New reality game show 'The Zone: Survival Mission' to premiere on Disney+ on Sept. 8

Television

Published: 30 Aug. 2022, 14:31 Updated: 30 Aug. 2022, 16:50

New reality game show 'The Zone: Survival Mission' to premiere on Disney+ on Sept. 8

Poster of an upcoming game show on Disney+ "The Zone: Survival Mission" [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

A new reality game show with comedian Yoo Jae-suk will premiere in September on Disney+.

Titled “The Zone: Survival Mission,” the show stars Yoo, actor Lee Kwang-soo and singer-actor Kwon Yu-ri. The cast is given missions to escape eight scenarios at different locations called "zones" under a limited amount of time.

The show will see the three members in a new space with new challenges in each of the eight episodes.

"I got the idea for the show when I read somewhere that it isn't the strongest person who survives but whoever survives is the strongest," said the show's producer Cho Hyo-jin in a press release.

"I began to think about how humanity will persevere when faced with catastrophes in the future and decided to create a game show with this concept."

Cho has also been part of the creative team of popular reality shows starring Yoo such as SBS's "Running Man" (2010-present), KBS's "Family Outing" (2018-10) and SBS's "X-Man" (2003-07).

The series will be exclusively available on Disney +. It follows other original Korean content on the platform such as drama series "Soundtrack #1" and "Crazy Love," which were both released this year.

"As this is a Korean entertainment show that will be introduced to the world, we looked for locations that displayed Korean designs," she said. "Of the places we researched, we decided that Bugak Palgakjeong [a traditional pavilion on Bugak Mountain in Jongno District, central Seoul] should be the place where we begin the show."

"The Zone: Survival Mission" will premiere on Sept. 8.

From left, Lee Kwang-soo, Kwon Yu-ri and Yoo Jae-seuk in a teaser image of an upcoming game show on Disney+ "The Zone: Survival Mission" [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Yoo is one of the most prominent comedians in Korea. He debuted in 1991 during the KBS Comedian Festival. Yoo is best known for hosting variety programs such as "Infinite Challenge" (2005-18), SBS's "Running Man" (2010-), KBS's "Happy Together" (2011-20), and tvN's "Hangout With Yoo" (2019-).

Lee debuted on the small screen through MBC sitcom series "Here He Comes" in October 2008. His global popularity, however, stems from his 11-year long appearance as one of the main hosts on SBS variety show "Running Man" (2010-), earning him the nickname "Prince of Asia." The actor has consistently starred in small and large roles over the years, in both films and on television. He quit "Running Man" in 2021 citing health reasons. Since leaving the show he has featured in films such as "Sinkhole" (2021), "A Year-end Medley" (2021) and "The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure" (2022). TvN drama series "The Killer's Shopping List" marked his first return to the small screen in four years since "Live" (2018) on tvN.

Kwon Yu-ri debuted as part of girl group Girls’ Generation created by SM Entertainment in August 2007 through the track “Into The World.” Girls’ Generation remains one of the longest active K-pop groups, which celebrated the 15th anniversary of its debut this August with its seventh full-length album “Forever 1.” Kwon dropped her first solo EP “The First Scene” in October 2018. She first appeared on the small screen through SBS television series “Fashion King” (2012) and landed lead roles in other series such as “Gogh, The Starry Night” (2016), “Innocent Defendant” (2017) on SBS and “Bossam: Steal the Fate” (2021) on MBN.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]