his runner-up finish on Show Me the Money season 4, Mino has since released numerous singles. He also debuted as a soloist in 2018 with his first studio album, XX. Mino has been a fixed cast member of New Journey to the West since 2017, which his best friend since high school P.O. joined in 2018. He also has his own web variety series on YouTube, Mino’s Pilot. Later this year, he will be appearing as a producer on Show Me the Money season 10. 

Mino made his official debut as a painter at the Special Exhibition for Emerging Artists (SEEA) 2019 art exhibit at the Seongnam Art Center’s 808 Gallery. His works were also displayed at London’s Saatchi Gallery in 2020 as part of the Korean Eye 2020: Creativity Daydream exhibit. 

VIXX’s Ravi (born 15 February 1993)

VIXX’s Ravi has had an active career both as the group’s main rapper and as a solo artist. The group known as the “Concept Kings” may be on hiatus due to military enlistment, but Ravi has made sure that he and his group stay firmly on top of Starlights’ radar. He has released several solo EPs and mixtapes since 2016; in 2020, he released his first full-length album. He has also been busy collaborating with various artists as a featured rapper, songwriter, and producer. Ravi is currently a regular cast member of the popular travel-variety show 2 Days 1 Night and has guested in other TV and web variety shows.

Ravi has also been busy as the CEO of his own hip-hop label, GROOVL1N, which he set up in 2019. This year, he set up The L1VE, an agency that supports artists across different genres. 

B1A4’s Gongchan (born 14 August 1993) 

Singer and actor Gongchan has been active as the maknae of B1A4 since 2011. He debuted as an actor in the web drama Delicious Love in 2015. His most recent dramas include Lonely Enough to Love and the web series Mokkoji Kitchen. 

Gongchan has also been active in the variety show circuit, appearing as a guest on shows such as Celebrity Bromance and Knowing Brothers. He also hosted the music variety show Global Request Show: A Song for You season 4 with former Super Junior Kangin and f(x)’s Amber in 2015.

DAY6’s Young K (born 19 December 1993) 

Young K is a member of the pop-rock band DAY6 as the group’s bassist, rapper and vocalist. He is also part of the group’s first sub-unit, Even of Day, with fellow members Dowoon and Wonpil. The sub-unit debuted in 2020. 

Young K is enlisting as a Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) soldier on 12 October. Before his enlistment, he will be releasing his first solo EP Eternal in September.  

Of these ’93-liners, who will you miss the most?

Featured image: Best friends Mino and P.O. in New Journey to The West. Photo: tvN Asia/YouTube
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K-pop Girl Groups Stages For the Ages

Oh My Girl performs Destiny in reality show, Queendom. Photo: Mnet K-POP/YouTube

Since we’ve already covered some iconic performance stages from boy groups, it’s just right for the ladies to get some attention. Here are a number of performances that prove that girl power is indeed alive and well in k-pop. 

SNSD Grants Wishes From a Helipad

There was a time (c. 2009-2012, to be exact) when the music show Music Core blessed fans with “outdoor performances,” which for the most part… worked in their “fresh” approach. Infinite danced on water to their debut song Come Back Again (probably a tribute to their MV where the boys danced in the rain?), Rainbow sang To Me with colored fountains as background, SISTAR sang Push Push in a waterpark (yes, Music Core producers had a water fixation for a time), A-Jax in a clearing in the middle of a field, APink in what looked like a countryside garden with white statues guarding them. And who can forget the iconic Sunny Hill performance of Midnight Circus in a condemned garage with flattened cars piled on top of each other serving as their background? But that is totally dangerous and deserves its own article. 

We are here to talk about the Nation’s Girl Group singing Genie, wearing their navy uniform costumes in a skyscraper rooftop helipad! As the girls were in their sexy navy garb, one would expect Music Core to exploit that element to their advantage, bringing the SNSD live performance to a marina maybe, or an oil tanker? But no, they opted to have the girls sing while kicking imaginary dirt (that choreography actually has a name – leg beauty dance) in a helipad.

And in an era where drone videography was still an alien concept, the show used actual helicopters to circle around the rooftop, with cameramen taking overhead footage of the performance. Actual helicopters and rooftop rental – that should have cost a leg! Fortunately, the show’s efforts paid off as the SNSD performance holds the record as the most-watched performance in Korean television history, with 8.6 million viewers.

Red Velvet Kills It in Hostile Territory, Twice!

Be warned: This is definitely not your usual live stage. 

It was April 2018 and for the two Koreas to show a warming of their relationship, South Korean musical acts went to Pyongyang to stage a two-day concert entitled “Spring is Coming” . Among those acts was Red Velvet. Yes, Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Yeri went north of the 38th parallel to spread some happiness, and how! Before you complain, Joy had to finish filming scenes for her drama, so her schedule did not permit her to visit Kim Jongun. 

To say that the performances were scary is an understatement. Take note that North and South Korea are still technically at war and are only enjoying an extended ceasefire, so just thinking about that should scare the living hell out of any performer. The girl’s first performance in the 1,500-seater East Pyongyang Grand Theatre was Red Flavor. Song – perfect, outfits – honestly, I was scared for Seulgi and Yeri who were wearing shorts but with knee-length boots, audience – stoic throughout except for this one lady who smiled during Seulgi’s first lines. Seriously, watching that stage made me want to pee in my pants. 

After Red Flavor and a short talk came Bad Boy.. Song – scary. Choreography – scary, with the gun gestures.   And true enough, in an episode of Knowing Bros, Seulgi admitted to having agreed to change the rifle cocking move she was supposed to execute with something like her left hand cupping her mouth, like she was going to whisper something. Alas, during the performance, her nerves got the better of her, so she forgot the agreed replacement, though she had some sense to convert her rifle into a pistol just in time. Luckily, the audience still received it well and no wars were declared. Besides, various credible sources claimed that the supreme leader was so smitten by Red Velvet’s leader that those small incidents can be easily ignored.

GFriend Risks Life for Stage

Idol groups performing under the rain and consequently, a wet stage are not that rare, with countless members getting caught on fancams suffering from all sorts of accidents from small slips to face-first dives.  Examples of “accident-prone” idols include SISTAR’s Bora who famously fractured her thumb in the middle of singing Shady Girl as she used her hand to balance herself as she fell. The performance had to be stopped, the rapper’s thumbs had to be bandaged, and guess what, the group redid the entire performance before the injured member was sent to the hospital. For a group whose footwear options in their live performances were limited to stilettos and chunky platform heels (their choice), almost all members have been victimized by wet stages. 

Oh My Girl, WJSN, and LABOUM have also had a fair share of wet stages, with some performances having the members wear raincoats while dancing. How’s that for dedication?   

But perhaps the most memorable idol wet live stage in history is GFriend’s Me Gustas Tu performance at the 2015 Hyundai Eco-Driving Concert. From the start, you can already see some of the members kick water to the side in vain attempts to dry the stage. For a close to four-minute performance, main vocal Yuju fell not once, not twice, not thrice, not four times, but FIVE times, with the final spill only, milliseconds before she had to do a vocal run adlib. The other members also slipped at least once, but it was simply amazing how Yuju survived without injuries save for some minor bruises and a bit of trauma, for sure. 

Even if the audience cheered them on by chanting “gwenchana” (it’s ok!) as they exited the stage, you can’t help but feel sorry for the girls. But then, these stages give way to the birth of legendary groups, which begs the question, when should death-defying performances be acceptable and when should groups put their foot down and say no for their health and safety? .  

Oh My Girl Makes Destiny Their Own

In one of the most jaw-dropping reversals in Korean television history, the reality competition Queendom had participating girl groups perform trademark songs of their competition. (G)-IDLE performed 2NE1’s Fire, while Park Bom performed (G)-IDLE’s HANN. MAMAMOO went full-throttle sexy with AOA’s Good Luck, while usually-sexy AOA went full-on girl crush with their rendition of Egotistic. 

So, we were supposed to end up with the two remaining groups, Oh My Girl and Lovelyz exchanging songs, a scenario both groups wanted to avoid since their concepts are too similar. However, Lovelyz won a challenge, which rewarded them with their own say on what song they will perform in the next round. Thus, instead of singing an OMG track, they went with Brown Eyed Girls’ militaristic Sixth Sense. With no available options for them, Oh My Girl ended up signing the usually bright Destiny, but with a twist. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5BseJ4fxzA

Instead of doing a teenybopper version of the track as they were expected to do, the girls of WM Entertainment went the mystical route, giving the song an ethnic and mysterious feel with traditional musical instruments. With resident rapper Mimi adding an additional rap verse and the choreography undergoing a major do-over, the OMG is way distinct and unrecognizable from Lovelyz’s version. The performance received overwhelmingly positive reviews from viewers and even from the contestants themselves. Oh My Girl’s cover of Destiny went on to chart as one of the highest songs from the reality show. Not bad at all for a version of a song long identified with another group. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list of iconic girl group stages. So, here’s hoping we can have more iconic stages in the future.

Featured image: Oh My Girl performs Destiny in reality show, Queendom. Photo: Mnet K-POP/YouTube
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Some Iconic K-pop Idol Moments on TV to Remember

TWICE's Dahyun with JYP in Knowing Bros. Photo: JTBC Entertainment/YouTube

You have to remember that our beloved K-pop idols train for years, not just to be the amazing performers that we watch on stage. Yes, they spend countless days undergoing voice training, rap training (for the rappers), dance training, and composition and music production for some. All of them go through personality development and “variety” training. Variety training, you may wonder. As we have seen through the years, K-pop idols, especially groups, have appearances in just about any kind of TV program to promote their new releases and keep their group visible to the public, strengthening their “brand reputation”. It’s also a way of introducing each member to the viewers. A lot of idols have their own variety shows, but most of those are only available online, so they still somehow prefer to make televised appearances to reach a wider audience.

And not just anyone can hack a TV show guest appearance. You need to develop skills like spontaneity, dealing with sometimes difficult hosts, winging through awkward interactions, and having to do tasks and “challenges” that you may not be in the mood to be doing and be seen on national TV. But in the spirit of fun and “fan service”, even idols who may not initially have the personality for these public appearances develop this “sense” and, surprisingly, become good in them.

Here are a number of legendary appearances on TV shows and specials that have stood the test of time, showing that some of these idols have really excelled in “variety training,” and endearing them more to us. As if we need more reasons to love them!

Endless laughs from whispers?

The whisper challenge is one of those portions in the variety show Knowing Bros that have produced iconic moments for idols. The game pairs two idols, where they sit facing each other with one saying a word or phrase and the other trying to guess what that word or phrase is, while wearing a headset with loud music so the guesser can’t hear what his/her partner is saying. This game has also been played on other variety programs, but the two most memorable are those played in JTBC’s reality-variety show classroom.

The Epic Dahyun vs. JYP Whisper-Turned-Shouting Match

Among today’s crop of JYP idols, TWICE’s Dahyun is one of those armed with natural “variety sense.” She is also known to be quite close with her entertainment label’s founder—who also happens to have quite a music career himself—the JYP, also known as:

  • Park Jin Young
  • J.Y. Park
  • The Asiansoul

And aka the guy whose trademark is whispering “JYP” at the start of every song he produces. As the owner of that iconic whisper, one would expect JYP to be good in a whisper challenge, but alas, he only frustrated his partner Dahyun. And the depth of Dahyun’s disappointment knew no bounds as her face turned red only 20 seconds into the first round (the mystery word was “plastic pants”, a JYP iconic fashion statement), kept yelling at her boss, called him by his first name, and asked him why he was so bad in this game. The situation was so funny yet anxiety-inducingly bad that host Heechul had to restrain Dahyun a bit, because even for a casual viewer, it looked like Dahyun was going to blow her fuse. In the end, JYP guessed 2 out of 7 words correctly.

 

EXO, Especially Kai

When six EXO members visited the Knowing Bros classroom, they were the first to admit that they were really bad at playing the whisper challenge. To encourage them to improve their game, they were challenged by Kang Hodong and the group that if they did well in the whisper challenge, they would be able to perform their latest release that time, Obsession. The first pair of Chen and Chanyeol did okay, but when it came to Baekhyun and Kai, and Suho and Sehun, hell broke loose as EXO’s main dancer kept on interpreting Baekhyun’s clue of “when you’re cold” (the mystery word was “warming pads”) to “dead people” while the maknae kept on complaining that he can’t hear his leader-partner when it was exactly the point of the game. Things went a bit naughty when Baekhyun’s clues of “in your underpants” and “two words” were misinterpreted by Kai, making him wonder if his answer can be said on air without the strict Korean censors bleeping him, consequently sending the members rolling in laughter on the floor. 

Award Shows

And I’m not talking about MAMAs, MMAs, and end of the year concerts from TV stations. I’m talking about TV and movie awards where actors and actresses attend. These events are super awkward for idols to perform in because usually, the actors, actresses, and other attendees of these ceremonies are, to put it kindly, stoic when reacting to musical performances. But a couple of idols brought their A game and at the very least, sent tongues wagging and K-netz on a search frenzy as soon as they were done. 

Mamamoo Kills Awards Nights

If there’s a group that can leave people open-mouthed and breathless in their performances, that has to be vocal powerhouse Mamamoo. That they can make even the most stern-faced actors dance with them (Cho Jinwoong in 2016’s AAA) and have them react to their witty adlibs. For the 2017 and 2018 Blue Dragon Film Awards, Moonbyul, Solar, Wheein, and Hwasa changed some of the lyrics to Decalcomanie and Yes I Am to pay tribute to the nominees and their memorable dialogues. From Sol Kyunggu in The Merciless, Song Kangho in Taxi Driver, Na Moon Hee in I Can Speak, Lee Byunghun in Inside Men, and yearly subject Jo Insung, the girls didn’t leave any stone unturned, making these awards show less stiff than they usually are. 

Hyolyn Doesn’t Dilly Dally

Hyolyn is no stranger to television, having starred in KBS2’s Dream High Season 2 and contributing to several drama OSTs. So, it may not have been a total shock that she was invited to perform in the 2018 edition of the KBS Drama Awards. The performance started off beautifully, with the SISTAR main vocal singing Spring Watch from the soundtrack of 2017 TV drama Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me. Then, out of the blue, Hyolyn asks Cha Taehyun who was in the audience if he wanted to go to the sea with her. Trench coat off, Hyolyn segued to See Sea wearing a sparkling silver one piece costume. Then came her performance of Dally, her single known for very… physical choreography. Actors and actresses in the audience froze as body rolls, hip thrusts, and twerks came in rapid succession. Suffice to say every single jaw dropped as Hyolyn’s performance ended. Criticism of the performance, particularly the outfit, ensued the next day, but for KBS, a TV station usually known to be conservative, their event was the talk of the town, so it was a win-win situation. 

Weekly Idol

From 2011, one of the first things that any K-pop fan would think of when “variety show” was mentioned is Weekly Idol, initially hosted by Jang Hyungdon and Deffconn. Every week, idol groups would join in the fun as they, with the two hosts, would engage in a variety of games and activities that somehow gave the fans a glimpse of their personalities outside the stage. Some appearances were a bit controversial, with the hosts sometimes getting called out for asking questions that sound a tad out of line and awkward, which may have led the two to step down as hosts in 2018. Donni and Conni eventually hosted a similarly-themed show on JTBC, Idol Room, while Weekly Idol had a number of host changes before finally settling with ZE:A’s Kwanghee and SuJu’s Eunhyuk. 

The B2ST Credit Card Game

The 2nd generation group B2ST, now known as Highlight, is not popularly known as the “variety kings” for nothing, Their perfect comedic timing, the balance or energies among the members, easy rapport with the hosts of any show they visit, and their lack of reluctance to do anything for a laugh is a testament to how great they are in the variety department. In their first Weekly Idol appearance since the departure of member Hyunseung, they did not disappoint even if they had to establish instant rapport with co-hosts EXID’s Hani and SuJu’s Heechul who filled in for Conni who was on extended medical leave. In the segment where they are supposed to perfect challenges to receive gifts to be bought by the credit card of their agency’s CEO, the program introduced a new twist: The show was apparently going to use THEIR credit cards instead of the CEO’s. It was a riot to see the usually cool and brooding Junhyung egged on by his friend Heechul to do aegyo and for the group’s leader Doojoon to fake cry in embarrassment as the members went all-out to win items on their wishlist. Gikwang won a new gaming PC, Dongwoon won a Hulk action figure, Junghyun won two vacuum cleaners, Doojoon won a tablet, and main vocal Yeoseob, who wished for a gold bar, wasn’t chosen by his members to win. 

Fortunately, it was later revealed that they were going to use the CUBE Entertainment CEO’s card, provided they win a whisper relay (a variation of the whisper challenge where members relay the mystery word to the next person wearing a headset until the last person guesses the word correctly. They did win the relay and Junhyung gave his extra vacuum cleaner to poor Yoseobie. 

GFriend, Double Speed Dance: Legends

Weekly Idol was the show that introduced the Random Play dance to the public, where group guests had 3 seconds to remember the choreography and formation to a random song in their discography and actually dance it. Very few groups succeed in this mission, with one of them being the legendary GFriend, known then for their sharp synchronized choreography to even their sweet teenybopper songs. Thus, Weekly Idol took the challenge a step further the next time the Navillera group guested on the show by playing their iconic songs at twice the speed. The girls took the challenge in stride, perfecting the choreography to their songs at double the cadence. They passed the challenge with flying colors on all three occasions: they did Rough one time, Fingertip another time, and finally, Glass Bead, Me Gustas Tu, and Navillera one after another. 

I’m sure you have other iconic moments with your favorite idol groups on other TV shows and webcasts. Here’s hoping we continue to get more memorable episodes from them in the future, especially these days when a lot of idol activity happens online!

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10 Must-Watch K-pop Idol Variety Shows Online

BTS/VLIVE

Content is king, and idols know it! 

Nowadays, K-pop idols don’t just guest at variety shows, they also star on their own! Having their own programs lets idols share more about themselves to fans, as well as give the fans an inside look at their daily lives. 

Here are some of your favorite idols’ online variety shows you can binge on: 

Run BTS (2015 – present) 
Starring: All BTS members 

What it’s about: The world’s biggest K-pop boy group has their own weekly variety show where they take on missions and play games to win prizes or avoid punishments. In the program, the boys unleash their fun, goofy, and cheeky selves on camera, much to the delight of all ARMYs around the world. With almost 150 episodes as of August 2021, there is more than enough BTS content for fans to watch! 

Where to watch: VLive, Weverse 

24/365 with Blackpink (2020 – present) 
Starring: All Blackpink members 

What it’s about: 24/365 lets Blinks into the lives of Blackpink. The show features the members as they chill in their dorm, shoot their music videos, play games, attend group and individual schedules, learn new skills, and more. The program is currently in its first season and has 16 uploaded episodes. 

Where to watch: Blackpink’s YouTube channel  

NCT Life (2016 – present) 
Starring: All NCT members 

What it’s about: It’s hard to keep up with a massive 23-member group, but NCT Life will help you get to know all the members better! Throughout its 10-season run, the show follows the lives of all members as they travel to different cities and countries. Several seasons also featured the NCT members acting as tour guides for their fellow members.  

Where to watch: NCT’s VLive channel 

Red Velvet Level Up! Project (2017 – 2020) 
Starring: All Red Velvet members (seasons 1 – 3), Irene and Seulgi (season 4)

What it’s about: The girls of Red Velvet take Reveluvs on a trip around the world with them in Level Up! Project. The show currently has four seasons; however, only the most recent one featuring Irene and Seulgi can be viewed outside of South Korea. 

Where to watch: SM C&C YouTube channel

SuperM M-Topia (2021)
Starring: All SuperM members 

What it’s about: SM Entertainment’s supergroup, SuperM, is made up of EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai, Shinee’s Taemin, and NCT’s Taeyong, Ten, Lucas, and Mark. In 2020, they starred in their own variety show, M-Topia, where they go on a special vacation to relax and bond. During the trip, they also try different missions and avoid booby traps in the games to build their teamwork.

Where to watch: SM C&C YouTube channel

EXO Ladder (2018 – 2019)
Starring: EXO-CBX (Season 1), All EXO members except Lay (Season 2)

What it’s about: Officially titled “Travel the world on EXO’s ladder,” the show features the members as they go on a trip, and what they will do on their journey is determined by the ladder game (used to help choose something at random). In the first season, the EXO-CBX sub-unit (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) went to Japan; in the second season, all members (except Lay) took a trip to Taiwan. 

Where to watch: SM C&C YouTube channel

EXO Arcade (Season 1 2018 – 2019; Season 2 2021) 
Starring: All EXO members except Lay (Season 1); Xiumin, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun (Season 2) 

What it’s about: On this show, EXO-Ls get to watch their favorite boys compete against one another in various games—from shouting in silence to the Mafia game. Winners get prizes such as snack foods, while losers receive a penalty from the winners. 

Where to watch: VLive, SM C&C YouTube channel

Time to Twice (2020 – present) 
Starring: All Twice members

What it’s about: Twice members bring on the laughs and their competitive streaks with Time to Twice! Each short season (around 5-6 episodes long) takes on a different concept, such as a noraebang (karaoke) battle, healing camping trip, high school, crime scene—and even chocolate factory! 

Where to watch: Twice’s YouTube channel

Twice TV (2015 – present)
Starring: All Twice members 

What it’s about: Twice TV follows the Twice members as they go about their daily lives—album recording, music video shooting, and more. There’s more than 200 episodes to watch, so you won’t run out of vids to binge! 

Where to watch: Twice’s YouTube channel

Going Seventeen (2017 – present) 
Starring: All Seventeen members 

What it’s about: Going Seventeen is an ongoing web series featuring the 13-member boy group Seventeen. The show began in 2017 as a vlog-style program featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the group’s activities. In 2019, it transitioned into a variety/game show series, which saw the boys take on different challenges such as bungee jumping, going to escape rooms, completing an inflatable obstacle course race, and more. 

Where to watch: Seventeen’s YouTube channel, VLive

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Smashing stereotypes: Female idols in Korean variety shows  

Male idols do not have a monopoly on variety shows. Female idols are just as goofy and witty on many K-entertainment programs too! 

Ready to see a different side to your favorite female idols? Watch these four variety shows that feature female idols (fixed cast):

1. Amazing Saturday (Do Re Mi Market): Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon 

Each episode features three representative foods from a market in South Korea. The fixed cast and the guests need to play games such as writing down the correct lyrics to various songs to win and be able to enjoy the food. Second generation K-pop group Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon joined the program as a permanent cast member in 2020. 

Amazing Saturday also has a spin-off show titled Idol Dictation Contest. The show includes the following female idols in the cast: Lovelyz’s Mijoo and former IZ*ONE’s Yena.  

Where to watch: Amazing Saturday channel on YouTube 

2. I Live Alone: Mamamoo’s Hwasa 

I Live Alone features Korean celebrities who live on their own. The program gives audiences a peek into the daily lives of actors, idols, models, and more. The hosts watch footage of themselves, as well as of invited guests. Third gen K-pop group Mamamoo’s Hwasa joined as a fixed host after previously guesting in the show.  

Where to watch: Viu

3. Sixth Sense: Jessi and Lovelyz’s Mijoo

In Sixth Sense, celebrities visit various places or people considered as “hot topics” in South Korea. However, one of these places or people are completely made up by the production staff. The celebrities must then use their wits and deduction skills to figure out which of the choices is fake. 

The show stars veteran comedian and television personality Yoo Jae-suk, actress Oh Nara, actress Jeon Somin, rapper Jessi, also third gen K-pop group Lovelyz’s Mijoo, and actor Lee Sangyeob. 

Where to watch: Viu

4. Busted: Kim Sejeong

Busted was a whodunit variety show where the cast members were brought together to form a detective team. In every episode, the team got involved in a murder mystery that they needed to solve.

The show starred Yoo Jaesuk, actor Ahn Jaewook, singer-comedian Kim Jongmin, actor Lee Kwangsoo, actress Park Minyoung, EXO’s Sehun, former I.O.I and Gugudan’s (both third generation K-pop groups) Kim Sejeong, and actor-singer Lee Seunggi. Busted also featured idols and other celebrities as guests. The program ran for three seasons. 

Where to watch: Netflix

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Beyond the Stage: Male K-pop Idols in Korean Variety Shows  

Super Junior’s Kyuhyun. Photo: Raichanxd/Creative Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

K-Pop idols are not just insanely talented in singing and dancing; they also have sharp wits and perfect comedic timing, which make them perfect for variety shows! 

In need of a good laugh? Here are five Korean variety shows you can watch that feature male idols as fixed cast members: 

1. Knowing Brothers (Ask Us Anything): Super Junior’s Heechul 

Knowing Brothers is one of the most popular variety shows in South Korea today. This hilarious show is set in a classroom, and the fixed cast—TV show host and former ssireum (Korean wrestling) athlete Kang Hodong, comedians Lee Sugeun and Kim Youngchul, former basketball player Seo Janghoon, and singers Lee Sangmin, Kim Heechul, and Min Kyunghoon—are the students. Every week, “transfer students” guest on the show and are interviewed by the cast. The guests also participate in activities such as games and skits. 

Where to watch: Netflix 

2. New Journey to the West: Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, Block B’s P.O., and Winner’s Mino 

Travel-reality show New Journey to the West is inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West, and stars Kang Hodong, Lee Sugeun, singer Eun Jiwon, actor Ahn Jaehyun, and Kyuhyun, Mino, and P.O. For each season, the cast members dress up as different characters, go on a trip, and complete various missions to receive dragon balls that will grant their wishes.

Where to watch: Viu, TvN D ENT channel on YouTube

3. 2 Days and 1 Night: VIXX’s Ravi 

2 Days and 1 Night is one of South Korea’s longest-running travel reality-variety shows. In the program, the cast members go on an overnight trip around the country and play creative games to earn rewards (ex. food and indoor sleeping accommodation) and avoid punishment (ex. going into the water in winter). The show is currently on its fourth season, and stars singer-comedian Kim Jongmin, actor Yoon Junghoon, comedian Moon Seyoon, actor Kim Seonho, rapper Dindin, and VIXX’s Ravi. 

Where to watch: KBS World channel on YouTube 

4. Weekly Idol: Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and Hwang Kwanghee 

K-pop idols get to showcase their unique talents, play games, and share interesting facts about themselves in Weekly Idol. The show is popular for its classic “Random Play Dance” and “2x Speed Dance” segments. The current season is hosted by Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and ZE:A’s Kwanghee—two idols who have also made a name for themselves as excellent TV show MCs. 

Where to watch: Viki, All the K-Pop channel on YouTube

5. Amazing Saturday (Do Re Mi Market): SHINee’s Key and Block B’s P.O. 

Each episode features a market from South Korea and its representative food. In the show, the fixed cast and the guests need to write down the correct lyrics to various songs to win and be able to enjoy the food. 

Amazing Saturday also has a spin-off show titled Idol Dictation Contest. The show includes the following male idols in the cast: Eunhyuk, Ravi, EXO’s Kai, Golden Child’s Lee Jangjun, and Seventeen’s Seungkwan. 

Where to watch: Amazing Saturday channel on YouTube 

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