Best Ways to See More of Your Favorite K-Pop Idols
Can't get enough K-Pop? Check out these shows.
Most K-Pop stars have carefully curated social media to give fans glimpses into their personal lives, but for some fans those little glimpses will never be enough.
Luckily, you don't need to resort to desperate measures to feel a little closer to your favorite idols. Korean entertainment is a world of endless crossovers, so you can get your fix of idol goodness in a few different ways.
Variety Shows
As anyone who's seen Jack Black's appearance on Infinite Challenge can tell you, Korean variety shows are crazy. We don't really have an equivalent in the U.S., but if you imagine a group of celebrities spending a whole day doing wacky Ellen/Jimmy Fallon games, you should get the idea. While Infinite Challenge is no longer running, it aired from 2005-2018 and regularly featured K-pop idols, along with actors, comedians, and athletes. With that many seasons, they've had a huge number of K-pop guests participating in the craziness, like T.O.P from Big Bang doing a ridiculous dance battle.
A similar show that's still airing is called Running Man, where you get to see members of BTS getting piggyback rides. The show also regularly features members of Bigbang, Blackpink, 2PM, CNBlue, and Miss A. With all the crazy antics that go on in these shows, you get to see more of the silly side of your favorite idols. Another variety show, Village Survival The Eight, has featured Jennie from Blackpink working with other celebrities to solve a fictional mystery. Along with the clips on YouTube, full episodes of these shows can be viewed for free on Rakuten Viki.
▲Reality Shows
Korean reality shows range from the same kind of silliness as the game shows to fairly straightforward slice of life shows. By following the same group of celebrities for extended periods, you get to see both their fun sides and their more serious moods as they work together to meet challenges and get to know each other.
Among the most straightforward of the reality shows is The Return of Superman, which follows celebrity fathers as they take charge of their children for weekend adventures and bonding. Tablo from Epik High was featured with his daughter Haru for years, and a more recent addition to the show is Moon Hee-Joon, former leader of H.O.T., with his tiny, adorable daughter, Jam Jam. It's a treat to see these men being so sweet with their loving daughters as they grow up…and it's hilarious to watch Jam Jam matter-of-factly telling her father that he's fat. The celebrity fathers and their children also regularly meet with other celebrities, as when G-Dragon came to meet one of his biggest fans.
Other reality shows have featured members of BTS and Exo surviving in nature, Henry Lau from Super Junior doing Korean military training, and much more.
▲Talk Shows/Interviews
While people are usually on their best behavior during interviews, there are some shows that specialize in giving some real insight into their interviewees. Ask Us Anything is one of those shows, and their recent episode (which will be free to view on Viki in two days) featuring the members of Seventeen is sure to entertain. A less conventional source for interviews is the YouTube channel Korean Englishman, which features celebrity interviews, mukbang, and Korean lessons. The hosts, Josh and Ollie, are real-life best friends and are almost always hilarious, which often leads celebrities to be much more open with them than other hosts. One episode featured Henry Lau, former member of Super Junior (and recent star of A Dog's Journey) eating with them on the banks of the Han River and showing his weird side.
Dramas and Movies
While taking on roles in K-dramas and movies is not going to give fans as much of a personal look into idols' lives and personalities, it's still interesting to see them showing off their acting talents, and you may just get sucked into the story. A personal favorite of mine is Hotel del Luna, a supernatural drama starring singer IU and featuring a guest appearance of IU's late friend Sulli, from f(x) (who can also be seen in a number of other dramas). Other K-pop idols/actors are too numerous to mention, but you can find lists of their work if you want to see more.
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