Korean Shows of the 2020s
EditorialSteffen20 titles08/24/2026
Korean entertainment in the 2020s spans TV, streaming, and YouTube: Netflix brought formats like "Single’s Inferno," "The Devil’s Plan," and "Culinary Class Wars" to global audiences, alongside dating shows, music talk shows, and game shows featuring Yoo Jae-suk. This list covers 2020 to 2026 and …
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Single's Inferno솔로지옥
What it's aboutSingles land on a deserted island where they have to fend for themselves. Those who become a couple get to spend the night on the luxurious “Paradise Island”; everyone else stays behind in “Hell.” Beach couple games offer dates, better food, and a chance to get closer to the person they like.
Why it's on this listOn Netflix since December 2021, it was the first Korean reality show to make Netflix’s global Top 10.
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AI토피아
What it's aboutEach episode asks how artificial intelligence is changing daily life—in composing music, cooking, fandom, love, or as a digital household assistant. Science YouTuber Orbit (Gwedo) hosts and talks with different experts. In episode 18, former Go champion Lee Sedol talked about his match against AlphaGo. The show launched on KBS Life in August 2025.
Why it's on this listSince 2025, KBS Life’s discussion panel has explored how artificial intelligence is changing music, fan culture, and everyday life in Korea.
- 3
His Man남의연애
What it's aboutKorea’s first dating show where men date men: The participants move into the “Man’s House” to figure out whose heart they’re drawn to. Viewers see flirting, doubts, and plenty of courage in front of the cameras. Each new episode has topped Wavve’s rankings, and the show is now in its fourth season.
Why it's on this listLaunched on Wavve in 2022, it was Korea’s first dating show where men date men; it now has four seasons.
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I am Solo, Love Forever나는 SOLO, 그 후 사랑은 계속된다
What it's aboutThe follow-up to “I Am Solo”: Former participants get another chance to meet outside “Solo Land,” including across different seasons. At “Solo Pension,” singles from different seasons meet for new blind dates. As in the original, Defconn provides commentary in the studio.
Why it's on this listThe spin-off launched in 2022, bringing singles from different seasons of “I Am Solo” together again at the “Solo Pension.”
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My Sibling's Romance연애남매
What it's aboutReal-life siblings search for love together but don’t tell anyone who’s related to whom. They act like strangers, then secretly help each other at crucial moments while the others try to figure out who’s family. The show comes from the team behind “EXchange” and is directed by Lee Jin-joo. Han Hye-jin and Code Kunst are among the studio panelists.
Why it's on this listOn JTBC in 2024: real-life siblings search for love together while keeping their family ties secret.
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I Am Solo나는 SOLO
What it's aboutSix women and six men who are serious about getting married live together in “Solo Land.” There’s no glamour here; it’s about honest conversations, uncertainty, and figuring out who’s right for whom. The show describes itself as “hyperrealistic” and has featured new casts every year since 2021. Defconn provides commentary from the studio.
Why it's on this listSince 2021, the show has sent singles looking for marriage to “Solo Land,” one season at a time and without any glamour.
- 7
Earth Arcade뿅뿅 지구오락실
What it's aboutThe moon rabbit Torong has escaped from the Jade Emperor’s moon restaurant, and four women are tasked with bringing him back: comedian Lee Eun-ji, Oh My Girl’s Mimi, rapper Lee Young-ji, and IVE’s An Yu-jin. To do so, they must take on the games and missions of producer Na Young-seok in Thailand. Lee Eun-ji won the 2023 Baeksang Award for Best Entertainer for the show.
Why it's on this listLaunched on tvN in 2022: four women chase a runaway moon rabbit through Thailand on behalf of the Jade Emperor.
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Story of the Day When You Bite Your Tail꼬리에 꼬리를 무는 그날 이야기
What it's aboutThree storytellers with the surname Jang dig into a real event from recent Korean history, often a crime. Then each tells the story one-on-one to someone they know, step by step, like friends talking. The original hosts were Jang Do-yeon, Jang Sung-kyu, and director Jang Hang-jun; actor Jang Hyun-sung joined in 2021.
Why it's on this listSince 2020, the SBS show has recounted true-crime cases and events from Korea’s recent history through intimate conversations.
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The Zone: Survival Mission더 존: 버텨야 산다
What it's aboutYoo Jae-suk, Lee Kwang-soo, and Girls’ Generation’s Kwon Yu-ri are sent into simulated disasters—from climate crises to zombie outbreaks—as “agents of humanity.” The rule: They must endure each zone for four hours; escape isn’t the goal. An AI voice explains the situation, while traps and temptations await everywhere. The show was produced by Cho Hyo-jin, who often works with Yoo Jae-suk.
Why it's on this listOn Disney+ in 2022: Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Kwang-soo, and Yuri have to survive simulated disasters for four hours at a time.
- 10
The Love Lab연애실험실
What it's aboutStrangers are placed in unusual experimental setups: One blind date begins right in bed, while another group is completely cut off from the outside world. The show observes how these conditions affect attraction and trust. Directed by Lee Jin-joo (“EXchange”), with Jooheon (MONSTA X) and YouTuber Charles Entertainment on the studio panel.
Why it's on this listOn Netflix in 2026: strangers find themselves in unusual experiments, including a blind date that starts right in bed.
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The Seasons더 시즌즈
What it's aboutLate Friday nights on KBS2, musicians perform live and talk about their songs. The distinctive feature is the changing host: Each season has its own host and title, from “Jay Park’s Drive” to AKMU, Lee Hyori, and Zico, followed by Park Bo-gum, the first actor in the role. The show succeeded “You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” in 2023.
Why it's on this listSince 2023, KBS2’s music talk show has regularly changed hosts, from Jay Park to Lee Hyori to Park Bo-gum.
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EXchange환승연애
What it's aboutFive former couples who broke up for very different reasons move into a house together. Between old memories and new encounters, they all face the same question: get back with an ex or start over with someone new? The show focuses on genuine feelings rather than games. Directed by Lee Jin-joo.
Why it's on this listLaunched on TVING in 2021: five former couples move into a house together and have to decide between getting back with an ex or starting over.
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Culinary Class Wars흑백요리사: 요리 계급 전쟁
What it's aboutOne hundred chefs, two classes: 20 established chefs compete as “White Spoons” under their real names, while 80 unknown challengers enter as “Black Spoons” using only nicknames. Restaurateur Paik Jong-won and three-Michelin-star chef Anh Sung-jae judge the dishes, and 300 million won is at stake. In 2025, the show became the first variety program to win the Baeksang Grand Prize in the television category.
Why it's on this listThe 2024 cooking show became the first entertainment program ever to win the Baeksang Grand Prize in television.
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The Devil's Plan데블스 플랜
What it's aboutTwelve people move into an isolated studio complex for a week, including actor Ha Seok-jin, Seventeen’s Boo Seung-kwan, a professional Go player, two poker players, and a lawyer. Twice a day, they compete in strategy and logic games for game tokens; the two with the fewest tokens spend the night in jail. The prize pool can reach 500 million won. Produced by Jung Jong-yeon (“The Genius”).
Why it's on this listThe 2023 Netflix strategy game show comes from the creator of “The Genius”: twelve people, one week, strategy over strength.
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TO DO X TXT
What it's aboutTomorrow X Together’s own variety show: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai show what they’re like offstage and compete solo or in teams in games, quizzes, and themed challenges. The first episode went online in January 2020 and is available on V Live, Weverse, and YouTube. The show now has more than 170 episodes.
Why it's on this listSince January 2020, the web show has followed Tomorrow X Together as the band plays games and takes on challenges offstage.
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Better Late Than Single모태솔로지만 연애는 하고 싶어
What it's aboutWomen and men in their twenties and thirties who have never been in a relationship take a chance on their first one. First, they get makeovers and encouragement from the “Some Makers”: Seo In-guk, Kang Han-na, Lee Eun-ji, and Car, the garden. The show calls itself a makeover dating show and made it into Netflix’s global top 10.
Why it's on this listOn Netflix in 2025: people who have never been in a relationship get makeovers and venture out on their very first dates.
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Battle of Fates운명전쟁49
What it's aboutForty-nine fortune-tellers from across Korea—including shamans, tarot readers, Saju astrologers, and face readers—compete against one another. In a series of challenges, they must prove their readings about money, love, careers, and health are accurate. They shake bells, toss coins, and examine hands under a magnifying glass. Jun Hyun-moo, Park Na-rae, Park Ha-sun, and Shindong are among those watching from the studio.
Why it's on this listOn Disney+ in 2026: 49 shamans, tarot readers, and face readers take on missions to prove whether their predictions are really accurate.
- 18
My Secretary비서진
What it's aboutThis talk show doesn’t take place in a studio; it hits the road. Actors Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu become a star’s manager for a day, accompanying them through their entire schedule. As the Korean title suggests, their management style is more gruff than gracious. Unscripted conversations happen between appointments. Comedian Lee Su-ji kicked things off in October 2025.
Why it's on this listOn SBS since 2025: Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu act as grumpy day managers, accompanying celebrities through their workdays.
- 19
Kumusta
What it's aboutA Filipino pop-up restaurant called “Kumusta Café” opens in Seoul’s Gangnam district for one week. Filipino actresses Jodi Sta. Maria, Janella Salvador, Francine Diaz, and Arci Muñoz run it with Ji Chang-wook, while chef JP Anglo leads the kitchen. Korean guests are served inasal, kare-kare, sisig, and lechon. The show was filmed by a Korean production team.
Why it's on this listA Korean production team has Filipino celebrities and Ji Chang-wook run a restaurant in Seoul in 2026.
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Whenever Possible틈만나면,
What it's aboutMany people spend their spare moments on their phones, and Yoo Jae-suk and actor Yoo Yeon-seok meet them right there. They visit ordinary people during their short breaks, listen to their stories, and play little games with them to bring a bit of luck into everyday life. Celebrity guests join each episode. Produced by Choi Bo-pil.
Why it's on this listLaunched on SBS in 2024: Yoo Jae-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok visit people during their short breaks and play games with them.
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