The Idol Star Championship aired in Korea, achieving high ratings and showcasing intense competitions among idol groups in various sports.

The "Idol Star Championship" enlivened Korea's holiday. Yesterday (6th), the first part of MBC's "2025 Chuseok Special Idol Star Championship" was broadcast. According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode recorded a 0.9% rating among the core demographic of 2049 (ages 20 to 49) and a national household rating of 3.1%, ranking first among variety shows aired at the same time. In particular, in the PK shootout, which returned after five years, LUCY's Cho Won-sang's shot was saved by AHOF's Park Joo-won, and AHOF's Seo Jung-woo's shot, nicknamed the "Cosmic Potato Shot Doll," was saved by LUCY's Choi Sang-yup. Commentator Park Moon-sung praised, "He has the talent of a goalkeeper," causing the minute's highest rating to soar to 5.7%. The "Idol Star Championship," which has reached its 15th anniversary, delivered laughter to viewers from the opening ceremony with MCs Jeong Hyun-moo, BTOB's Changsub, Lee Eun-ji, and Jonathan's perfect commentary. "The face of Ayukde," Jeong Hyun-moo maintained a stable progression, while Changsub shared vivid experiences from his participation in the show, generating empathy. "K-POP veteran" Lee Eun-ji raised the atmosphere with her unique variety sense, and "idol doctor" Jonathan added vitality to the broadcast with his extensive knowledge of idols. This year's opening ceremony included a warm-up time for participants instead of a pledge or celebratory performance, where CRAVITY's Hyun-jun improvised on stage and performed BLACKPINK's "like JENNIE." In the women's 60m event, tripleS's Nien and Lin, X:IN's Aria, KISS OF LIFE's Hanul, and ifeye's Terin and Rahi advanced to the finals after fierce preliminaries. Notably, two players from each of the two teams advanced to the finals, leading to intense competition within the teams. In the finals, tripleS's Nien won the gold medal with overwhelming speed, completely avenging last year's silver medal disappointment. In the men's 60m event, TEMPEST's Eunchan, LUN8's Kaeru, NEXZ's So Gon, ARrC's Choi Han, NEWBEAT's Hong Min-seon, and CLOSE YOUR EYES's Song Seung-ho advanced to the finals. The standout competitors in the close final were Kaeru and Hong Min-seon. After a nail-biting sprint, the victory was decided by just 0.07 seconds, with Kaeru winning the gold medal with a record of 7.79 seconds. Kaeru also overcame last year's silver medal disappointment, completing a thrilling drama of "silver medalist rebellion." In the women's wrestling team competition, eight teams, including Hearts2Hearts, FIFTY FIFTY, tripleS, and SAY MY NAME, participated. This match featured a different intensity from the usual female idols, heightening the excitement for the competition. SAY MY NAME, coached to focus on defense, surprised everyone with aggressive play, ultimately becoming the "gold medal protagonist". Notably, before the match, a member made a "surprise request" to their agency representative and singer Kim Jae-joon, saying, "If we win the gold medal, please buy me a car," which brought laughter to the scene. In the men's team shooting event, four teams, RIIZE, ZEROBASEONE, NCT WISH, and P1Harmony, competed fiercely. Given the high concentration and calmness required for the sport, the players' focused appearances and visuals displayed on the scoreboard attracted attention. After a tense final moment, RIIZE seized the gold medal, proudly standing as the "king of men's shooting." This year, first-time participant RIIZE successfully proved both their skill and visuals, achieving a dual success. Finally, in the PK shootout, which returned after five years, idols seriously engaged in soccer, from proven former players to hidden new strong contenders. With fearless shots from kickers and super saves from goalkeepers, the match showcased thrilling moments that made fans, casters, and commentators stand up. RIIZE's Eunseok, Sohee, and NOWZ's Yoon appeared with world-class soccer player nicknames, showcasing their love for soccer and eliciting laughter. The results of the semi-finals and finals of the highly anticipated PK shootout will be revealed in the second part, piquing public interest. Furthermore, the preview video for the second part showcased immersive matches and unexpected idol performances across various events, raising expectations. The second part of the "2025 Chuseok Special Idol Star Championship" is scheduled to air today, the 7th, at 5:50 PM in Korea, with the broadcast time subject to change due to the KBO postseason wildcard decision.