Problematic Men
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Problematic Men (poster).jpg
| caption = Promotional poster
| alt_name = The Brainiacs
| genre = Talkshow
Variety
| writer =
| director =
| presenter =
| starring = See below
| theme_music_composer =
| open_theme =
| end_theme =
| composer =
| country = South Korea
| language = Korean
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 224
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| producer =
| location = South Korea
| cinematography =
| editor =
| camera =
| runtime = 75 minutes
| company = tvN
| network = tvN
| first_aired = {{Start date|2015|02|26}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2020|02|13}}
| related =
}}
Problematic Men ({{ko-hhrm|문제적남자}}) was a South Korean television program that aired on tvN.{{cite web|last=Ghim|first=Sora|title=The Problematic Men Show Their Real Selves|url=http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=18475|website=BNTNews|access-date=2015-04-07|date=25 February 2015|archive-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509143937/http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=18475|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Lim|first1=Jeong-yeo|title=Men with brains gain popularity in Korea|url=http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201503311617529393153_2|website=K-pop Herald|access-date=2015-04-07|date=31 March 2015|archive-date=March 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308215728/http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201503311617529393153_2|url-status=live}}
The program went on hiatus after its broadcast on March 25, 2018.{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Hye-mi|title='문남' 하석진, 시즌1 마지막 우승자 등극... 재충전 후 다시 만나요[종합]|url=http://www.tvreport.co.kr/?c=news&m=newsview&idx=1046271|website=TVReport|access-date=2018-03-25|date=25 March 2018|language=ko|archive-date=March 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327023822/http://www.tvreport.co.kr/?c=news&m=newsview&idx=1046271|url-status=live}} On May 9, 2018, it was announced that the program would be returning as Season 2 from May 29, and would air on every Tuesday at 23:00 (KST), with no change in the current cast lineup.{{cite web|last1=Park|first1=So-young|title=[공식입장] '문제적남자' 돌아온다..日→火 '현지먹' 후속 29일 첫방|url=http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110897427|website=OSEN|access-date=2018-05-09|date=9 May 2018|language=ko|archive-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509220632/http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110897427|url-status=live}} Beginning January 7, 2019 the program aired on Mondays at 23:00 (KST).
The program was on another hiatus after its broadcast on June 10, 2019, as the program was to be replaced by More Salty Tour in its time slot, and it was slated to return in the second half of 2019.{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=A-young|title='짠내투어2' 박명수·한혜진·이용진·규현 6월 17일 첫 방송 [종합]|url=http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=23461348&cloc=|website=Ilgan Sports|access-date=2019-05-27|date=8 May 2019|language=ko|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029231637/http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=23461348&cloc=|url-status=live}} On October 28, 2019, tvN confirmed the program would return as Season 3 starting November 21, 2019, with original cast members Tyler Rasch and Park Kyung (Block B) not returning. Plus, model Joo Woo-jae and YouTuber/entrepreneur Ddotty would join the cast as new members.{{cite web|last1=Park|first1=Soo-in|title='문제적남자' 주우재 도티 합류, 11월21일 첫방송 확정(공식)|url=http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201910281046208010|website=Newsen|access-date=2019-10-28|date=28 October 2019|language=ko|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118090447/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201910281046208010|url-status=live}}
The program had an indefinite hiatus as of February 13, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, which made filming of the program difficult. No update about the show was announced, indicating that the series has ended.{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Ha-na|title='문제적 남자' 코로나19 여파 당분간 결방, 방송 재개시기 미정(공식)|url=https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202002271649172510|website=Newsen|access-date=2020-03-07|date=2020-02-27|language=ko|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031085721/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202002271649172510|url-status=live}}
A reboot of the program called Problematic Men Reboot: Math Edition starring Jun Hyun-moo, Jeong Seung-je, John Park, Suho, Bae Sung-jae and Kim Gyu-min, will start airing on June 23, 2025.{{cite web|last=Yu|first=Ji-hye|title='문제적 남자' 5년 만에 부활...배성재·수호·존박 등 합류|url=https://news.jtbc.co.kr/article/NB12248115|website=JTBC News|date=2025-05-27|access-date=2025-06-04|language=ko}}
Program
It is a talk show variety program that focuses on various types of problems every week, sometimes with a theme. The cast invited for this program are 6 males, that have been labelled as "men with hot brains".
Traditionally, the cast is given clues to guess the identity of the episode's guest(s), and once the guest appears and are introduced, they and the cast are given a set of problems to solve. It is a tradition that all problems for the episode must be solved before the whole recording of the episode would end.
Season 3 features the theme of Brain Wanderers Squad/Travelling Brainiacs ({{ko-hhrm|브레인 유랑단}}), where the cast goes outdoors, unlike most of the previous 2 seasons when they were in the studio. The 6 cast members travel to various places around South Korea, varying from campuses to companies. For each place, the members would be split into 2 teams of 3 to look for people who they think are hidden brainiacs in the place and each team selects one to join, and the 2 teams go against each other in a battle of problem solving.{{cite web|last1=Park|first1=Soo-in|title="전현무도 인정"..소통왕 도티→문남덕후 주우재, '문제적 남자' 입문기|url=http://enews24.tving.com/news/article?nsID=1333275|website=enews24|access-date=2019-11-20|date=13 November 2019|language=ko}} The winning team can get off work on time, while the losing team has to stay in the campus to study after filming for the show is complete.
Airtime
| class="wikitable" style = "font-size: 90%;" |
| width=300|Air date
!width=300|Airtime |
|---|
| colspan="2"| Season 1 |
| February 26 – July 16, 2015
| Thursdays at 11:00 PM KST |
| August 16, 2015 – March 25, 2018
| Sundays at 10:30 PM KST |
| colspan="2"| Season 2 |
| May 29, 2018 – January 1, 2019
| Tuesdays at 11:00 PM KST |
| January 7 – June 10, 2019
| Mondays at 11:00 PM KST |
| colspan="2"| Season 3 |
| November 21, 2019 – February 13, 2020
| Thursdays at 8:00 PM KST |
Cast
- Jun Hyun-moo (Ep 1–224)
- Kim Ji-seok (Ep 1–224; absent in episodes 174, 179–198)
- Lee Jang-won (Peppertones) (Ep 1–224; absent in episodes 135, 174)
- Tyler Rasch (Ep 1–211; absent in episodes 37–39, 56, 72, 145–148, 163–164, 174)
- Ha Seok-jin (Ep 1–224; absent in episode 174)
- RM (BTS) (Ep 1-21)
- Park Kyung (Block B) (Ep 25-211; absent in episodes 37–39, 77, 145, 149, 174, 205)
- Joo Woo-jae (Ep 212–224)
- Ddotty (Ep 212–224)
Episodes
In the ratings below, for each year, the highest rating for the show will be in {{color|red|red}}, and the lowest rating for the show will be in {{color|blue|blue}}.
= 2015 =
{{hidden begin
|title = List of 2015 episodes (episode 1-41)
|titlestyle = background:#A0C544;
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Episode #
!Broadcast Date !width=350|Guest !width=100|Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
|---|
| 1
| February 26, 2015 | - | 2.374% |
| 2
| March 5, 2015 | - | 1.834% |
| 3
| March 12, 2015 | Lee Won-suk | 1.633% |
| 4
| March 19, 2015 | - | 1.425% |
| 5
| March 26, 2015 | - | 1.838% |
| 6
| April 2, 2015 | - | 1.745% |
| 7
| April 9, 2015 | - | 1.978% |
| 8
| April 16, 2015 | - | 1.750% |
| 9
| April 23, 2015 | 1.663% |
| 10
| April 30, 2015 | 1.733% |
| 11
| May 7, 2015 | 1.492% |
| 12
| May 14, 2015 | Kim Ban-seok (elder brother of Kim Ji-seok, graduate of University of Oxford) | 2.023% |
| 13
| May 21, 2015 | 1.729% |
| 14
| May 28, 2015 | Han Seung-yeon (KARA) | 1.465% |
| 15
| June 4, 2015 | - | 1.426% |
| 16
| June 11, 2015 | 1.437% |
| 17
| June 18, 2015 | Ha Sang-wook (Author) | 1.496% |
| 18
| June 25, 2015 | 1.908% |
| 19
| July 2, 2015 | 1.888% |
| 20
| July 9, 2015 | - | 2.027% |
| 21
| July 16, 2015 | Yang Se-hyung | 1.790% |
| 22
| August 16, 2015 | 1.568% |
| 23
| August 23, 2015 | Kim Chong-woon (Principal of a creative development institute, starter of Korea's pictorial brain warm-ups) | 1.872% |
| 24
| August 30, 2015 | Song Ki-moon (CTO of a game company) | 1.783% |
| 25
| September 6, 2015 | - | 2.311% |
| 26
| September 13, 2015 | - | 1.902% |
| 27
| September 20, 2015 | 1.951% |
| 28
| September 27, 2015 | - | 1.632% |
| 29
| October 4, 2015 | 1.796% |
| 30
| October 11, 2015 | 2.217% |
| 31
| October 18, 2015 | Kim Hyung-kyu (Dentist, broadcaster) | 2.163% |
| 32
| October 25, 2015 | Yoonhan | 1.846% |
| 33
| November 1, 2015 | 2.508% |
| 34
| November 8, 2015 | Jang Jin | 2.119% |
| 35
| November 15, 2015 | Sung Jin-hwan, In Ho-jin (Sweet Sorrow) | 2.349% |
| 36
| November 22, 2015 | Hwang Jae Keun (designer) | 2.045% |
| 37
| November 29, 2015 | rowspan=3|Shin Jae Pyung, Key (SHINee) | 2.157% |
| 38
| December 6, 2015 | 1.696% |
| 39
| December 13, 2015 | 1.547% |
| 40
| December 20, 2015 | Ji Joo-yeon (Actress, achieved Bachelor in Media Informatics at from Seoul National University) | 2.892% |
| 41
| December 27, 2015 | 2.522% |
{{hidden end}}
= 2016 =
{{hidden begin
|title = List of 2016 episodes (episode 42–92)
|titlestyle = background:#BCE954;
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Episode #
!Broadcast Date !width=350|Guest !width=100|Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
|---|
| 42
| January 3, 2016 | 2.808% |
| 43
| January 10, 2016 | Yoo Jae-hwan (Music producer) | 2.463% |
| 44
| January 17, 2016 | Lee Seung-won (Violist) | 2.863% |
| 45
| January 24, 2016 | 3.236% |
| 46
| January 31, 2016 | Choi Chang-yub (actor) | 2.720% |
| 47
| February 7, 2016 | rowspan="2" |Kim Sook, Kim Young-hee, Kim Min-kyung, Lee Se-young | 2.309% |
| 48
| February 14, 2016 | 2.934% |
| 49
| February 21, 2016 | Kim Young-woo, Song Woo-jin (Sweet Sorrow) | 2.704% |
| 50
| February 28, 2016 | Special appearance by Laboum | 2.431% |
| 51
| March 6, 2016 | 1.913% |
| 52
| March 13, 2016 | 1.646% |
| 53
| March 20, 2016 | 2.488% |
| 54
| March 27, 2016 | 2.047% |
| 55
| April 3, 2016 | 2.308% |
| 56
| April 10, 2016 |Nop.K (musician) | 1.574% |
| 57
| April 17, 2016 |Lee Won-suk (Daybreak) | 1.739% |
| 58
| April 24, 2016 |rowspan="2" |Block B | 2.424% |
| 59
| May 1, 2016 | 1.400% |
| 60
| May 8, 2016 |eAeon (Mot) | 1.748% |
| 61
| May 15, 2016 |Sa Hye-won (sophomore student at the University of Oxford) | 2.782% |
| 62
| May 22, 2016 |Cho Tae-kwan (actor) | 2.095% |
| 63
| May 29, 2016 | 2.212% |
| 64
| June 5, 2016 |Dr. Simpson (rapper) | 2.274% |
| 65
| June 12, 2016 | 2.440% |
| 66
| June 19, 2016 | Joo Woo-jae (model) | 2.575% |
| 67
| June 26, 2016 | Tony An | 2.733% |
| 68
| July 3, 2016 | rowspan="2"|JaePyung Shin (Peppertones), Song Ki-mun, Joo Woo-jae, | 1.872% |
| 69
| July 10, 2016 | 2.175% |
| 70
| July 17, 2016 | Kwon Sun-il (Urban Zakapa) | 2.849% |
| 71
| July 24, 2016 | Kim Nam-hee (sports announcer, 2014 Miss Korea contestant, Mensa International member) | 2.204% |
| 72
| July 31, 2016 | Roy Kim, Joo Woo Jae | 3.097% |
| 73
| August 7, 2016 |rowspan="2"|Ko Na-young, Seo Yu-ri (student), Jung Min-gun | 2.591% |
| rowspan="2"|74
|rowspan="2"|August 14, 2016 |rowspan="2"|1.943% |
| rowspan="2"|Dominic O'Brien, Joo Woo-jae (standing in for Park Kyung) |
| 75
| August 21, 2016 | 1.733% |
| 76
| August 28, 2016 | 2.450% |
| 77
| September 4, 2016 | Wendy (Red Velvet), Joo Woo-jae (standing in for Park Kyung) | 2.236% |
| 78
| September 11, 2016 | 1.734% |
| 79
| September 18, 2016 | 2.118% |
| 80
| September 25, 2016 | 2.684% |
| 81
| October 2, 2016 | Kim Ji-woon (chef, graduate of Eton College) | 2.819% |
| 82
| October 16, 2016 | Choi Min-ho (Shinee) | 1.969% |
| 83
| October 23, 2016 | Yoon Duk-won (Broccoli You Too) | 2.250% |
| 84
| October 30, 2016 | Jung Ha-eun, Jung Ji-woong (children of Jung Eun-pyo) | 2.710% |
| 85
| November 6, 2016 | Goo Sae-bom (announcer), Goo Se-kyung | 1.897% |
| 86
| November 13, 2016 | Cha Eun-woo (ASTRO) | 1.878% |
| 87
| November 20, 2016 | Lee Jong-beom (webcomic artist) | 1.777% |
| 88
| November 27, 2016 | J-Min | 2.103% |
| 89
| December 4, 2016 | Yellow Bench (music duo) | 2.696% |
| 90
| December 11, 2016 | Park Sae-him (elder sister of Block B Park Kyung) | 2.447% |
| 91
| December 18, 2016 | myunDo (rapper) | 1.940% |
| 92
| December 25, 2016 | Park Na-rae, Kim Ji-min, Ahn Young-mi, Kang Yoo-mi, Oh Nami, Heo Anna | 2.406% |
{{hidden end}}
= 2017 =
{{hidden begin
|title = List of 2017 episodes (episode 93-144)
|titlestyle = background:#BCE954;
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Episode #
!width=110|Broadcast Date !width=1270|Guest !width=100|Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
|---|
| 93
| January 1, 2017 | Park Na-rae, Kim Ji-min, Ahn Young-mi, Kang Yoo-mi, Oh Nami, Heo Anna | 2.629% |
| 94
| January 8, 2017 | 4.006% |
| 95
| January 15, 2017 | Kim Jae-kyung, Lee Young-rae (SAT 2017 full marks candidates) | 3.135% |
| 96
| January 22, 2017 | Yong Duk Jhun (Digital cinematographer working at DreamWorks Animation) | 3.016% |
| 97
| January 29, 2017 | Seo Bo-hyun (Harvard University student, 2 time world debating champion) | 3.142% |
| 98
| February 5, 2017 | Choi Jeong, Oh Jeong-ah (Go players) | 3.648% |
| 99
| February 12, 2017 | 2.148% |
| 100
| February 19, 2017 | 100th Episode Special (Part 1); Special appearance by Cosmic Girls | 3.406% |
| 101
| February 26, 2017 | 100th Episode Special (Part 2) | 3.097% |
| 102
| March 5, 2017 | Song Jae-kyeong (vocal of indie band 9 and the Numbers, chief of strategic planning department of one of the top construction companies in Korea) | 2.412% |
| 103
| March 12, 2017 | Kangnam | 2.499% |
| 104
| March 19, 2017 | Kim Dong-hyeok (Civil servant), Joo Woo-jae (stand-in for Park Kyung) | 2.336% |
| 105
| March 26, 2017 | Stella Jang (Singer-songwriter, graduate of Agro ParisTech, a Grandes école, majoring in Life Engineering), | 2.433% |
| 106
| April 2, 2017 | Lisa (singer, musical actress), | 2.103% |
| 107
| April 9, 2017 | Won Jong-gun (appeared on MBC's Exclamation Mark - Open Your Eyes in 2005; currently graduated from Kyung Hee University, majoring in Information and Communication; also the recipient of 2016 Korea's Talent award) | 2.268% |
| 108
| April 16, 2017 | Lee Su-ryeon (actress, former security agent in Presidential Security Service, achieved Masters in International Security Studies at Yonsei University and Bachelor in English Literature at Ewha Womans University) | 2.639% |
| 109
| April 23, 2017 |2.005% |
| 110
| April 30, 2017 |rowspan="2"| Kang Min-gil, Jung Won-ho, Kim Young-jong, Hong Hyuk-pyo, Ryu Chan-young, Han Kyu-beom (KAIST Special) | 2.769% |
| 111
| May 7, 2017 | 1.921% |
| 112
| May 14, 2017 | Han Jun-hee (Software engineer at Google, achieved Bachelor of Science, software engineering at Sungkyunkwan University) | 2.456% |
| 113
| May 21, 2017 | Peter Han (Musician, University of Vienna graduate with major in English Literature) | 1.886% |
| 114
| May 28, 2017 | Nahzam Sue (Singer, producer, audio engineer, member of band Sultan of the Disco) | 2.042% |
| 115
| June 4, 2017 | Sol Bi, Croquiky Brothers | 2.441% |
| 116
| June 11, 2017 | Lee Jung-hyun (Designer at Volvo, graduate of Umeå Institute of Design in Umeå University) | 2.078% |
| 117
| June 18, 2017 | Lee Min-woong (Home shopping host) | 2.001% |
| 118
| June 25, 2017 | Haim Shafir (board game designer), Laboum | {{color|blue|1.622%}} |
| 119
| July 2, 2017 | John Park, Roy Kim (Liberal arts VS Science team battle) | 2.052% |
| 120
| July 9, 2017 | Kwak Seung-jae (Leader of the South Korea national team for World Puzzle Championship, obtained master's degree in mathematics at Pohang University of Science and Technology) | 2.000% |
| 121
| July 16, 2017 | Lee Yeon-hwa (Creative director, bodybuilder) | 2.505% |
| 122
| July 23, 2017 | Park Ji-sun (Comedian, achieved Bachelor of Education at Korea University College of Education in Korea University), | 3.042% |
| 123
| July 30, 2017 | Choi Hyun-woo (Magician), | 3.142% |
| 124
| August 6, 2017 | Im Young-min, Yu Seon-ho, Lee Eui-woong | 2.687% |
| 125
| August 13, 2017 | Kang Sung-tae (Online learning lecturer, studied in Seoul National University) | 2.655% |
| 126
| August 20, 2017 | Jasmine Saein Park (Graduated from Stanford University, worked at Microsoft, Seoul International School high honor student, daughter of Insooni) | 2.272% |
| 127
| August 27, 2017 | Kim Jun-heon (National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun's administrative secretary, Seoul National University's College of Education graduate) | 2.325% |
| 128
| September 3, 2017 | Shin Jae-pyung, Kwak Seung-jae | 2.731% |
| 129
| September 10, 2017 | 2.455% |
| 130
| September 17, 2017 | Ahn Jeong-hyun, Kim Da-in (2017 International Mathematical Olympiad South Korea national team representatives, both won gold medals, studied at Seoul Science High School) | 3.119% |
| 131
| September 24, 2017 | Choi Han-jin, Park Jong-geol (Korea University students) Kim Woon-yeon, Lee Chung-hee (Yonsei University students) | 2.954% |
| 132
| October 1, 2017 | rowspan="2"|Tony An, Taemin (SHINee), Shin Jae-pyung, Joo Woo-jae (Special voice appearances by Yoo In-young, Han Sun-hwa and Park Bo-ram on episode 132) | 2.304% |
| 133
| October 8, 2017 | 1.884% |
| 134
| October 15, 2017 | Choi Yu-ri (Airline crew manager, worked for Qatar Airways for 5 years, graduate of Sungshin Women's University Department of German Language and Literature), | 3.037% |
| 135
| October 22, 2017 | Yoon Jung-soo, | 2.909% |
| 136
| October 29, 2017 | Jang Jin-mo (Chef, crafted all dishes meant for drama Temperature of Love) | 2.377% |
| 137
| November 5, 2017 | Ddotty (YouTuber, graduate of Yonsei University's Yonsei Law School, co-entrepreneur of Sandbox Network, 2017 Korea Cable TV Awards One Man Creator Award winner) | 2.208% |
| 138
| November 12, 2017 | 2.422% |
| 139
| November 19, 2017 | Lee Jeong-eun (HR consultant working in Paris, awarded master's degrees for administrative, management and economics from international organisations in France, first Korean to be promoted from intern to official staff at OECD) | 2.275% |
| 140
| November 26, 2017 | Park Seong-ho (KAIST Department of Industrial Design top graduate, took part in National Creative Olympiad for 4 consecutive years, Audi Awards 2016 Excellence Award recipient for Best Innovation) | 2.112% |
| 141
| December 3, 2017 | Kim Ji-seok, Ahn Sung-joon (Go players) | 2.313% |
| 142
| December 10, 2017 | Ryan S. Jhun (Record producer, was qualified for Berklee College of Music, New York University Department of Music, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Queens College, City University of New York, Queensborough Community College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and City University of New York) | 2.262% |
| 143
| December 17, 2017 | rowspan="2"|Jo Seung-yeon (Humanities writer, graduated from New York University, Sorbonne University and École du Louvre, speaks 7 languages), | 3.229% |
| 144
| December 24, 2017 | 3.245% |
{{hidden end}}
= 2018 =
{{hidden begin
|title = List of 2018 episodes (episode 145-187)
|titlestyle = background:#BCE954;
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Episode #
!width=110|Broadcast Date !width=1270|Guest !width=100|Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
|---|
| 145
| January 7, 2018 | rowspan="2"|Chang Ki-ha (Musician, Seoul National University graduate with bachelor's degree in sociology) | 2.627% |
| rowspan="2"|146
| rowspan="2"|January 14, 2018 | rowspan="2"|1.757% |
| style="text-align:center;"
| Kim So-yeon (Mammut Sports Group's only Korean worker, ski suit designer) |
| 147
| January 21, 2018 | 2.095% |
| 148
| January 28, 2018 | An Mi-na (Actress, Yonsei University graduate majoring in Philosophy and Psychology) | 2.166% |
| 149
| February 4, 2018 | Paul M. Yun (Current El Camino College professor, only Korean ambassador for NASA, admissions officer for Harvard University, obtained master's degree in education from Harvard University, Master's degree in mathematics from University of California, Los Angeles, Bachelor's degree in mathematics from University of California, Berkeley, also SAT, GRE and GMAT Mathematics questions setter) | 2.328% |
| 150
| February 11, 2018 | Lee Seung-jin (White Hat hacker, CEO of a number one security system consulting enterprise in South Korea) | 2.931% |
| 151
| February 18, 2018 | 2.399% |
| 152
| February 25, 2018 | No guests (3rd Anniversary Special) | 1.369% |
| 153
| March 4, 2018 | Yoon Duk-won (Episode 83 guest) | 2.273% |
| 154
| March 11, 2018 | '3rd Anniversary Special #2: Hot Brain Game of Thrones Special Part 2; Special appearance by Momoland | 1.923% |
| 155
| March 18, 2018 | Kim Ji-hoon | 1.357% |
| 156
| March 25, 2018 | Ji Il-joo (Actor, member of Mensa International, has an IQ of 156, obtained master's degree from College of Arts in Chung-Ang University) | 2.010% |
| colspan="4" |Season 2 |
| 157
| May 29, 2018 | (Special appearances by baritone Claudio Jung/Jung Kyung and mezzo-soprano Im Jeong-sook) | 1.332% |
| 158
| June 5, 2018 | rowspan="2"| No guests | 2.121% |
| 159
| June 12, 2018 | 1.310% |
| 160
| June 19, 2018 | Kim Dae-shik (Current professor in KAIST's Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, professor in the Max Planck Society, had undergone postdoctoral course for Brain and Cognitive Sciences in Massachusetts Institute of Technology, researcher at Riken, assistant tutor in University of Minnesota, associate professor in Boston University) | 1.447% |
| 161
| June 26, 2018 | 1.183% |
| 162
| July 3, 2018 | 1.306% |
| 163
| July 10, 2018 | Lee Si-won (Actress, achieved bachelor's degree in business administration from Seoul National University and master's degree in anthropology from Seoul National University Graduate School) | 1.827% |
| 164
| July 17, 2018 | Hyelim | 1.700% |
| 165
| July 24, 2018 | Jeong Cheol-gyu (Comedian, Kyungnam University graduate majoring in electronic engineering, Mensa member since May 2018, member of Civiq Society, has an IQ of 172) | 1.281% |
| 166
| July 31, 2018 | Lee Gyu-bin (Civil servant starting from May 2019, currently studying at Seoul National University majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in marketing, passed the Financial Administrative Examination Level 5, participant of Heart Signal Season 2) | 1.520% |
| 167
| August 7, 2018 | Choi Hong-woo (13 years old, took part in the 2014 and 2015 Mathematical Kangaroo and obtained 11th place among all contestants, gold medal in the 2018 International Olympiad in Informatics preliminaries, attended the Center for Talented Youth) | 1.725% |
| 168
| August 14, 2018 | Choi Tae-seong (History lecturer in EBSi) | 1.576% |
| 169
| August 21, 2018 | Lee Min-hyung (18 years old, current intern at Seoul National University medical research center) | 1.630% |
| 170
| August 28, 2018 | Aron (NU'EST) | 2.002% |
| 171
| September 4, 2018 | iKON (Jinhwan, B.I, Donghyuk) | 1.240% |
| 172
| September 11, 2018 | DIA (Huihyeon, Chaeyeon, Somyi) | 1.292% |
| 173
| September 18, 2018 | Lee Eun-gyeol | 1.939% |
| 174
| September 25, 2018 | Shin Bong-sun | 1.893% |
| 175
| October 2, 2018 | rowspan="2"| Hikaru Suzuki (Currently studying at University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law, was awarded the Hult Prize, acknowledged by Stanford University) | 2.842% |
| 176
| October 9, 2018 | 1.909% |
| 177
| October 16, 2018 | Croquiky Brothers | 2.620% |
| 178
| October 23, 2018 | Kim Jung-hyun (Carrie; 2015 Miss Intercontinental Korea Semi Winner) | 2.161% |
| 179
| October 30, 2018 | Kim Jin-yeob (Actor, singer, scholarship student from Korea University) | 1.810% |
| 180
| November 6, 2018 | Jeon Hyun-moo (Currently studying in Konkuk University majoring in physics) | 2.091% |
| 181
| November 13, 2018 | Park Chan-hoo (Currently studying at Pohang University of Science and Technology's Computer Engineering course) | 1.733% |
| 182
| November 20, 2018 | Kim Seo-yeon (Miss Korea 2014 winner, graduated from Ewha Womans University majoring in Business Administration, vice-leader of Seoul branch's Global Shaper Community for World Economic Forum) | 2.234% |
| 183
| November 27, 2018 | Kim Beom-joon (Chief Technology Officer of popular delivery app Delivery's Nation, graduated from KAIST School of Computing) | 1.619% |
| 184
| December 4, 2018 | Kwon Hyuk-gyu (Currently studying in Pohang University of Science and Technology, currently operating a SNS account for assistance in solving mathematics problems) | 2.124% |
| 185
| December 11, 2018 | AIVAN (Singer-songwriter; currently studying at Yonsei University as a scholarship master's degree student, member of Mensa International with IQ 156, formerly an intern reporter of CNN Korea) | 2.145% |
| 186
| December 18, 2018 | Michael K. Lee (Musical actor, graduate of Stanford University majoring in psychology and medicine) | 2.451% |
| 187
| December 25, 2018 | Lee Si-won (Actress, achieved bachelor's degree in business administration from Seoul National University and master's degree in anthropology from Seoul National University Graduate School) | 2.221% |
{{hidden end}}
= 2019 =
{{hidden begin
|title = List of 2019 episodes (episode 188-217)
|titlestyle = background:#BCE954;
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Episode #
!width=110|Broadcast Date !width=1270|Guest !width=100|Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;"
! 188 | January 1, 2019 | WINNER (Lee Seung-hoon, Kang Seung-yoon) | 1.884% |
| colspan="4"| Change in broadcast time to every Monday 23:00 (KST) |
| 189
| January 7, 2019 | Lee Soo-rin (Year 3 student at University of Cambridge majoring in mechanical engineering) | 1.958% |
| 190
| January 14, 2019 | Hwang Je-sung (Comedian, achieved bachelor's degree in performing arts from Sungkyunkwan University) | 2.315% |
| 191
| January 21, 2019 | Oumaima Fatih (from Morocco, studied in Seoul National University majoring in construction engineering) | 2.067% |
| 192
| January 28, 2019 | Min Jin-woong | 1.966% |
| 193
| February 4, 2019 | Kim Chang-jin (Ha Seok-jin's manager) | 1.805% |
| 194
| February 11, 2019 | 1.489% |
| 195
| February 18, 2019 | (Global Special Part 2: Problematic Men VS National University of Singapore) | 1.775% |
| 196
| February 25, 2019 | Seol Min-seok (History lecturer) | 2.696% |
| 197
| March 4, 2019 | No guests | 1.573% |
| 198
| March 11, 2019 | Sou Mizukami (Currently studying at University of Tokyo's Faculty of Medicine, top 0.01% in Japan) | 1.338% |
| 199
| March 18, 2019 | No guests | 1.433% |
| 200
| March 25, 2019 | 200th Episode Special: 200 VS 6 (Part 1) | 2.005% |
| 201
| April 1, 2019 | 200th Episode Special: 200 VS 6 (Part 2) | 1.762% |
| 202
| April 8, 2019 | Kim Moon-gi (Seoul National University's School of Dentistry graduate, Class Of 1989; father of Kim Jin-ha and Kim Joon-hwi) | 1.755% |
| 203
| April 15, 2019 | Jun Bum-sun (Singer, songwriter, vocal of rock band Jun Bum-sun and The Yangbans; Dartmouth College alumnus, attained master's degree in history at University of Oxford Graduate Admissions school, formerly an Ivy League admissions coordinator, was qualified for Columbia Law School, University of Cambridge Graduate Admissions school and University of Oxford Graduate Admissions school at the same time) | 1.611% |
| 204
| April 22, 2019 | 1.554% |
| 205
| April 29, 2019 | IZ*ONE | 1.592% |
| 206
| May 6, 2019 | Cha Jae-yi (Actress, daughter of Cha Hwa-yeon; had early graduation from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, scored full marks for mathematics in SAT) | 1.529% |
| 207
| May 13, 2019 | Lee Sa-gang (Film director, graduated from London Film School) | 1.148% |
| 208
| May 20, 2019 | Andy Park (Visual director working for Marvel Studios, comic book artist, illustrator, concept artist) | 1.202% |
| 209
| May 27, 2019 | 1.796% |
| 210
| June 3, 2019 | Ki Dong-hoon (Emergency medicine specialist) | 0.848% |
| 211
| June 10, 2019 | Hwang Chi-yeul | 1.319% |
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| colspan="5" |Season 3 |
|---|
| Episode #
!Broadcast Date !Location !Teams !Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
| 212
| November 21, 2019 | rowspan="2"| Pohang University of Science and Technology | rowspan="2"| Team Hyunmoo: Jun Hyun-moo, Lee Jang-won, Ddotty, Oh Yoon-jae{{efn|Postgraduate majoring in mathematics, graduated from elite high school with a top ranking, won awards at the university mathematics competition for 3 consecutive years}} | 2.044% |
| 213
| November 28, 2019 | 1.945% |
| 214
| December 5, 2019 | Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine | Team Woojae: Joo Woo-jae, Kim Ji-seok, Lee Jang-won, Lee Seung-hwan{{efn|Year 2 undergraduate; obtained full marks for mathematics, English and chemistry in 2016 College Scholastic Ability Test}} | 1.863% |
| 215
| December 12, 2019 | rowspan="2"| Korean Minjok Leadership Academy | rowspan="2"| Team Jeong Yakyong: Jun Hyun-moo, Lee Jang-won, Joo Woo-jae, Koo Min-gi{{efn|Year 2 student; national representative for the International Linguistics Olympiad}} | 1.964% |
| 216
| December 19, 2019 | 1.585% |
| 217
| December 26, 2019 | rowspan="2"| SK Telecom | rowspan="2"| Team Arts: Jun Hyun-moo, Kim Ji-seok, Ddotty, Jang Yoo-seong{{efn|Mobility Business department team leader (1.5 years); graduated from Seoul National University majoring in mathematics, obtained masters in computer engineering in America, former CEO of a startup company (specialising in autonomous vehicles and AI) at Silicon Valley}} | 1.784% |
{{hidden end}}
= 2020 =
{{hidden begin
|title = List of 2020 episodes (episode 218-224)
|titlestyle = background:#BCE954;
}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| Episode #
!Broadcast Date !Location !Teams !Ratings (AGB Nielsen Korea) |
|---|
| 218
| January 2, 2020 | Team Hyunmoo: Jun Hyun-moo, Kim Ji-seok, Ha Seok-jin, Verbal Jint | 1.555% |
| 219
| January 9, 2020 | rowspan="2"| Gyeonggi Science High School | rowspan="2"| Team Hyunmoo: Jun Hyun-moo, Lee Jang-won, Joo Woo-jae, Park Jeong-um{{efn|Year 2 student; Won gold award for KPHC and KMChC (physics and chemistry respectively), ranked 1st in school for mathematics and science}} | 1.835% |
| 220
| January 16, 2020 | 1.825% |
| 221
| January 23, 2020 | {{N/A|Not Applicable}}{{efn|CSAT Full Marks Scorers Special}} | Team OB: Jun Hyun-moo, Kim Ji-seok, Lee Jang-won, Song Young-joon{{efn|Obtained full marks for CSAT 2020}} | 1.611% |
| 222
| January 30, 2020 | rowspan="2"|Yonsei University | rowspan="2"|Sinchon Line: Jun Hyun-moo, Joo Woo-jae, Ddotty, Kim Yeon{{efn|Year }} | 1.581% |
| 223
| February 6, 2020 | 1.229% |
| 224
| February 13, 2020 | Sandbox Network{{efn|Co-founder of the company is Ddotty}} | TBA: Jun Hyun-moo, Kim Ji-seok, Ha Seok-jin, Oh Hyun-min | 1.326% |
{{hidden end}}
Note: This program airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters.
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=3|2016 | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" |tvN10 Awards | Best Content Award, Variety | Problematic Men | {{won}} |
| Best MC | Jun Hyun-moo | {{nom}} | ||
| Two Star Award | Kim Ji-seok | {{nom}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://program.interest.me/tvn/hotbrain}} {{in lang|ko}}
{{TVN (South Korea) Variety Programs}}
Category:2015 South Korean television series debuts
Category:2020s South Korean television series
Category:Korean-language television shows
Category:TvN (South Korean TV channel) original programming
Category:South Korean variety television shows
Category:Television productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Category:Television productions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic