Your Summer Watch List Just Got Better — 8 Korean Variety Shows Currently Airing on Viki That Are Absolutely Worth Your Time

If you think Korean variety television is just game shows and celebrity panel banter, this list is going to change your perspective entirely. From heartwarming baking in a rural village…

May 29, 2026
5 min read

If you think Korean variety television is just game shows and celebrity panel banter, this list is going to change your perspective entirely. From heartwarming baking in a rural village to the first-ever directorial survival show in K-entertainment history, Viki’s current variety lineup is genuinely one of the most diverse and interesting it’s ever been. Here’s everything currently on air — and why each one deserves a spot in your queue.

8 Korean Variety Shows on Viki — At a Glance

ShowFormatKey CastVibe
Unplanned Trip: Limited EditionUnscripted TravelPark Seo Joon, Jung Yu Mi, Choi Woo ShikSpontaneous, heartwarming
Bonjour BakeryHealing Baking ShowKim Hee Ae, Kim Seon Ho, Cha Seung WonSlow, cosy, beautiful
KumustaCross-Cultural CulinaryJi Chang Wook + Filipino celebritiesFood, culture, K-Hallyu energy
Heart Signal 5Dating RealityCelebrity prediction panelRomantic tension, guessing games
Director’s ArenaDirectorial SurvivalLee Byeong Heon, Cha Tae Hyun, Jang Keun SukHigh-stakes creative competition
Running ManMission/Game ShowYu Jae Seok, Kim Jong Kook, Song Ji Hyo + castHigh-energy, laugh-out-loud chaos
The Return of SupermanCelebrity ParentingFamous dads + young childrenSweet, funny, surprisingly moving
I Live AloneCelebrity LifestyleJun Hyun Moo, Kian84 + rotating guestsRelatable, intimate, genuine

1. Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition

Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition follows Park Seo Joon, Jung Yu Mi, and Choi Woo Shik as they travel across South Korea without knowing where they will go, where they will sleep, or how they will get there — a new version of the long-running Youth Over Flowers travel series. Three beloved stars, zero itinerary, infinite potential. This one is already generating major buzz purely from its cast chemistry alone.

Korean

2. Bonjour Bakery

Set in a peaceful rural village, Bonjour Bakery is a healing baking variety show centred on Korea’s first senior French dessert café, where pastries are crafted using local ingredients, starring Kim Hee Ae, Cha Seung Won, Kim Seon Ho, and Lee Ki Taek. Think of it as the antidote to fast-paced drama — slow, sensory, and genuinely soothing.

3. Kumusta

Kumusta is a cross-cultural culinary collaboration led by chef JP Anglo, where Filipino celebrities Jodi Sta. Maria, Francine Diaz, Janella Salvador, and Arci Muñoz partner with South Korean actor Ji Chang Wook to develop a Filipino pop-up restaurant in Gangnam. A Korean star, Filipino culture, and food as the universal language — this is exactly the kind of cross-cultural content the world needs more of.

4. Heart Signal 5

Heart Signal is a hit dating show where singles look for love while living together, and a celebrity panel attempts to deduce which connections will form into couples. Season 5’s prediction panel includes original members Yoon Jong Shin, Lee Sang Min, and Kim Eana, joined by new members Roy Kim and Billlie’s Tsuki. The show that made guessing other people’s love lives a national sport is back, and somehow still completely addictive.

5. Director’s Arena

Korea’s first-ever directorial survival show, Director’s Arena, mentors a new generation of filmmakers under film director Lee Byeong Heon, actors Cha Tae Hyun and Jang Keun Suk, and comedian Jang Do Yeon — where contestants must capture the audience’s attention within two minutes or risk elimination. Two minutes to make an impression. No safety net. Genuinely thrilling television about making television.

6. Running Man

Running Man sees Yu Jae Seok, Ji Suk Jin, Kim Jong Kook, Haha, Song Ji Hyo, Yang Se Chan, and Ji Ye Eun embark on outrageous missions and hilarious games across Korea and beyond, delivering unpredictable twists and turns from elaborate tag sequences to mind-bending puzzles. After 15+ years, this show still hasn’t lost a single step. The gold standard of Korean variety.

7. The Return of Superman

The Return of Superman sees celebrity fathers take on the challenge of caring for their young children for 48 hours entirely on their own, offering an intimate look into the daily lives and unique parenting styles of famous dads as they navigate everything from mealtime chaos to imaginative play. Celebrity dads, tiny children, complete chaos. Guaranteed to make you smile.

8. I Live Alone

I Live Alone offers an intimate glimpse into the daily routines of South Korea’s most beloved single celebrities — from the mundane to the extraordinary — hosted by Jun Hyun Moo, Kian84, and a rotating cast of celebrity guests. The show that makes being single look both deeply relatable and completely enviable depending on the episode.

For more K-entertainment news and recommendations, visit TechnoSports.

FAQs

Q: Where can I watch Korean variety shows in 2026?

All eight variety shows listed here — including Running Man, Heart Signal 5, Bonjour Bakery, and Director’s Arena — are currently streaming on Viki with new episodes added regularly.

Q: What is the best new Korean variety show in 2026?

Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition, Bonjour Bakery, and Director’s Arena are among the freshest new variety offerings this year, each bringing something completely different — travel, baking, and filmmaking survival respectively — to Viki’s lineup.

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