Netflix and thrill: Competition heats up with 9 new variety shows this year

Netflix will release eight new Korean variety shows this year, from cooking to romance to zombie challenges.

A still from Netflix's upcoming social reality survival show ″The Influencer″ set to be released on Aug. 6 [NETFLIX]

Many have spent hours just navigating Netflix to find something to watch. Netflix Korea is attempting to put a stop to such an overwhelming experience, at least for the rest of the year, by releasing a total of nine new variety shows from next month. The addition of that size in such a short period is unprecedented, according to Netflix Korea. Catering to diverse tastes, the new offerings will include content featuring influencers, food, sports, romance and even zombies.

“Nowadays, there are incredibly diverse tastes, and everything is personalized,” Yoo Ki-hwan, director of content at Netflix Korea, said during a press event held at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Friday to unveil the upcoming shows.

Netflix has been showcasing Korean variety shows since 2018 with the first season of “Busted!” starring big names such as entertainer Yu Jae-seok, EXO’s Sehun and actor Lee Kwang-soo. But the past two years marked a period of intensified production and new ventures into Korean variety shows for the streaming giant, according to Yoo.

“While some people love dating shows, others never watch them. Meanwhile, some don’t enjoy intense competition programs,” Yoo said. “So our primary goal is to satisfy as wide a range of preferences as possible.”

A still from Netflix's upcoming social reality survival show ″The Influencer″ set to be released on Aug. 6 [NETFLIX]

The new lineup includes several survival and competition shows. The first to premiere is the social reality survival show “The Influencer,” produced by Lee Jae-seok.

Slated to debut on Aug. 6, the show features 77 influencers, including actor Jang Keun-suk, YouTubers Pani Bottle and Risabae, competing to prove their worth and determine who has the greatest influence.

“Just like Korean films, dramas and K-pop are loved globally. I thought that Korean influencers could become another significant genre,” producer Lee said, explaining the concept of the show.

Lee describes the show as a “showcase rather than a competition,” focusing on influencers attracting attention by presenting themselves rather than defeating others.

A still from Netflix Korea's first-ever cooking survival show, ″Culinary Class Wars," slated to be released in September [NETFLIX]

Another competition show is “Culinary Class Wars,” produced by Kim Hak-min.

The show is Netflix Korea’s first-ever cooking survival program and is slated to air in September with restaurateur Paik Jong-won and chef Ahn Sung-jae of three-Michelin-starred Mosu as judges.

“Culinary Class Wars” features 100 contestants from all different culinary genres, ranging from everyday diners to fine dining chefs.

“The show started off with the question of whose food would be considered more delicious if the owner of a local kimchi jjigae [kimchi stew] restaurant and a fine-dining chef were to compete," producer Kim said.

The set of Netflix's upcoming comedy show ″Comedy Revenge,″ which is to be released in October [NETFLIX]

“Comedy Revenge,” a competition to determine the funniest comedian among the 22 Korean comedians, will be released in October.

Veteran comedian Lee Kyeong-kyu stars in the show, and also participated in planning the program, according to its producer, Kwon Hae-bom.

The producer emphasized that the program will showcase high-quality jokes that aren’t cringey.

New installments of previous hit programs are also slated to be released, including “Zombieverse” (2023), “Single’s Inferno” (2021- ) and “The Devil’s Plan” (2023).

A still from Netflix's zombie variety show ″Zombieverse: New Blood″ [NETFLIX]

The 2023 zombie variety show “Zombieverse” is slated to comeback with the sequel “Zombieverse: New Blood” toward the end of the year.

The show imagines a Korea overrun by zombies, with guests completing quests to survive.

“If season one was a pilot program, season two is the main event,” said Park Jin-kyung, the producer of the show.

The sequel will feature a star-studded lineup including some who appeared in the previous season, such as entertainer Noh Hong-chul, actor Lee Si-young, “Single’s Inferno” star Dex and girl group Billlie’s Tsuki, alongside new faces like boy band BTOB’s Yook Sung-jae, Taeyeon of girl group Girls’ Generation and public servant “Chungjuman” Kim Seon-tae.

A still from Netflix's zombie variety show ″Zombieverse: New Blood″ [NETFLIX]

“During the show, viewers will witness various scenes of them being pettier than anyone else and other funny moments,” Park said.

The producer also added that the level of horror got more intense in the second season, featuring various types of zombies. “There will be muscular zombies that will throw people around and even a zombie that is over 220 centimeters (7 feet, 3 inches) tall.”

Netflix’s original dating show “Single’s Inferno” will return with its fourth season early next year to heat up the cold winter.

The franchise centers on attractive singles searching for love on a deserted island dubbed Inferno. Contestants can only escape the island as a couple. When matched, they go to a luxurious hotel, dubbed “Paradise,” for a romantic date night.

A still from the fourth sesaon of Netflix's dating show "Single's Inferno" [NETFLIX]

A still from the fourth season of Netflix's dating show "Single's Inferno" [NETFLIX]

“This season, we think that a certain couple will cause a significant sensation,” its producer Kim Jae-won said, comparing it to the previous seasons’ stars — FreeZia, Dex, and Lee Gwan-hee.

Producer Kim also revealed that this time, they went out on the streets to cast the contestants for the upcoming season, which they had never done before.

The second season of producer Jeong Jong-yeon’s “The Devil’s Plan,” a mind-game competition program, is set to be released next year as well.

A still from Netflix's mind-game competition show "The Devil's Plan Season 2" [NETFLIX]

Jeong, who was behind this year's Netflix’s mystery adventure variety show "Agents of Mystery," teased that the show will undergo a major change and add two more players from the previous 12.

“Even though the participants were celebrities, we took the bold step of conducting tests and carefully selecting them, despite it being rude,” Jeong said.

If competition, survival, and dating are not one’s preferences, there will also be shows featuring stories of passion.

A still from the Netflix variety show "A-list to Playlist," slated to be released on Aug. 30 [NETFLIX]

A documentary reality show “A-list to Playlist,” following actor Cho Jung-seok’s journey to debut as a singer, will be released on Aug. 30.

In the show, Cho will write his own songs and even perform them, according to the show’s producer Yang Jung-woo.

Rugby, a less popular sport in Korea, will be showcased in Netflix’s upcoming sports survival reality show, "Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die," which is scheduled to air in December.

Produced by Chang Si-won, who took the helm of JTBC’s popular sports TV program "A Clean Sweep" (2022- ), the Netflix show will shed light on the struggles of rugby players in their quest for victory.

A still from Netflix sports reality show "Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die" [NETFLIX]

Webtoonist Kian84 poses for his upcoming Netflix variety show "Kian's Bizarre B&B" [NETFLIX]

Netflix is also to release a variety show, “Kian’s Bizarre B&B,” produced by Jung Hyo-min, revolving around a guesthouse for young people on Ulleung Island, an island 120 kilometers (75 miles) off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, operated by webtoonist Kian84.

Netflix’s director Yoo hopes that at least one of the nine various programs slated for release will resonate with viewers' preferences, as they cover a diverse range of genres.

“Even if a particular show wasn’t to one’s taste, we’re working to ensure that future programs might be,” Yoo said.

The producers of Netflix's upcoming variety shows and Neflix's director pose for a photo for a press event held at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Friday to unveil the service's upcoming variety shows. First row from left: producers Kim Jae-won, Kwon Hae-bom, Jeong Jong-yeon, Lee Jae-seok; back row from left: producers Yang Jung-woo, Kim Hak-min, Jung Hyo-min, Park Jin-kyung and Netflix's director of content Yoo Ki-hwan [NETFLIX]

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]