From left to proper: Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Dong-hwi, Cha Eun-woo, and Lee Je-hoon for ‘Rented in Finland.’ Picture: TVN, courtesy of Viki.
Korean actuality exhibits are simply as chaotic, charming, and addictive because the music, drama, and cinema. These exhibits are excessive on leisure, creativity, and manufacturing requirements, that includes a spread of codecs—from survival challenges to culinary battles, romance rivalries, and quirky journey adventures. Whether or not you’re simply surfacing from a Love Island binge or are nonetheless emotionally tangled in Queer Eye, these six Korean actuality exhibits convey an entire new taste to the style.
Single’s Inferno (2021 – Current)
Relationship drama is already actuality TV’s kryptonite, however Single’s Inferno takes it one step additional. Singles from all walks of life are dropped onto an island stripped of all luxuries, aptly named “Inferno”. They tackle challenges like impediment programs and tug-of-war contests, designed to check each bodily power and compatibility, all for an opportunity to spend an evening on Paradise—a second island full of creature comforts. The present packs the warmth of a survival present with the gradual burn of romance, all beneath the watchful eyes of movie star hosts like Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, and Kyuhyun (of Super Junior), whose witty, usually chopping commentary amps up the present’s candid confessions and steamy rigidity. Now 4 seasons in, Single’s Inferno has constantly damaged into Netflix’s International High 10 Non-English Sequence checklist. And with Season 5 on the horizon (anticipated to launch later this yr), the producers promise “new excitement and romance.”
Jinny’s Kitchen (2023)
Within the streets of Mexico’s Bacalar and Iceland’s Reykjavík, Korean A-listers Lee Website positioning-jin, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Jung Yu-mi, BTS’s V (in season 1), and Go Min-si (in season 2) commerce crimson carpets for chef hats and aprons in Jinny’s Kitchen. You probably have a factor for meals actuality exhibits, then the present is a must-watch. Its a spin-off of Youn’s Kitchen, the place Lee Website positioning-jin graduates from supervisor to restaurant proprietor, serving up steaming scorching Korean road meals to the locals. Because the solid navigates the ups and downs of operating the eatery, they put together signature dishes like tteokbokki, kimbap, and bibimbap, all whereas juggling job roles within the kitchen. With every season bringing a brand new nation and culinary challenges, Jinny’s Kitchen turns into a tasty exploration of human connection, as these beloved actors work tirelessly to fulfill their clients’ appetites. It’s additionally additional proof that good meals can bridge even probably the most unfamiliar of cultures.
Bodily 100 (2023 – Current)
In a setup harking back to Squid Game (minus the deadly penalties), 100 bodily match contestants go face to face in a battle of bodily and psychological endurance that pushes them to the breaking level. The individuals are eradicated one after the other, leaving solely the final one standing to assert the grand prize. This thrilling collection strips away all facades, laying naked the uncooked nature of its contestants. The collection grew to become the trailblazing Korean actuality TV present to turn out to be Netflix’s International High 10 TV Non-English collection, and its second season additional solidified its international enchantment, rating within the High 10 in a formidable 87 nations. A third season is deliberate for launch between September and December this yr.
Culinary Class Wars (2024 – current)
Contained in the high-stakes kitchen of Culinary Class Wars, 100 culinary masters face off in an all-time battle for kitchen supremacy. Contestants are divided into two rival camps: the seasoned veterans, dubbed the “white spoons,” and the hungry newcomers, referred to as the “black spoons.” It’s a gruelling showdown of style, approach, creativity, and aptitude, judged by two of Korea’s most completed cooks: Paik Jong-won and Ahn Sung-jae. With a second season already within the works and slated for a launch this yr, the warmth is on to see who will win the battle this time.
Rented in Finland (2024 – 2025)
In Finland’s picturesque Lapland, well-liked Korean actors—Lee Je-hoon, Lee Dong-hwi, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Cha Eun-woo—embark on a journey of discovery, leaving their luxurious lives far behind. They commerce of their creature comforts to spend two nights every in distant cottages, immersing themselves within the Finnish lifestyle, and searching for out the secrets and techniques to nation’s happiness. They need to faucet into a less complicated existence, studying survival methods like campfire cooking and pure water sourcing. Within the course of, they join with locals and take in the tradition. What unfolds is a real check of survival fueled by laughter, heat, and insights, and a stupendous present that highlights the enjoyment of human connections in a faraway, unknown land.
Kian’s Weird B&B (2025)
Kian’s B&B is a one-of-a-kind keep, tucked away on Ulleungdo Island, the place all issues extraordinary come collectively in a unusual actuality sport present setup. The brainchild of Kian84, the present options particular co-hosts Jin from BTS and Ji Ye-eun, as they welcome company to their secret island getaway. Surrounded by the open sea, the present is full of hilarious mishaps and loopy challenges. Its awkward attraction and sometimes cringe-worthy moments make it uncomfortably endearing in one of the simplest ways. In accordance with Netflix, the present “ranked sixth globally within the non-English TV collection class on Netflix’s TOP 10 checklist, introducing the attraction of Korean-style B&B actuality exhibits to audiences worldwide.”