Korean Variety Shows

Running Man(런닝맨)

 

 

Running Man(런닝맨) is a SBS Variety Show that was first aired on July 11, 2010. It was one of the 'Urban Action Variety' show, that was a never-before-seen new type of variety show. The guests and the members complete a mission in a landmark of South Korea to win the race. This show is know as 'National MC' Yoo Jae Suk(유재숙) 's comeback program after quitting his previous show 'Family Outing' It usually airs on Sundays in SBS at 5 PM KST(Korean Standard Time). This show rivals KBS2TV's 1 Night 2 Days(1박2일). The guests of this show are usually Singers and Actors/Actresses.

Fixed Members:

- Yoo Jae Suk(유재숙)
- Kang Gary(강개리)
- Ji Suk Jin(지숙진)
- Song Ji Hyo(송지효)
- Lee Kwang Soo(이광수)
- Kim Jong Kook(김종국)
- HaHa (하하)

1 Night 2 Days(1박2일)

 

1 Night 2 Days(1박2일) first aired on August 5 2007, is a South Korean reality-variety show that airs on KBS2TV. The show's motto is 'Real Wild Road Variety'. Its main point is to show viewers the places to visit in South Korea. This show is rivals with SBS' 'Running Man'. 

The Members:

- Lee Su Geun(이수근)
- Kim Jong Min(김종민)
- Uhm Tae Woong(움태웅)
- Yoo Hae Jin(유해진)
- Cha Tae Hyun(차태현)
- Sung Shi Kyung(성시경)
- Joo Won(주원)

I Am Fantastic Gangnam Style Baby (cr: VipBigBangUsa)

J.Y.P Entertainment (JYPNation)

J.Y.P Entertainment is one of the 'Big Three' Entertainment companies in South Korea along with S.M Entertainment and Y.G Entertainment. It was founded in 1997 by Park Jin Young(박진영). The name is derived from the CEO's initials, Jin Young Park(JYP).

Artists Under It:

- 2PM
- 2AM
- Wonder Girls
- Miss A
- JJ Project
- JOO
- Baek Ah Yeon
- 15&

Dramas:

- Dream High 1&2 (드림하이 1&2)

Y.G Entertainment (YGFamily)

Y.G Entertainment is one of the 'Big Three' Entertainment companies in South Korea along with S.M Entertainment and J.Y.P Entertainment. It is founded by Yang Hyun Suk(양현숙) in March 1996. It stands for Yang Goon, as well as the CEO's initials. Yang Hyun Suk is often called as 'Papa YG' by all the artists under it. 

Artists under it:

- 2NE1(투애니원)
- Big Bang(빅뱅)
- PSY(싸이)
- Epik High(에픽하이)
- Gummy(검미)
- Lee Hi(이하이)
- Se7en(세븐)
- Jinusean(션)

YG Entertainment Official Website

S.M Entertainment (SMTown)

 
S.M Entertainment is one of the 'Big Three Companies' along with Y.G Entertainment and J.Y.P Entertainment. It was founded by Lee Soo Man(이수만) in February 14, 1995. It used to stand for 'Soo Man' but now it stands for 'Star Museum'. It current CEO is Kim Young Min(김영민). 

Artists Under It:

- Super Junior(슈퍼주니어)
- SHINee(샤이니)
- DBSK(동방신기)
- SNSD(소녀시대)
- f(x)(에프엑스)
- EXO(엑소)
- BoA(보아)
- Kangta(강타)
- J-Min 

Movies:

- I AM: SMTOWN Live in Madison Square Garden

Dramas:

- To The Beautiful You(아름다운 그대에게)   

SM Entertainment Official Website
          

Korean Dramas

Korean Dramas are the television series that are often about love or about school.

Dream High(드림하이)

 Broadcast Station: KBS2TV

Synopsis: 

Dream High tells the story of 6 students in Kirin Arts School who came from different backgrounds but have the same dream of becoming Music Stars in the Korean Music Industry. Go Hye Mi is a student who learns about classical music but gave up this dream and entered Kirin Arts School to pay off the father's debt. However, to successfully enroll in this school, she needs to bring in 2 other students (Song Sam Dong and Jin Guk). Yoon Baek Hee, who used to be her follower or best friends, turns into her rival during the Kirin Arts School audition. The story then transforms into a love-triangle between Go Hye Mi, Jin Guk and Song Sam DOng, the one-sided love of Yoon Baek Hee towards Jin Guk and the MILKY Couple Kim Pil Suk and Jason.

Main Cast:

- Miss A's Suzy as Go Hye Mi
- 2PM's Taecyeon as Jin Guk
- Kim Soo Hyun as Song Sam Dong
- T-Ara's Eunjung as Yoon Baek Hee
- IU as Kim Pil Suk
- 2PM's Wooyoung as Jason

To The Beautiful You(아름다운 그대에게)

Broadcast Station: SBS

Synopsis:

The drama revolves around Goo Jae Hee, a Korean girl living in the United States. She first fell in love with High Jump athlete Kang Tae Joon when she saw him on TV and his words 'Miracle is another name for hardwork' had her up on her feet again so she feels as if she owes a debt to him. She then travels to South Korea and pretends to be a girl to enter Genie High School, the school Kang Tae Joon is in to help him High Jump again and repay her debt. At first. Kang Tae Joon hates her but as the story develops, he starts to have feelings for her. However, the story becomes a love triangle between Kang Tae Joon, Goo Jae Hee and Cha Eun Gyeol, a one-sided love for Tae Joon by Seol Ha Na, and another one sided love for Seol Ha Na by Ha Seung Ri. Song Jong Min, Cha Eun Gyeol's best friend, turns out to be gay and is in love with his best friend, Cha Eun Gyeol.Joo Ji Chul, Jae Hee's long time best friend from the states is also in love with Goo Jae Hee.

Main Cast:

- f(x)'s Sulli as Goo Jae Hee
- SHINee's Minho as Kang Tae Joon
- Lee Hyun Woo as Cha Eun Gyeol
- ZE:A's Kwanghee as Song Jong Min
- Kim Ji Won as Seol Ha Na
- Suh Jun Young as Ha Seung Ri
- Kang Ha Neul as Joo Ji Chul

City Hunter(시티헌터)

Broadcast Station: SBS

Synopsis:

The story takes place in Seoul 2011. It revolves around Lee Yoon Sung, a young and talented MIT-graduate who works in the nation's security, the Blue House. He seeks revenge to the four people with high social status who have been the cause of his 'father's' death together with his uncle Lee Jin Pyo. He eventually becomes the 'City Hunter'. He also met a girl named Kim Na Na, who is a bodyguard in the Blue House, and eventually fell in love with her. The prosecuter Kim Young Joo first despises Yoon Sung but eventually helps him. 

Main Cast:

- Lee Min Ho as Lee Yoon Sung
- Park Min Young as Kim Na Na
- Lee Joon Hyuk as Prosecuter Kim Young Joo
- Kim Sang Joon as Lee Jin Pyo
- Chun Ho Jin as the President

Getting to know 5 Solo Singers

BoA

BoA(보아) is a solo singer that originated from South Korea and is very famous in Asian Countries and in USA. She debuted on 25th August 2000. She has also debuted in Japan and in the United States. She is under S.M Entertainment and she is S.M's representative and the face of the company. Her official fanclub is called Jumping BoA and her official color is Pearl Yellow.

BoA Official Website

IU

IU(아이유) is a South Korean singer and actress. She is called IU because it means 'You and I' symbolizing that we can become one through music. She is often called as 'Nation's Little Sister'. She debuted as a singer on 18th September 2008. She doesn't have an official fanclub as of 2013, though it is rumored that the fanclub is called 'Uaena' Which means You and I. She doesn't have an official color either. She is under LOEN Entertainment.

IU Official Website

K.Will

K.Will(케이윌) is a South Korean ballad singer. K.Will often sings OST for various Korean Dramas and has quite a few albums of his own. He debuted as a singer on March 6th 2007 with his first album titled 'Left Heart'. He first debuted under Big Hit Entertainment but he moved to Starship Entertainment in the year 2008. K.Will doesn't have a official fanclub or color as of 2013. He is now under Starship Entertainment.

Ailee

Ailee(에일리) is a Korean-American singer who signed under the label YMC Entertainment. She first debuted as a singer on February 8th 2012 with her first single 'Heaven'. Although she is still considered a rookie, she is gaining fame from all over Asia. She has only released one mini album but has lent her voice to sing various OST. Her official fanclub is Aileeans and she has no official color. Before she debuted as a singer, she acted in KBS2TV's Drama 'Dream High 2' which is a sequel to the drama 'Dream High'.

Kim Jong Kook

Kim Jong Kook(김종국) is a South Korean Singer and Comedian. He used to be in a duo 'Turbo' before successfully continuing his career as a solo artist. He first debuted as a signer on December 6th 2001. Other than being a singer he is also cast in the SBS Variety Show 'Running Man(런닝맨)'. His official fanclub is called Papitus and even though he doesn't have an official color, his fans show support by waving boxing gloves as he is the strongest man in RunningMan.

Kim Jong Kook Official Website