Korean Variety Shows You Need to Watch
If you thought Korean dramas are addicting, wait until you start watching Korean variety shows. While Korean dramas bring in juicy storylines and couples pairings we wish were real IRL, Korean variety shows reign king when it comes to light, hearty and hilarious entertainment.
The great thing about variety shows is that it’s not just one type of show. Some have games, others feature a unique talk show format, and more recently, vlog-type variety shows have started to increase in popularity. More than just reality TV, variety shows are addictive because of its easy-going and casual nature.
Whether you’re looking for a recommendation to start, or a new variety to add to your list, we’ve put together 12 of the best Korean variety shows to start bingeing:
Best Korean Variety Shows to Watch
- Running Man
- Men on a Mission (Knowing Brothers)
- 2 Days 1 Night
- All the Butlers
- I Live Alone
- House on Wheels
- The Return of Superman
- Hometown Flex
- Traveler
- Our Little Summer Vacation
- Hangout with Yoo
- Law of Jungle
1. Running Man
Among all the Korean variety shows available, Running Man remains a favorite among viewers, which is why the show is still on-going after 10 seasons and over 500 episodes. The game-variety show stars Yoo Jae Seok, Lee Kwang Soo, Song Ji Hyo, Kim Jong Kook, and more Korean entertainers as they race to complete missions as a team around Seoul.
2. Men on a Mission (Knowing Brothers)
Men on a Mission is an award-winning variety show hosted by some of South Korea’s most prominent comedians. This show features a classroom setup with its hosts as the students, and every week they entertain a celebrity guest star, the ‘transfer student’, who they perform a friendly banter with.
3. 2 Days 1 Night
Another variety show that’ll take you through and across South Korea! 2 Days 1 Night follows its cast members as they take trips to various places around South Korea. During their visit, they are tasked to carry out missions in order to win rewards and avoid a punishment.
4. All the Butlers
In All the Butlers, five comedians and entertainers are tasked to spend a day or two with a ‘Master’, a reputable public figure, typically in their homes, to learn more about their lifestyle. The current season of the variety show stars Lee Seung Gi, Yang Se Hyung,Shin Sung Rok and their newest butler, Cha Eun Woo.
5. I Live Alone
If you’re nosy like us and love to see what goes on in the actual lives of your favorite celebrities, I Live Alone can give you just that. It follows the lives of single South Korean celebrities and gives a glimpse into their everyday lives - and shows just how much they’re like us!
6. House on Wheels
If you miss travelling, you can travel virtually through House on Wheels for now. The variety show, which first aired just last June, stars Yeo Jin-Goo, Kim Hee-Won and Sung Dong-il. It follows the three men as they attempt to live in a house on wheels and travel across South Korea, inviting top Korean entertainers to join them for a night or two. (PS. We would like to thank this show for the long awaited Man Chan Couple reunion.)
7. The Return of Superman
Get a dose of cuteness with The Return of Superman! In this variety show, celebrity dads are left alone with their toddlers for 48 hours while their wives go on a vacation. Definitely a little different from other popular variety shows in Korea, but one that will get you laughing and smiling all throughout!
8. Hometown Flex
In Hometown Flex, variety show hosts Lee Seung Gi and Cha Tae Hyun travel across South Korea to explore the hometowns of their celebrity guests. Not only does this variety show make us miss travelling even more, but it also allows us a glimpse into other parts of South Korea that we can potentially visit post-quarantine!
9. Traveler 2
Taking you out of South Korea, the Traveler variety show features several prominent celebrities as they backpack through a different country. In the first season of Traveler, Ryu Jun-Yeol and Lee Je-Hoon travelled to Cuba, while in Season 2, we see Ahn Jae-Hong, Ka Ha-Nuel and Ong Seong-Wu make their way through Argentina.
10. Our Little Summer Vacation
Our Little Summer Vacation follows actors and good friends Choi Woo Shik and Jung Yu Mi as they move into a summer home together outside of Seoul. They also invite friends (ahem, Park Seo Joon, ahem) to join them on their summer vacation house, essentially living out our Summer 2020 dreams. For now, we’ll live vicariously through Woo Shik and Yu Mi’s summer adventures in ‘Our Little Summer Vacation’.
11. Hangout with Yoo
Hangout With Yoo is essentially a day in the life of Korean celebrities. Beginning with entertainer and host Yoo Jae Seok, celebrities are given a camera to film their day off. The variety show offers a peek into the lives of our favorite idols and celebrities, so what’s not to love?
12. The Law of the Jungle
Comedian Kim Byung-man invites celebrities such as K-pop idols, and prominent actors to join him in a remote island in The Law of the Jungle and live in the wild. In each episode, the host and guests are challenged to live off their resources in order to create shelter and prepare their meals. This is a hilarious watch, especially as we see a new side of our favorite Korean personalities!
