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There are many genres of television produced every year. From melodramas to romantic comedies, reality shows to documentaries, there is a show for everyone. A popular genre in Korea is the variety show, a uniquely Korean blend of game show, talk show, reality TV, and stand up comedy. Variety shows are somewhat scripted, but the comedy among the cast is most definitely not, and that improvised chemistry is exactly what keeps fans coming back week after week.
Running Man
Airing on SBS since 2010, Running Man has become the international face of Korean variety. The fixed cast, anchored by Yoo Jae-Seok along with HaHa, Kim Jong-Kook, Ji Suk-Jin, Song Ji-Hyo, and Yang Se-Chan, compete in elaborate physical missions with a rotating roster of celebrity guests. Whether they are tearing name tags off each other in an abandoned theme park or solving a citywide mystery, Running Man is the perfect entry point if you have never tried a Korean variety show before.
I Live Alone
Running on MBC since 2013, I Live Alone is part documentary, part variety, following single Korean celebrities as they go about ordinary days in their own homes. The current Rainbow Club lineup has shifted many times, with hosts including Seong-Hoon, Park Na-Rae, Henry Lau, Hwasa, Kian84, and Lee Si-Eon all leaving their mark on the show. It is funny, surprisingly comforting, and a fascinating look at how Korean celebrities actually live when the cameras are not on a red carpet.
The Return of Superman
Also a 2013 debut, KBS2's The Return of Superman invites cameras into the homes of celebrity dads who take care of their kids for 48 hours, all by themselves. Familiar faces over the years have included Sam Hammington with his sons William and Bentley, as well as rapper Tablo of EPIK HIGH with his daughter Haru. The mix of toddler chaos and very tired fathers is the kind of wholesome television that makes you smile and miss your own family all at once.
Infinite Challenge
Often called the original modern Korean variety show, MBC's Infinite Challenge ran from 2005 to 2018 and set the template for almost everything that came after it. The classic lineup of Yoo Jae-Seok, HaHa, Jeong Joon-Ha, and Park Myung-Soo took on absurd, ambitious challenges, from bobsledding to wrestling. By 2013 it was the most watched variety show in Korea, and the legendary Infinite Challenge Music Festival episodes still get pulled up on YouTube to this day.
Law of the Jungle
If you like reality survival, Law of the Jungle has been doing it since 2011. Long time host Kim Byung-Man leads a rotating crew of K-pop idols, actors, and athletes into remote jungles, deserts, and islands around the world, where they have to fish, hunt, build shelter, and survive together. Watching your favorite idol forget how to make a fire is part of the appeal.
Knowing Bros
Also known as Men on a Mission and Ask Us Anything, JTBC's Knowing Bros turns a classroom into a comedy battlefield. The seven main brothers, including Kang Ho-Dong and Kim Hee-Chul, dress as schoolboys and welcome celebrity guests as transfer students. Expect slap-stick physical comedy, savage roasts, and the occasional impromptu K-pop performance from idols who came in just to promote a comeback.
The King of Mask Singer
MBC's The King of Mask Singer has been on the air since 2015 and gave rise to the international Masked Singer franchise. Idols, actors, ballad singers, and surprise celebrity guests perform on stage in elaborate masks so the panel and audience judge only on vocals. Every reveal is an event, and the show has crowned everyone from rock vocalists to underrated idol main singers as its champion.
Which of these Korean variety shows is your favorite, and are there any we missed? Drop a comment and tell us which cast you would binge watch first.
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