The Korean entertainment wave (Hallyu) has brought us many great Korean TV shows to watch. We have an abundant amount of rom-coms, thriller and other types of shows that keeps us entertained and hooked up to our mobile phones or TV sets. Yet, if you want to explore the lesser-known type of Korean TV shows, these Korean Variety shows are for you.
Variety shows generally can be understood as shows which are half scripted and half left to the device of its cast members. Generally, many Korean variety shows follows an initial or basic idea and from thereon, it is left to a sort of improvised execution. Many of these variety shows have cast members performing activities to fulfill missions allotted to them, with the winning team gaining advantages and various benefits. Each of the these shows provide humor at its finest, along with unexpected moments that will provide you a thrilling and sometime therapeutic experience. So, we recommend these old and new Korean variety shows that you must watch to learn more about Korea, as well as get entertained. These shows has various celebrities as members as well as in cameo. Hope you enjoy!
#1 2 Days 1 Night
2 Days 1 Night takes viewers around various suitable destinations in Korea where they can have a good vacation time. These spots include various beaches, mountains, hiking and trekking areas, as well as general cities. However, the caste members that go to these sites have to perform various missions, both in teams or as an individual, to get food and sleep indoors. The loser(s) gets nothing or barely enough to survive. The show is harsh on its members, but hilarious as a whole. The cast includes comedian Kim Junho, actor Cha-Taehyun, actor Yoon Siyoon, singer Jung Joonyoung, singer Defcon and actor Kim Jongmin. These six members will surely keep you entertained with their childish antics and brotherly banter, while you enjoy the scenic beauty that this Korean variety show has to offer. Plus, you see them doing absurd mission that will definitely make you laugh out loud, until you sides hurt. You’ve been warned!
#2 Return of Superman
Return of Superman is a show loaded with cuteness. We are provided with celebrity dads left alone with their kid(s) to take care alone for 48 hours. The show’s initial concept was to let the fathers know the hard work mothers have to go through in raising children. The show provides famous celebrity dads doing missions assigned by their wives for their children. They also go on various outings to bond as father with their children. This Korean variety show has 100% adorable kids who will make your heart gush with their antics and innocence.
The children in Return of Superman allows you to reflect back on your own childhood. Also, it also gives insights on childcare and how every child has specialty that makes him/her an unique individual. The show has the warmth and love that we all crave. So give this show a chance, you will definitely become fans of little kids in it!
#3 Running Man
If you have been watching far too many K-dramas and now want some change, Running Man is for you. It is yet another one of the Korean Variety shows that will make you laugh at every possible moment. The cast include eight members who are asked to perform various missions that are borderline crazy and funny. You will be glued to this show because of the unique missions that ensues chaos and madness. Running Man is one of the most famous Korean variety show and its popularity is rightly bestowed. The show has a very charming and comic air to it that will definitely cheer you up. If you don’t believe us, you may believe Tom Cruise, Simon Peg and Henry Cavill’s words, since they too joined the show for one episode. So, what say?
#4 We Got Married
We Got Married takes the concept of blind dating to another level. Here couples don’t know each other and after their first meeting, they pretend to live as married couples. They are also allotted various missions(the gem of Korean variety shows) and have to complete them in a certain time period. There are couples who instantly get used to their virtual spouse, while fore many, it brings a great deal of awkwardness. Nonetheless, this variety show will keep you interested and entertained.
#5 Law of The Jungle
Law of the Jungle is a reality-documentary Korean variety show. It places celebrities in remote locations where they have to perform various missions and survive. The show features various Korean celebrities and K-pop artists. This show is one of those fast paced Korean variety shows that will provide you rare glimpse into how these celebrities function under pressure with basic amenities. These celebrities can been seen cracking under pressure or having the time of their lives. Watch Law of the Jungle if you are into survival shows and wants to see your favorite Korean celebrities in it.
#6 Where On Earth?
Where On Earth? is a travel variety show which documents four Korean celebrities reach uncharted destination on various difficult places. The show debuted in 2018 with a trip to Oman. The four caste members traveled forty kilometers in four days through desert to reach the Arabian Sea.
The show is exhilarating and informative. It allows you to watch places you haven’t watched before and know about the unknown beauty each place posses. Where On Earth? will make you want to travel, but until then, you can vicariously live off the experiences of the cast members. The show has all type of precious moments in it. It is funny, emotional, motivational, but above all, it is interesting. So, while you plan on a trip around a remote corner of the world, watch the expeditions on Where On Earth and find some solace. Bon Voyage!
#7 Busted
Busted is new and unique in the list of Korean variety shows. The show follows a group of celebrities who solve murder mysteries by trying to find clues. These celebrities plays various characters who are related to the murder mysteries. The show takes a new note on detective mysteries where the perpetrator is among the solvers. The show will definitely keep you hooked until you too solve the mystery.
Busted is a Netflix special with season 2 in tow. You will definitely get to have a deep rooted crime series and see it evolve and eventually get solved. We hope all of those Sherlock fans out there give this series a chance. Let’s hope that you see through the criminal way before all the other cast member does. Enjoy!
#8 Mr House Husband
As the name suggests, this variety show has various men doing household chores given to them by their wives. The contestants includes various married Korean celebrities who are fathers. The show chronicles their hilarious interaction with their kids, as well as the hardships they face by doing chores. Most of these men have never bothered to do much household work, and therefore the show catches them with their weird and funny antics.
The show is very popular among the many Korean variety shows due to it frank nature where these male celebrities reveals their personal lives as well as their problems. The show is funny and a way to get introduced to your favorite celebrity dad. They show responsible or sometime careless sides of their nature, which makes the show all the more interesting. And it’s okay to laugh at what they do, they don’t really care since they are busy focusing on their chores anyway.
#9 Salty Tour
This Korean variety show is hosted by famous Korean comedians and celebrities. They travel to distant foreign location and provided minimum budget. The task is to have the best vacation experience with that limited budget and enjoy the luxuries. The caste includes Jung Joonyoung, who is also a part of the other variety show mentioned here, 2 Days 1 Night. He is accompanied by Park Narae, Mun Seyun and Park Myeongsun, all of them comedians that will thoroughly entertain you.
Additionally, you will also enjoy the various places they visit and learn on how to operate with a minimum budget for a maximum comfort vacation. But don’t think this show as merely a travel show. These caste members doesn’t shy away from playing pranks on each other and they are also provided various other tasks to do. All in all, Salty Tour should be on your must-watch list of Korean variety shows.
Hopefully, these Korean variety shows will come to your rescue when you are in need of some distractions from all those sweet and sassy K-dramas. These Korean shows have very unique concepts that will definitely keep you engaged. These variety shows enjoy high viewership in Korea and they also have a very large fan base abroad. Many of these shows are very entertaining and let you know a great deal of Korean art, culture, history and traditions. If you are interested in Korea as a country, some of these shows will definitely help you. Also, if you are into watching your favorite celebrities do various task or go on a blind date, this list will help you. So, watch them go bonkers!
