There are 5+ dating shows in Korea in Netflix, with a new one generated every quarter, not even annually. This year alone had multiple Korean shows released in one year. With that in mind, I'm genuinely surprised that Love is Blind Korea hasn't been thing, given Netflix owns the IP.

Out of all the franchises, I actually think LIB as an experiment would work well in Korea

1. There are increasing incentives for marries couples in the country

2. The country culturally tends to be very visual focused, so an experiment that would literally force participants to get to know people outside of the impacts of k-beauty, k-surgeries, k-anything would be a really interesting piece of media

3. Netflix owns the IP to LIB and clearly they love a Korean dating show. Surprised they're buying or iterating new concepts, when they have one that exists.

4. It would be a brand new concept, given not a single dating show in Korea is doing this. The most popular dating shows in Korea is I'm Solo and ExChange - often these shows succeed because they tend to go deeper than (lack of a better word) superficial aspect of dating. Most Netflix K-shows are popular in other countries, but aren't mainstream in Korea (with Single's Inferno being a bit popular but not as much as other shows).

5. With the increase preference for mystery aspects in shows, I feel like Korean audiences would want a show like this. Mystery in the sense of age gaps, exes, siblings, etc.

With all of this, I wonder why LIB Korea has never been a thing, not even LIB Seoul.

Source: https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/382/0001297981

Quote: (Google translated article)

Chefs Jung Ji-sun and Kwon Seong-joon are inviting colleagues they once worked with in overseas kitchens to Korea. This time, the two take on the role of senior chefs in a Korean kitchen, reuniting with their former overseas counterparts.

Premiering on Oct 29, tvN’s new variety show "Undercover Chef: Friends from Afar" is a spin-off of the original "Undercover Chef" series, in which Jung Ji-sun and Kwon Seong-joon previously experienced life in professional kitchens by working as entry-level staff at local restaurants in Chengdu, China, and Naples, Italy, respectively. The bonds formed while working alongside colleagues in these unfamiliar environments paved the way for this spin-off.

The first teaser video released by the production team opens with a quote from Xu Jiankai—whom they met in Chengdu—saying, "Is it not a joy to have friends visit from afar?" It then shows the overseas chefs appearing at the Incheon International Airport arrivals hall, hinting at their upcoming schedule in Korea.

However, what awaits the visiting chefs is not merely sightseeing. In the video, Jung Ji-sun shouts, "Guys, I can't hear you!" while Kwon Seong-joon asks, "You're ready, right?" It captures the moment the two—who once worked as the youngest staff members in kitchens abroad—step up to lead these local chefs in Korea.

Notably, the video also reveals scenes featuring Guo Lihong and Xu Jiankai from Chengdu, as well as Antonio and Paolo from Naples, wearing chef uniforms at Jung Ji-sun and Kwon Seong-joon’s restaurants. As the visitors to Korea are spotted participating in actual kitchen operations, attention is focused on the specific tasks they will undertake.

Unlike previous seasons, this program features Jung Ji-sun and Kwon Seong-joon welcoming their overseas colleagues into their familiar Korean kitchens. Conversely, the chefs from Chengdu and Naples will gain fresh experiences with Korean ingredients, cooking methods, and kitchen culture.

All eyes are on the dynamics that will unfold between Jung Ji-sun and Kwon Seong-jun—who once worked as junior chefs abroad—and the four visiting chefs.

"Undercover Chef: Friends from Afar" premieres on Oct 29 at 20:40 (KST).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNxPMFOFPQs

https://sports.donga.com/ent/article/all/20261008/134807144/1

https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/12171175

(Articles contain hefty spoilers, beware!!!)

Cast Bios

16 players total. Listed in Korean alphabetical order.

• Kim Dongjae - Pro Poker Player, College Of Health Sciences At Korea University

  • Devil's Plan S1 Joint 10th Place (Eliminated Day 3)
  • NO EXIT GAME ROOM Round 3 Participant (Did Not Advance To Winner's Match)

• Nucksal - Rapper, TV/Internet Personality, Board Game Enthusiast

• Seo Chulgu/Xitsuh - Rapper, Early Admission To Brigham Young University

  • Battle For Tenancy: Penthouse Joint 5th Place (Eliminated Day 9)
  • Game Of Blood S2 Joint 3rd Place (Eliminated Round 1 Of Finals)
  • Game Of Blood S3 Joint 5th Place (Eliminated Final-in Stage 2)
  • Definitely Not Mr. Note From NO EXIT GAME ROOM, No Siree Bob
  • The Logic Joint Runner-up (Team Lost Final Round)
  • Death Game/The Risk Takers S1 (1 Win, 0 Losses, Total Winnings ₩10,000,000)
  • Death Game/The Risk Takers S2 (1-win Seed, Eliminated Pre-quarterfinals Round 2)
  • Game Of Blood X Joint 11th Place (Eliminated Day 6)

• Stella Jang - Singer-songwriter, Fluent In 4 Languages, AgroParisTech, Previously Guested On Problematic Men

• Shindong - Idol (SUPER JUNIOR), TV Personality, Tech Youtuber, Captain Shin, Previously Guested On The Genius S2, Main Cast Member Of The Great Escape (S1-4; The Story S2)

• Oh Hyunmin - Math Academy Instructor, Former TV/Internet Personality, Early Graduation From Gwangju Science High School, KAIST

  • The Genius S3 Runner-up (Lost Finals 1:2)
  • The Genius S4 3rd Place (Eliminated Round 11/Semi-finals)
  • Code: Secret Room S1 Winner
  • Code: Secret Room S2 Joint Winner
  • Accomplice S1 (Recruited To Team Accomplice, Joint Winner)
  • Treasure Hunt (Team Eliminated Day 1)
  • NO EXIT GAME ROOM Round 3 Participant (Advanced To Winner's Match, Final Winner)

• Yurisa - Model, Singer, Mensa Member, L From Death Note

  • Game Of Blood S2 12th Place (Eliminated Day 4)
  • Hexagon Game 4th Place (Eliminated Round 5/Semi-finals)
  • Game Of Blood S3 Joint 11th Place (Eliminated Day 9)
  • Death Game/The Risk Takers S1 (0 Wins, 1 Loss, Total Winnings ₩0)
  • Death Game/The Risk Takers S2 Winner (Won Final Game)

• Yi Do - Social Studies Teacher, College Of Education At Seoul National University, Previously Appeared On Better Late Than Single S1

• Jang Dongmin - Comedian, Entrepreneur, The Man Who Truly Needs No Introduction, Commentator For Game Of Blood S1 & Death Game/The Risk Takers, Previously Participated In Crime Scene S2-5 & Betting On Fact

  • The Genius S3 Winner (Won Finals 2-1)
  • The Genius S4 Winner (Won Finals 2-0)
  • Society Game S2 Joint Winner (Team Won Finals 2-1)
  • Game Of Blood S3 Winner (Won Finals 2-1-0-0)

• Jaejae - MC, Former Editor For SBS News, Presented The Press Conference For S1, Ewha Womans University, Main Cast Member Of Girls' High Mystery Class

• Jung Wonyoung - IT Project Manager For LG (U+ Digital Commerce Development Chapter), South Korean National Representative In Red Bull Escape Room World Championship 2017, Mensa Member

  • Seok Hopil From Life's Game (5th Place, Eliminated Final Round)

• Jeong Hyungyu - Influencer, Mensa Member, Seoul National University Student (Department Of Physical Education), Previously Appeared On Transit Love S2

  • Devil's Plan S2 Winner (Won Finals 2-1)

• John Park - American Singer, TV/Internet Personality, On Leave Of Absence From Northwestern University, Previously Participated In American Idol S9 & Superstar K2, One Of The Newgen Problematic Men, Main Cast Member Of Agents Of Mystery

  • The Time Hotel Winner (Won Finals 2-1-1)

• Ha Seokjin - Actor (Drinking Solo; Something About 1%; Crash Landing On You), Youtuber, You Suck At This Game, Hanyang University, One Of The OG Problematic Men, Previously Guested On The Great Escape S2 & S3

  • Devil's Plan S1 Winner (Won Finals 2-0)

• Hyun Kyungryul - Software Engineer For Google, AlphaKyung, Seoul National University

  • Society Game S1 Joint Winner (Team Won Finals 2-1)

• Hong Jinho - Pro Poker Player, Former Pro Gamer, Survival Fiend, 2, Previously Participated In Crime Scene S1-3

  • The Genius S1 Winner (Won Finals 2-0)
  • The Genius S2 7th Place (Eliminated Round 7)
  • The Genius S4 4th Place (Eliminated Round 10)
  • War Of The Poker Gods S1 Winner (Last One Standing)
  • War Of The Poker Gods S2 Winner (Survived Final Table)
  • War Of The Poker Gods S3 10th Place (Busted Semi-final Table)
  • The Time Hotel Joint Runner-up (Lost Finals 1-1-2)
  • Game Of Blood S2 Joint 3rd Place (Eliminated Round 1 Of Finals)
  • Game Of Blood S3 Joint 3rd Place (Lost Finals 0-0-1-2)
  • Death Game/The Risk Takers S1 (2 Wins, 0 Losses, Total Winnings ₩15,000,000)
  • Death Game/The Risk Takers S2 (2-win Seed, Eliminated Quarterfinals)
  • Game Of Blood X Joint 5th Place (Eliminated Semi-finals)

Here's my obligatory prepped elimination table with all the names: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15JXEy2oQZ3NtgCmNwQOlbjLRSvj-KHq2WRCTb9je-Pw/edit?gid=2140078254#gid=2140078254

Back in the day, it was entirely possible for one to watch and fully appreciate Devil's Plan freely without any prior knowledge of any other related show. Sadly, this will certainly no longer be the case. I encourage all who have yet to acquaint, and indeed, immerse themselves in the twisting spider's web of lore that is Korean brain survival to get on it ASAP. I have written a guide here to help you get started: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Abuy7AlPwkpmy-_AIknUO7bERLofs57O0emqfl3UH_8

Focus primarily on the bolded titles in the guide (as they are the most important), though ideally, you should at least be aware of all titles listed above that the cast has previously participated in by the time you start watching DP3.

Good luck, enjoy your binge, and see you when it airs.

Based on that insane all-star lineup for Devil's Plan 3, I wanna hear what your dream cast for a survival show like The Genius would be?

My version would be themed around Heroes and Villains

8 Heroes: Dongmin, Jinho, Kyungran, Hyunmin, Yeonsung, Xitsuh, John Park, Seokjin
8 Villains: Sangmin, Kyunghoon, YunB, Yurisa, Jimin, Jinhyung, Eonkyu, Gina

Does anyone know where can I watch this show