4 top K-pop reality shows, from Run BTS to 24/365 with Blackpink and Twice TV – where else can we see BTS bungee jumping and Blackpink bonding over go-karting?

Jul 14 , 2021

For BTS’ Army fan club, the group’s Run BTS reality show is a must-watch. So what other K-pop idols have their own shows? Photo: Handout

Blackpink’s series was stopped last November after they were shown cosying up to a baby panda, worrying fans and prompting a statement from YG Entertainment

NCT Life follows the group’s travels from Bangkok to Osaka to Chiang Mai, while Twice TV revealed the girl’s first meal with JYP Entertainment’s CEO

K-pop entertainment companies have realised that when it comes to promoting their stars, content is king.

It’s no longer enough for idols to guest star on variety shows – many groups have started releasing their own content by starring in their own variety shows. It’s a good way to keep their fans engaged, attract new ones, and keep control of their image.

If you’re a K-pop fan, here are the idol reality shows you really can’t miss:

Run BTS

Perhaps the most popular idol variety show of all, Run BTS launched on VLive in 2015. Now, six years and 140 episodes later, we’ve seen the BTS boys do everything from get chased by “zombies”, to bungee jumping, to testing who has the sexiest lips.

The show is a hit among Army – BTS’ fan club – because it showcases each member’s personality, plus there’s plenty of goofing around and meme-worthy content to talk about on social media. As a testament to the show’s success, Korean cable channel Mnet even aired select episodes on television in 2018.

24/365 with Blackpink

Blackpink upset fans when they were seen cuddling a baby panda, but until then, backstage insights on their reality show had gone down well with fans. Photo: @blackpinkofficial/Instagram

In 2020, Blackpink released their own variety show, 24/365 with Blackpink. A one-season YouTube web series, it gave fans an inside look into the group’s lives, from their dance practices to bonding while go-karting and even behind-the-scenes clips from their music videos.

However, the show stopped abruptly in November, when leaked clips of the final episode showed the members interacting with a baby panda. Fans expressed concern about the baby panda’s safety, prompting YG Entertainment to release a statement reassuring fans that the episode was “conducted with the participation of professional veterinarians and breeders”.