MANILA, Philippines—Reality and variety shows are among the most popular forms of entertainment in Korea, and with Netflix’s expanding unscripted selection, we’re seeing global audiences and K-Content lovers discover these distinctive and wildly original programs.
This year, Netflix will release at least eight Korean unscripted titles, double that of last year. The commitment to produce and create puts Netflix at the forefront of sharing unscripted Korean shows with audiences around the world.
Here’s the lineup which includes a rich variety of themes such as dating, physical endurance, mind games and zombies, and members will be able to enjoy a new unscripted show either monthly or bimonthly.
New rules, new setting, new ‘Inferno’
To start off, we’re bringing back hot dating reality show Single’s Inferno for a third season, with changes in rules and location to further spice up the romantic roulettes.
When we received the proposal for Single’s Inferno at the end of 2020, there weren’t many dating programs in Korea. We set out to close the gap locally and ended up winning fans globally. The first season became the first Korean unscripted show to debut on the Global Top 10 Non-English TV list. Following suit this year, Season 2 featured in the Global Top 10 for four weeks, and pulled in even higher viewing hours.
One of the unique characteristics of our unscripted shows is that, unlike TV broadcasters that air an episode each week, the production of our entire season is complete before the drop. This enables us to deliver higher quality and provide localized subtitles, as well as dubbing in some countries, so that viewers in over 190 countries can enjoy the show at the same time.
Fresh spin on the familiar
Dating and survival reality TV shows are well-loved formats around the world, and we have put our own inimitable stamp on them. For a new take on young love, Nineteen to Twenty is a never-before-seen style of reality show that will evoke romantic memories of your youth.
The extremely grueling “Physical: 100” is currently #2 in our Global Top 10 Non-English TV series, and is featured in the Top 10 in 62 countries worldwide. We are just two weeks from finding out the winner.
Image courtesy Netflix
“Physical 101” is an extreme survival entertainment program designed to find the best physique with the strongest physical capabilities. The vast filming site designed solely for Physical: 100 sets the stage for an intense competition among 100 men and women who pride themselves on their physiques, regardless of age or sex, to determine the one person with the “perfect physique.” Physical: 100 is currently one of our most-watched Non-English TV shows globally, and came in 7th in the ‘Netflix Global Top 10 TV (Non-English)’ list in its first week after launch.
Following that, we’ll have “Siren: Survive the Island,” where teams of Korea’s fittest women with different backgrounds (occupation) fight to survive on an uninhabited island.
Image courtesy Netflix
“Siren: Survive the Island” is a combat survival entertainment show where 24 women of top combat power and strategic thinking form 6 teams divided by career groups and fight one another. Entitled “Siren,” which means both “warning sound” and “beautiful temptress,” this show involves women with extraordinary physical capabilities and skills for strategies including police officers, firefighters, bodyguards, stuntwomen, military women, and athletes who form teams according to their jobs. One team will emerge as the winner after a mission that puts their limitations to the test. For 6 nights and 7 days, their fight for survival on an unknown island requires aggressive mind games and tight teamwork. The extreme situations, vast scale of the location and unexpected twists will add to the immersive nature of the show.
Because of our commitment to preserve the creator’s vision, we have had the opportunity to work with some of Korea’s top unscripted showrunners and creatives. Jeong Jong-yeon, who pioneered Korea’s survival shows based on mind games, is the mastermind behind our upcoming series “The Devil’s Plan.”
Image courtesy Netflix
Devil’s Plan is a mind game survival entertainment show that awards up to 500 million Korean won to the winner. Participants including celebrities and influencers and recruits of this game begin with the devil’s suggestion to take off their social masks and reveal one’s true identity.
The show is directed by maestro of mystery and genre entertainment producer Jeong Jong-yeon with past works such as Great Escape known for its vast filming set and seamless storyline through every season; The Genius which has unexpectable development and plot twists in every episode; and High School Mystery Club with its immersive storytelling and unparalleled chemistry among participants. As many fans have awaited his collaboration with Netflix, all eyes are on what Devil’s Plan has in store for them.
And since Korea is famous for our zombies, we decided to take the genre to the next level with “Zombieverse,” where contestants are fighting for survival as Seoul comes under a zombie attack. To make the set more realistic, we involved the art team from All of Us Are Dead while the zombies were trained by the choreographers of Kingdom.
Image courtesy Netflix
Netflix is also launching our first unscripted mid-form show. With a short running time of half an hour, as well as an incredibly short production time of three months, we will be able to present timely and relevant topics to our members.
Netflix is committed to creating must-watch entertainment for a variety of audiences in Korea and around the world, and we’re thrilled to see our growing lineup of unscripted titles find new fans everywhere.