The Korean Variety Shows Actually Worth Catching Up On Right Now



Netflix committed to an unusually packed Korean variety slate this year, with new or returning unscripted shows landing almost every month. If you haven't kept up, here's where things actually stand.

Already aired: Single's Inferno Season 5

The dating show premiered in January with its biggest cast yet, and it's worth knowing why this franchise keeps getting renewed: the first season was the first Korean unscripted show to break into Netflix's Global Top 10, and every season since has built on that — Season 2 alone pulled over 65 million viewing hours. The returning host lineup (Hong Jin-kyung, Lee Da-hee, KYUHYUN, HANHAE, and Dex) has become as much a draw as the contestants at this point, which is unusual for a dating show format.

Already aired, earlier this year: Agents of Mystery Season 2

This one's a genre mashup — a celebrity team investigating unexplained cases, closer to a mystery game show than a traditional variety format. The returning cast (Lee Yong-jin, John Park, Lee Hyeri, Kim Do-hoon, KARINA) plus a new team member gave the second season a slightly different dynamic than the first, without abandoning the format that made it work.

Airing this quarter: Kian's Bizarre B&B Season 2

The guesthouse variety format — following Kian84 running a quirky B&B and interacting with a rotating cast of guests — was one of the more low-stakes, comfort-watch hits to break out internationally, which is part of why it's getting a second season this quarter.

Coming later this year: Devil's Plan Season 3

This is the one with the most anticipation attached, and also the most complicated history — the previous season drew some controversy, which the production team has directly acknowledged while heading into season three. If you're unfamiliar with the format: it's a Squid Game-style mental competition with real celebrities and civilians, competing for a genuinely large cash prize rather than a symbolic one. Worth starting with season one if you haven't seen any of it, since the show leans heavily on evolving alliances and strategy that build across episodes.

Where to actually start if you're new to Korean variety shows entirely

Single's Inferno is the easiest entry point — no complicated rules, no history to catch up on, and a format (dating show on an island) that translates immediately regardless of cultural context. Devil's Plan is the better choice if you want something with more strategic depth, but it rewards watching from season one rather than jumping into season three cold.

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