The OTT (video distribution service) market is revitalizing, and following dramas, Korean variety shows are advancing into the world. Among various contents entertaining global viewers, 'survival' has recently gained particular attention. The 'K-Survival' variety gained significant interest from the first season of Mnet's 'SUPER STAR K', which aired in 2009. The show, which started with a viewership rating of 2.9%, produced the 'national star' Seo In-guk and achieved over 8% viewership, proving its popularity. This led to 'SUPER STAR K' airing until its eighth season, 'SUPER STAR K 2016', producing numerous star musicians, and shows like 'K-POP Star', 'The Voice of Korea', and 'I Am a Singer' also gained popularity. Furthermore, the 'SHOW ME THE MONEY' and 'UNPRETTY RAP STAR' series sparked a boom, leading the golden age of hip-hop music. Survival programs featuring idol trainees are also highly popular, with series like 'Produce 101' attracting attention and various idol audition programs being produced. This trend continues, giving rise to global idol groups like WINNER, TWICE, fromis_9, Kep1er, and ZEROBASEONE. In this context, survival programs have further activated the content market during the COVID-19 pandemic, naturally expanding their scale. Various survival programs targeting different fields, such as popular songs like 'Mistrot' and 'Mr. Trot', as well as 'Steel Troops' and 'Street Man Fighter', have gained popularity. Additionally, survival-themed Netflix shows like 'Squid Game' and 'Physical 100' have recorded global hits, spreading 'Korean-style survival' worldwide. In 2024, many survival programs are being produced, including 'White and Black Spoon - Cooking Class War', 'Road to Kingdom', 'Stage Fighter', 'Project 7', and 'Mr. Trot 3', showcasing a variety of genres and fields. Consequently, the target audience for each program varies. Attention is focused on whether variety shows that appeal to both Korean and global audiences will emerge. In this way, the phenomenon of survival programs showing momentum beyond a simple genre in the Korean variety market is explained by cultural critic Ha Jae-gun to My Daily, stating, 'Korea has a high intensity of social competition, and when individuals fall behind in competition, the sense of defeat is significant. This social phenomenon can be reflected in variety shows.' He added, 'As people seek more stimulating stories, survival programs are welcomed in this situation.'
On the morning of the 23rd, TWICE's Sana departed from Incheon International Airport for an overseas schedule. The group will also make their first appearance on a Japanese variety show, TBS's 'Ningen Observation Variety Monitoring,' on September 25, featuring all nine members together, which has generated excitement with a luxurious group shot and video with 'Shabekuri 007' members.
On the morning of the 23rd, Momo from TWICE departed for Italy via Incheon International Airport for overseas schedules. Additionally, TWICE will make their first appearance together on a Japanese variety show, 'Shabekuri 007', and five members will participate in 'Ningen Observation Variety Monitoring' airing on September 25.
TWICE made their debut on the Japanese variety show Shabekuri 007, captivating audiences with personal stories and childhood photos. They performed the dance from their new song 'ENEMY' and filmed a short video with the show's regulars. Additionally, they announced a new concert for 2026 and celebrated their 10th anniversary with a fan meeting and special album release.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, the 'MISS GEE COLLECTION' 2026 S/S event was held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, attended by ZEROBASEONE's Song Hanbin, Kim Gyubin, and members of izna. This event also marks izna's first comeback after a member's departure, with their 2nd mini-album 'Not Just Pretty' set to release on September 30.
TWICE is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a fan meeting titled 'LOVE UNIVERSE' on October 18 in Seoul. They will also release a special album 'TEN: The Story Goes On' on October 10. The fan meeting will take place at Korea University, and tickets will be available through MelOn, with fan club pre-sales starting September 26.
ZEROBASEONE returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport after their performance at the '2025 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS' in Macau. The event featured various artists, including Stray Kids, who won four awards. Additionally, ZEROBASEONE is set to release their special EP 'ICONIK' on October 29, along with an offline event.
The 2025 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS concluded successfully in Macau, featuring 15 K-POP artists. Stray Kids won four awards, including 'Honor of the Year,' while aespa and ENHYPEN also received multiple accolades. The event highlighted the vibrant K-POP scene and was hosted by Jung Hyun-moo and Sooyoung from Girls' Generation.
On the 20th, TWICE's Jihyo and Tzuyu departed from Incheon International Airport for the Philippines due to overseas schedules. They are set to release a special album titled 'TEN: The Story Goes On' on October 10 to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Additionally, they surprised fans by announcing extra performances in Spring 2026 after a successful concert finale at Tokyo Dome that captivated 400,000 attendees.
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