We love K-dramas for the kilig we feel and the lessons we pick up from each one of them, but when we're in the mood to laugh until tears form, we turn to another genre of Korean TV entertainment: Variety shows! We swear, they're proven to help you forget 90+ percent of your problems.
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What makes Korean variety shows fun to watch is that they take the word “variety” seriously—you literally never know what to expect from them! Sometimes the celbs play the craziest games, do unfathomable challenges, or just expose each other and *spill* the tea. There are no dull moments in each episode, and they feature different Korean personalities from time to time! We also love them because they give us a chance to see our favorite celebs and idols in their ~truest form~. No fancy makeup, no scripted lines!
To guide you for your next binge-watching sesh, below are 10 Korean variety shows you can watch on Netflix and Viu that will be your favorites in no time:
1. Running Man
Watch on: Viu
Running with more than 500 episodes, Running Man is already celebrating a decade of laughter this year! The variety show is a crowd favorite for its super fun missions, and is popular not just in South Korea but also around the world. Follow Yoo Jae Suk, Haha, Ji Suk Jin, Kim Jong Kook, Song Ji Hyo, Lee Kwang Soo, Yang Se Chan, and Jun So Min as they compete with each other and their celebrity guests in extremely amusing challenges.
2. Knowing Brothers
Watch on: Viu, Netflix
Also known as Men On A Mission and Ask Us Anything, Knowing Brothers continues to soar with high viewership ratings throughout the years! The show is set in a classroom, complete with the hosts (Kang Ho Dong, Seo Jang Hoon, Kim Heechul, Kim Young Chul, Lee Soo Geun, Min Kyung Hoon, and Lee Sang Min) and guests donning uniforms. They quiz each other, respond with witty banters, and showcase their *unseen* talents on the show. If you want to see your favorite K-pop idols and K-drama actors being ridiculous AF, this is a must-watch.
3. The Return Of Superman
Watch on: Viu
We swear, The Return Of Superman is a no-fail stress buster! Who wouldn’t go soft when it comes to the cutest toddlers and their appas? Definitely not us. We get so gigil whenever we watch the kids who are left with their celeb dads, and we bet you will, too. There are cameras set up around their house, and cameramen (or as the bbs call them—ahjussis) hide in playhouses and tents. Our favorite episodes? The ones with the Song triplets and Hammington brothers!
4. 2 Days 1 Night
Watch on: Viu
Tour South Korea with the cast of 2 Days 1 Night and be mesmerized with what the country has to offer! What will have you in awe are not only the tourist spots in their country but also the many adventures that the cast members go through in each episode. Since 2007, the show has been bringing different personalities who challenge each other through fun battles. And in case you’re looking for a particular episode to watch, you just can’t miss out on the iconic ep where the Hwarang cast was invited. You’re welcome.
5. I Live Alone
Watch on: Viu
Ever wondered what celebrities do at home when they’re not in front of the camera? Sure, there are still cameras in this show, but I Live Alone gives you a look into the normal lives of celebs! Witness them in their truest selves as they cook their meals, do the laundry, and vacuum the floor—all on their own! Fun fact: MAMAMOO’s Hwasa, who used to be a guest is now a mainstay in the show, thanks to her undeniable variety show skills (and mukbangs that made gopchang, or intestines, popular in SoKor).
6. Law Of The Jungle
Watch on: Viu
When Korean stars live in the wild, it’s sure to be one wild ride! This SBS show reveals yet another side of our favorite K-pop idols and actors, as they find ways to live in the jungle—from building their own home to looking for food to eat. Did you know that some of the cast members even filmed in the Philippines before? No? Then The Law Of The Jungle is one survival show you should add to your list.
7. Busted!
Watch on: Netflix
Here’s a variety program that will make you think: Busted! is a mystery-themed show where the cast members (Park Min Young, Yoo Jae Suk, Ahn Jae Wook, Kim Jong Min, Lee Kwang Soo, gugudan’s Kim Se Jeong, and EXO’s Sehun) become detectives, and solve mysteries together instead of competing against each other And you know when Jae Suk, aka the “Nation’s MC”, is involved—it’s going to be hella fun.
8. Our Little Summer Vacation
Watch on: Viu
If we can’t have a summer vacation this year (which is a total bummer), we might as well watch Choi Woo Shik and Jung Yu Mi’s relaxing break in a place far from the city, which they temporarily called home. The Train To Busan co-stars-turned-friends invite celeb guests on Our Little Summer Vacation, with Woo Shik’s BFF and our favorite oppa Park Seo Joon being their first one. PSJ behind the limelight and hanging his clothes? Beautiful. And the concept of the entire show? Healing, redefined.
9. Traveler 2
Watch on: Viu
Watch as your favorite K-drama and Korean movie actors go backpacking in different parts of the world in JTBC’s Traveler. The entire trip is planned by the celebs themselves, including their accommodation, transportation, and food without the production team interfering with their decisions. Ryu Jun Yeol and Lee Je Hoon traveled to Cuba in season one, while Kang Ha Neul, Ong Seong Wu, and Ahn Jae Hong flew to Argentina in season two.
10. All The Butlers
Watch on: Viu
This variety show allows its cast members to know each other as they spend time with their “Masters”, aka individuals from different professions (not just from the Korean entertainment industry!). All The Butlers, or Master In The House, is where newfound friendships are formed, and wisdom is gained. The current cast includes Lee Seung Gi, Shin Sung Rok, Yang Se Hyung, Kim Dong Hyun, and ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo.
MORE KOREAN ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS RIGHT HERE:
- 8 Korean Thriller Movies That Will Blow Your Mind
- 5 Korean Horror Movies That Will Keep You Up All Night
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