Solar and Park So-dam go camping, Pak Se-ri hangs out with fellow sports stars – Korean reality TV shows give female stars leading roles for once

Hit Korean reality shows in recent years have mostly featured men as main cast members, but the industry is undergoing a shift as more women take leading roles

‘Previously, the viewers would look mostly for comedic elements,’ a show producer says, but now people want ‘something to which they can relate personally’

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Women are the stars of Korean TV reality shows this year, from a web series with millions of hits to Sporty Sisters (pictured), a series about sports stars including golfer Pak Se-ri doing “normal” things. Photo: Tcast

Published: 12:15pm, 25 Sep 2020Updated: 12:15pm, 25 Sep 2020

By Lee Gyu-lee

Korean television reality shows have long been a male-dominated arena. Hit series in recent years such as 2 Days & 1 Night, Infinite Challenge, and Running Man mostly, if not all, featured men as main cast members – with women mainly in supporting roles.

Beauty- and lifestyle-related shows have been the only platforms where women have had the spotlight.

However, with more television shows challenging the status quo, the industry is undergoing a shift as more women take leading roles.

MBC’s hit reality show I Live Alone launched a spin-off web series Girls’ Secret Party in July. Photo: MBC

MBC’s hit reality show I Live Alone launched a spin-off web series, Girls’ Secret Party, in July with its female cast members – comedian Park Na-rae, model Han Hye-jin, and singer Hwasa. The series has been making a buzz, hitting millions of YouTube views on its channel.

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