[Must Watch] 15 Best Korean Variety Shows with English Subtitles

September 03, 2019

The long summer vacation is bored if you have nothing to do with. The weather is extremely hot this year, so go out and hang around with friends and family is not a very wise choice. Why not choose to stay at home to enjoy the funny variety shows with the air conditioner on? Summer holidays are the best time to watch funny variety shows for relaxing. Among the numerous variety shows in South Korea, we have found the 15 best ones for you. Now, let's slide down and have a look.

CONTENTS

Part 1. Top 15 Best Korean Variety Shows You Must Watch

1. Running man

Original release: July 11, 2010 –Present

Starring: Yoo Jae-suk，Haha，Ji Suk-jin，Kim Jong-kook，Lee Kwang-soo，Song，Ji-hyo，Jeon So-min，Yang Se-chan. (Former: Lizzy, Song Joong-ki, Gary)

No. of episodes: 461 (as of July 28, 2019)

Running time: 80–95 minutes per episode

Original network: SBS

Synopsis: Running Man is featured by several regular members and different guests. According to the different themes of each episode, members as well as the guests need to complete the mission given by the producer team, and the winner will get the title or prize. Running Man enjoys a great popularity in Asia and even many western countries.

2. The Return of Superman

Original release: July 11, 2010 – Present

Starring: Lee Dong-Gook, Sam Hammington, Park Joo-ho, Moon Hee-joon, Hong, Kyung-min

No. of episodes: 288 (As of July 28, 2019)

Running time: Ep. 1–15 (85 minutes), Ep. 16–21 (95 minutes), Ep. 22–present (100 minutes)

Original network: KBS World

Synopsis: This Korean variety show presents how fathers spend their 48 hours with their children without their mothers at home. In every father's house, cameras and cameramen hide in tents and game rooms to shoot the scene. Father's family and friends will occasionally appear in different episode. During the 48 hours, some moments happen between the kids and adults are really funny and make people feel warm.

3. Idol Room

Original release: May 12, 2018 – present

Starring: Jeong Hyeong-don, Defconn

No. of episodes: 60(as of July 23, 2019)

Running time: 60 minutes

Original network: JTBC

Synopsis: The program is an indoor variety show shot with one or more idols each week. Hosts and idol will do some indoor games or question-and-answer interviews, which can show idol's personal charm. Idol Room is considered as a welfare program for fans.

4. Knowing Bros

Starring: Kang Ho-dong，Seo Jang-hoon，Kim Young-chul，Lee Soo-geun，Kim Hee-chul，Min Kyung-hoon，Lee Sang-min

No. of episodes: 190(as of July 27, 2019)

Running time: 120 minutes

Original network: JTBC

Original release: December 5, 2015 – present

Synopsis: Starting from episode 17, the program adopts the form and concept of high school, that is, the hosts play the role of students in the classroom, while the guests are new transfer students, and they do activities together. In addition to the regular question-and-guess sessions, program sometimes diversify at the end. The Knowing Bros program currently has high ratings in South Korea and is popular across multiple age groups.

5. 2 Days & 1Night

Original release: August 5, 2007 – March 10, 2019 (under indefinite hiatus)

Starring: Kim Jong-min, Defconn, Yoon Shi-yoon

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 578 (as of March 15, 2019; indefinite hiatus) (list of episodes)

Running time: Approximately 1 hours 40 minutes (100 minutes)

Original network: KBS World

Synopsis: 2 Day & 1 Night is Korea's first field survival variety show, with the purpose of "real experience of wilderness, traveling through beautiful places in Korea". Self-reliance, self-sufficiency of travel and resignation of the game is the biggest focus of the program. Through the program, the audiences can see the real story of the artists who have bright appearance and splendid life during their hard journey.

6. King of Mask Singer

Original release: February 18, 2015 (Pilot) April 5, 2015 – present

No. of episodes:

Pilot: 1

Special Live: 2

Special: 11

Regular: 213 (as of July 28, 2019)

Running time: 105 minutes

Original network: MBC

Synopsis: The program makes the competitors to sing with a mask on, making audiences focus much on their singing skill. It will select the No.1 singer through lots of competitions. The concept of the program makes the masked Song King get a good evaluation after the trial broadcast. After the first broadcast, there is a high demand for the program to be turned into a formal program.

7. New Journey to the West

Original release:

Season 1: 4 September – 2 October 2015 (webcast)

Season 1: 8–15 April 2016 (TV)

Season 2: 19 April – 14 June 2016 (webcast)

Season 2: 22 April – 17 June 2016 (TV)

Season 2.5: 5–6 January 2017 (webcast)

Season 3: 8 January – 12 March 2017

Season 4: 13 June – 22 August 2017

Season 5: 30 September – 28 October 2018

Season 6: 28 October – 2 December 2018

Production location(s):

Season 1: Xi'an (China)

Season 2: Chengdu & Lijiang (China)

Season 3: Guilin & Xiamen (China)

Season 4: Hanoi, Cat Ba, Hai Phong & Sa Pa (Vietnam)

Season 5: Hong Kong (China)

Season 6: Hokkaido (Japan) & South Korea

Starring:

Members: Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Ahn Jae-hyun, Song Mino, P.O

Former Members: Lee Seung-gi, Kyuhyun

No. of episodes:

Season 1: 2 (TV)

Season 2: 9 (TV)

Season 3: 10

Season 4: 11

Season 5 & 6: 10

Running time: 5-10 minutes each video, 5 videos every release on Friday at 10 a.m. (KST) (Season 1), 80–90 minutes per episode (Season 2-6)

Original network: TVN

Synopsis: New Journey to the West is a program focuses on the hosts travel abroad. The mode of the program is mission clearance mode. The game is set to refer to the Japanese anime "Dragon Balls". Members need to complete various tasks and collect seven Dragon Balls to summon the Dragon to realize its ultimate wish.

8. Great Escape

Original release:

Season 1: 1 July – 23 September 2018

Season 2: 17 March – 9 June 2019

Starring: Kang Ho-dong, Kim Jong-min (Koyote), Shindong (Super Junior), Yoo Byung-jae, Kim Dong-hyun, P.O (Block B)

No. of episodes: Season 1: 13, Season 2: 13

No. of seasons: 2

Running time: 60–90 minutes

Original network: TVN

Synopsis: In order to escape from the questionable and large-scale chamber, members need to make use of the hints to make their way out. Each episode is designed with a certain theme, making the story more vivid. With many funny bugs and fantastic team-work, Great Escape gets great success since its release.

9. Real Man

Original release:

Season 1: April 14, 2013 – March 8, 2015

Season 2: March 8, 2015 – November 27, 2016

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 187

Running time: 90 minutes

Original network: MBC

Synopsis: "Real Man" is a variety show of Korean MBC TV ambitions, based on 24 hours of real experience living in the army, to show the whole life of the Korean army, so that stars can deeply experience the high-intensity training and true military life.

10. Produce 101

No. of seasons: 4

Original release:

Produce 101 (season 1): January 22 – April 1, 2016

Produce 101 (season 2): April 7 – June 16, 2017

Produce 48：June 15 – August 31, 2018

Produce X 101: May 3 – July 19, 2019

No. of episodes:

Produce 101 (season 1): 11

Produce 101 (season 2): 11

Produce 48: 11

Produce X 101: 11

Running time: 80 – 240 minutes

Original network: Mnet

Synopsis: PRODUCE101 is the first competitive reality show in South Korea, which breaks the boundaries between different entertainment companies. 101 trainees from different entertainment companies in South Korea will compete together, and the top 11 people who have achieved excellent results in the national vote will form a group to carry out activities.

11. Infinite Challenge

Original release: April 23, 2005 – March 31, 2018

Starring: Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myeong-su, Jeong Jun-ha, Haha, Jo Se-ho, Yang Se-hyung

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 563 + 3 specials

Running time: 75-80 minutes

Original network: MBC

Synopsis: The program gathered six of Korea's most charismatic presenters with their own characteristics. The collision between six hosts creates countless jokes and attractions. "Infinite Challenge" program invites Korean top stars and even world-class stars to participate in the program from time to time, including artists, idols, and also some sports stars, making the program known by more people of different ages.

12. The Law of the Jungle

Original release: October 21, 2011 – present

Starring: Kim Byung

No. of episodes: 374 (as of July 27, 2019)

Running time: 80 minutes

Original network: SBS

Synopsis: Kim Byung-man's Law of the Jungle is an outdoor reality show mixed with adventure program. Kim Byung leads his partners to take risks in various places at home and abroad, totally relying on their own survival ability, showing different intensity of survival challenges! The program shows the daily life of the guests through stories and tidbits, bringing positive energy to audiences.

13. I Live Alone

Original release: March 22, 2013 – present

Starring: Kian84, Lee Si-eon, Park Na-rae, Henry Lau, Sung Hoon, Hwasa

No. of episodes: 304 (as of July 26, 2019)

Running time: 100 Minutes

Original network: MBC

Synopsis: I Live Alone shows the lifestyle of the single celebrity to the audiences, which has gained great popularity due to the relevance of the single lifestyle of various celebrities, all of which are broadcast without obvious filtering.

14. Gag Concert

Original release: September 4, 1999 – present

No. of seasons：5

No. of episodes: 1008

Running time: approx. 80 minutes per episode

Original network: KBS

Synopsis: Gag Concert, deduced by Korean famous funny artists, has set a fixed popularity segment in each episode, in which popular stars are invited from time to time to show their personal skills inside each episode. This allows the audiences to discover the hidden charm of the artists.

15. Show Me the Money

Original release: 2012 – 2019

No. of seasons: 8

Running time: 100 Minutes

Original network: Mnet

Synopsis: Show Me the Money is an obsolete program to discover powerful Hip-hop singers from a group of competitors. The program has attracted much attention because it is regarded as a rap version of "I am a singer". It's not just the competition for the strongest rap players, but also a good platform for rap lovers to show their ability. It's not only fun to listen to music, but also interesting to watch. If you like rap or hip hop culture, you should not miss this program.

Are there any program you like above? If you can't judge from the introduction, and still want to know more about them, you can find the program on Internet for enjoying. But if you don't know where to enjoy them yet, you can try the websites we recommend below.

Part 2. Where to Stream and Watch Korean Variety Shows with English Subtitles?

1.YouTube

From our most familiar and popular video website - YouTube, you can almost find these Korean variety shows videos through entering their keywords. Some programs also have their own channels, so you can subscribe to and catch up the updates each week.

2. VidPaw

The second recommendation platform is VidPaw, which is similar to YouTube, in which you can simply searched the Korean variety shows by keywords. Besides, the most convenient point of VidPaw is that it allows us to download Korean variety shows videos for offline playback, so we can enjoy the program at anytime we like.

3. Netflix

You may use Netflix to watch more American TV series. Actually, Netflix has more resources than we can imagine. It has a lot of TV series or variety shows made by itself, also, many popular Korean variety shows.

4. DramaFever

DramaFever is one of the most popular websites for watching Korean as well as other Asian movies and TV shows online. Also, the platform offers on-demand streaming video of documentaries, movies, and TV shows with subtitles.

5. Hulu

Hulu has become one of the largest video websites in the world, which can also our way to watch Korean variety shows online. Hulu's design is concise and elegant, and the user experience is excellent.

There are totally 15 best Korean variety shows and 5 popular video websites introduced to you, you can pick up one website that you think is the most convenient one to use for streaming the Korean variety show you like freely online. Now just open one video website and enjoy your favorite Korean variety show. Have a good time!

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