If you want to take a time out from the drama world, try to enjoy watching Korean variety shows. With these, you'll find yourself on a hoot and literally ROFL-ing with the hosts and the guests' humor.
There are so many to choose from to let yourself let your heartiest laugh, and there's honestly a lot of shows that are not only the "game-oriented." The Korean entertainment industry also takes pride in its TV shows about travel and food, music, and celebrity-life stories.
Let's Eat Dinner
Starring Lee Kyung Kyu and Kang Ho Dong, "Let's Eat Dinner" is also known as "Dining Together." It's a documentary-like program of two men who have been called the "National MCs" in finding their dinner. This has been the first collaboration between the duo since Kang's entry into the entertainment industry. The show started in October 2016 and air on JTBC every Wednesday at 23:00 KST.
Coffee Friends
This is a reality show, starring Yoo Yeon Seok, Son Ho Jun, Choi Ji Woo, and Yang Se Jong. It started in January and ended by March 2019 and airs via tvN every Friday at 19:10 KST. The show was inspired by four cast members running a cafe on a tangerine farm on Jeju Island, selling food and beverages to the people. Due to the pandemic, guess the show is on a halt.
Running Man
On its 10th anniversary, the show started to air in July 2010 on SBS. Host and performer Yoo Jae Suk lead the team. "Running Man" is famous in several Asian countries outside Korea and has gained popularity among Hallyu followers. As they gain foreign viewers, the show is translated into several languages such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Malaysian, Indonesian, Indonesian, Burmese, Arabic, Russian, and Turkish.
I Live Alone
This is a television entertainment program distributed and syndicated by MBC. it airs every Friday at 23:00 KST, known by another name as "Home Alone."
The unique show airs program is unscripted, using documentary techniques with variety show elements. The program shows viewers with various single celebrities' lifestyles without significant filtering.
The Return of Superman
This is a reality-variety show that airs on KBS2. The program is narrated by actress Yoo Ho Jeong, and entertainer Lee Hyun Woo and his two sons. One of the segments of the show is that celebrity dads are left to care for their kids within 48 hours, while the mother went out relaxing and doing something else. The mother then comes back after the time allotted.
Weekly Idol
A variety program aired on the MBC channel Every1, this is one of the longest-running variety shows to air on satellite TV in South Korea. The show has many segments that the production crew work around with their guest on different topics. The program features idol groups as guest stars and they usually play a game while the talk is done informally. The host and guest idol groups can joke and past questions with each other.
Idol Room
A television program which airs on JTBC every Tuesday at 18:30 KST, it stars and is hosted by Jeong Heyong Don and Defconn. The said program was inspired by JTBC Newsroom and it is produced to be the idol-specialized program to show the talents and the group's credibility.
New Journey To The West
This is a reality travel program that broadcasts through Naver TVCast. It started in September 2015. Starring and hosted by Lee Seung Gi, Kang Ho Dong, Eun Ji Won, and Lee Soo Geun, they usually take a backpack and travel overseas and tours around with various games. The new upcoming season will focus on South Korea due to the pandemic that strikes other countries.
Kang's Kitchen
Another travel reality shows that air on cable tvN channels, this show allows the guest to cook and run a restaurant on Jeju Island. Kang Ho Dong challenges himself to cook for the first time while the other members become workers in the restaurant.
I Can See Your Voice
Due to its popularity, this TV program gained international franchises. It's an original show aired on Mnet and simulcast on tvN Korea.
The show presents a new artist who will be the guest and pick contestants who have a good voice. In the end, the winner will then make a duet with the guest.
