Saturday Night Live Korea

Written and directed by filmmaker and playwright Jang Jin,{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Yoon-mi|title=Jang to direct Saturday Night Live Korea|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10392339|work=The Korea Herald|date=11 November 2011|access-date=2013-03-09|archive-date=2013-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308044954/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20111110000638|url-status=live}} the show was officially announced on November 24, 2011, at a roundtable press conference in Cheongdam-dong. The original cast was composed of 17 members: Jang Jin, Ahn Young-mi, Lee Han-wi, Jung Woong-in, Kim Bin-woo, Jang Young-nam, Kim Won-hae, Lee Hae-young, Lee Chul-min, Lee Sang-hoon, Park Joon-seo, Kim Ji-young, Kim Ji-kyung, Min Seo-hyun, Han Seo-jin, Go Kyung-pyo,{{cite news|last=Suk|first=Monica|title=Simon D, Ko Kyeong-pyo join upcoming MBC sitcom|url=http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2012031513023199738|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=10Asia|date=15 March 2012|archive-date=2014-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221173546/http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2012031513023199738|url-status=live}} and Kim Seul-gi. The premiere episode on December 3, 2011, was hosted by actor Kim Joo-hyuk.{{cite news|last=Choi|first=Eun-hwa|title=Saturday Night Live Korea to Start Airing on December 3|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1690|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=enewsWorld|date=22 November 2011|agency=CJ E&M|archive-date=2013-01-28|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128225915/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1690|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Noh|first=Hyun-gi|title=Live from Seoul, It's Saturday Night!|url=https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2011/11/135_99614.html|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=27 November 2011|archive-date=2013-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524170418/http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2011/11/135_99614.html|url-status=live}}

Then-showrunner and head writer Jang Jin spoke about the difficulties in recruiting guests, saying "When you're offering a film, you give them a script, ask them how it is and if they say no, say that's good and turn around, but to get people to appear in this show, I had to beg. I even asked them to appear on the show by giving them my next movie script."{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Mi-jung|title=Jang Jin Takes Matters Into His Own Hands for SNLK|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1769|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=enewsWorld|date=25 November 2011|agency=CJ E&M|archive-date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129012049/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1769|url-status=live}} The first season ran from December 3, 2011, to January 21, 2012, for eight episodes.{{cite news|url=http://boom.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20111109050018|title=tvN-장진 감독, 한국판 '새터데이 나이트 라이브' 제작 합심|work=Boom Seoul|date=9 November 2011|access-date=2012-11-23|language=ko|archive-date=2012-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426082513/http://boom.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20111109050018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Sung|first=So-young|title=Sketch comedies are back, with more bite|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2012/01/26/features/Sketch-comedies-are-back-with-more-bite/2947510.html|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=26 January 2012|access-date=2013-03-09|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411060945/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/html/510/2947510.html|archive-date=April 11, 2013|url-status=live}}

The second season ran from May 26 to July 14, 2012, for eight episodes. The cast members were Jang Jin, Lee Han-wi, Kim Won-hae, Kang Sung-jin, Jang Young-nam, Jung Sung-ho, Kim Min-kyo, Lee Sang-hoon, Jung Myung-ok, Kang Yu-mi, Im Hye-young, Park Sang-woo, Ahn Young-mi, Kwon Hyeok-su, Go Kyung-pyo, and Kim Seul-gi.

The third season ran from September 8 to November 15, 2012, for seventeen episodes.{{cite web|last=Park|first=Gyeong-eun|title=Laugh and Enjoy a Satire of the Presidential Election, "Yeouido Teletubbies"|url=http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201211071443357|work=Kyunghyang Shinmun|access-date=2013-03-10|date=7 November 2012|archive-date=2013-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219023701/http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201211071443357|url-status=live}} The cast members were Jang Jin, Shin Dong-yup, Kim Won-hae, Jung Sung-ho, Park Sang-woo, Kim Min-kyo, Jung Myung-ok, Lee Sang-hoon, Oh Cho-hee, Jang Yoon-seo, Son Bo-min, Seo Yu-ri, Han Seo-jin, Kwon Hyeok-su, Go Kyung-pyo, and Kim Seul-gi.

The fourth season ran from February 2 to November 23, 2013, for 38 episodes.{{cite news|url=http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2013072109102580081|title='SNL 코리아', 유쾌함 뒤에 숨겨진 숨가쁜 생방송 현장 속으로|work=Asia Economy|date=21 July 2013|access-date=2013-07-25|language=ko|archive-date=2014-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227190252/http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2013072109102580081|url-status=live}}

Jay Park and Park Eun-ji joined as regular cast members (they had both previously hosted in season 3). Meanwhile, Jang Jin, Go Kyung-pyo, and Oh Cho-hee exited the program.{{cite web|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|title=Jay Park to Join Saturday Night Live Korea|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=28586|access-date=2013-03-10|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|date=7 February 2013|archive-date=2013-04-19|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419003801/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=28586|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Ko|first=Hong-ju|title=Saturday Night Live Korea Gears Up for a New and Improved Season|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=29497|access-date=2013-03-10|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|date=19 February 2013}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The season 4 cast members were Shin Dong-yup, Kim Won-hae, Lee Sang-hoon, Ahn Young-mi, Kim Min-kyo, Kim Seul-gi, Jung Sung-ho, Jung Myung-ok, Kwon Hyeok-su, Park Sang-woo, Seo Yu-ri, Lee Byung-jin, Jin Won, Jay Park, and Park Eun-ji. New cast additions later in the season were Choi Il-gu, Yoo Se-yoon, 2EYES, and Clara. Jin Won exited the show on episode 18, and Kim Seul-gi did the same on episode 24.

Directors Ahn Sang-hee, Baek Seung-ryong, Kim Min, and Yoo Sung-mo are described them as "SNL Korea's F4."{{cite web|last=Jang|first=Yun-seong|title=Mentor Interview: SNL Korea's F4|url=http://www.m25.co.kr/Interview/Mento?uid=11258|access-date=2013-03-16|work=M25|publisher=MediaWill Co.|date=16 February 2013|language=ko|archive-date=2013-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507142618/http://m25.co.kr/Interview/Mento?uid=11258|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Jung|first=Min-ho|title=Funny or offensive?: Cable shows push envelope with sexual content|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/03/201_132035.html|work=The Korea Times|access-date=2013-03-17|date=13 March 2013}}

The fifth season ran on March 1, 2014, to November 29, 2014, for 35 episodes.

Narsha and Seo Eun-kwang (BtoB) joined as regular cast members, while Clara exited the program. Weekend Update was discontinued, and replaced by a mini-talk show hosted by You Hee-yeol.{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Hee-eun|title=SNL Korea revamps for 5th season|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2985062|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=2014-02-19|date=17 February 2014|archive-date=2014-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224201700/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2985062|url-status=live}}

The sixth season started on February 14, 2015, and stopped on June 20, 2015, for a temporary hiatus for the airing of The Genius: Grand Final. It resumed on September 19, 2015, and ran until December 19, 2015.

File:심형래 신동엽 SNL 코리아 아이디어 회의.jpg, Shin Dong-yup, et al., cast meeting, February 21, 2015]]

On February 17, 2021, NBCUniversal Formats and Broadway Video Enterprise announced that SNL Korea will have a new season, produced this time by AStory. The series will air on Coupang Play later in the same year.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/streaming/asia/snl-korea-coupang-play-1234981896/|title = 'SNL Korea' Revived as Original Series at Streamer Coupang Play (EXCLUSIVE)|date = 26 May 2021}}

Musical theme of the opening and closing, and between segments, are performed by the band {{ill|Common Ground (band)|lt=Common Ground|ko|커먼그라운드}}.

The Korean version follows a similar format as the American version, with a host, cast members and several skits for each episode.

• Weekend Update: News sketch that reviews the week's social, economic, and cultural issues. Anchored by Jang Jin in Seasons 1–3.{{cite news|last=Choi|first=Eun-hwa|title=Jang Jin to Debut as Newscaster in Comedy Show|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1716|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=enewsWorld|date=23 November 2011|agency=CJ E&M|archive-date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129031802/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1716|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Lee|first=In-kyung|title=SNLK's Jang Jin Gains Popularity with his Political Satire|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=2368|access-date=2013-03-10|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|date=26 December 2011|archive-date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129021820/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=2368|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Jeon|first=Su-mi|title=Jang Jin Compares Diablo 3 to Chanel Handbags on SNLK|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=7249|access-date=2013-03-10|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|date=27 May 2012|archive-date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129070943/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=7249|url-status=dead}}
• Wise Search for Life ({{Korean|hangul=슬기로운 탐구생활|labels=no}}): This pre-recorded sub-segment of Weekend Update satirizes each week's most talked-about headlines and events. Voice narration by Kim Seul-gi.
• Dispatch SNL (출동 SNL): This live-skit is also a sub-segment of WU, and includes interviews by its correspondent {{ill|Kwon Hyeok-su (actor)|lt=Kwon Hyeok-su|ko|권혁수 (배우)}}.
• SNL Invitation (SNL 초대석): This live-skit, also a sub-segment of WU, involves a person (usually the episode's host, or sometimes a cast member) in a fake or actual situation related to the week's best-known events.
• SNL Digital Short: Comedic and musical pre-recorded "video shorts" which are performed by SNLK cast members and hosts each week (usually one or two per episode). Their most popular shorts are their Grand Theft Auto parodies, ranging from the Joseon period to modern military.{{cite web|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|title=Brown Eyed Girls Admit Doing Plastic Surgery in Plastic Face Digital Short|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=24109|access-date=2013-03-16|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|date=17 December 2012}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Lee Oung-don PD's Eatable X-File: Since the latter episodes of season 3, each week Shin Dong-yup (in the role of Production Director Lee Oung-don [이엉돈 PD]) takes 3 or 4 kinds of food from the hands of other cast members for fun, to judge whether it's suitable to eat or not, then runs away quickly. It is a parody of Channel A's infotainment program {{ill|Lee Yeong-don PD's Eatable X-File|ko|이영돈 PD의 먹거리 X파일}}.
• Sa-gwa Shilup ({{Korean|hangul=사과실업|labels=no}}): This is an occasional skit that adopts a business presentation style, for advertising peculiar products. Moderated by Shin Dong-yup, while wearing clothes and make-up similar to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

The season finale of season two, broadcast on July 14, 2012, was hosted by boy band Super Junior, which was the first non-music program they appeared in as part of the promotion for their sixth studio album Sexy, Free & Single. According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, the episodes achieved a nationwide rating of 1.334%.{{cite news|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|title=SNL Korea Season 2 Closes its Curtains with Super Junior|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=9870|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=enewsWorld|date=16 July 2012|agency=CJ E&M}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Episode 13 of season 3, broadcast on December 1, 2012, and hosted by Jay Park, achieved a nationwide rating of 1.54%, with a peak of 1.85%. It recorded 1.04% ratings in the 20 to 49 age group, as well as 1.96% with a peak of 2.49% for women in their 40s, making it the most-watched program in its time slot for both age groups.{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Mi-jung|title=Jay Park Brings High Ratings to SNL Korea|url=http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=22811|access-date=2013-03-09|newspaper=enewsWorld|date=3 December 2012|agency=CJ E&M|archive-date=2013-01-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129052750/http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=22811|url-status=live}}

Nearing the conclusion of Season 8 in 2016, an episode that featured the boy band B1A4, SNL Korea released a behind-the-scenes video on their Facebook. The video features an introduction of the band and discussion of their upcoming appearance. As soon as the members are formally introduced, a group of female staff members grope the band members' genitals and run off. The video was taken off of the show's Facebook shortly after along with an apology to the members of B1A4. However, shortly after the incident, boy bands INFINITE and Block B released videos on their twitters under the hashtag "SNL_성추행" ('SNL sexual harassment') stating that this behavior was common on the show.{{cite news|last=Choi|first=R.|title="SNL Korea" Under Fire For Extremely Inappropriate "Hazing" Behavior Towards B1A4 And INFINITE|url=https://www.soompi.com/article/919379wpp/snl-korea-fire-inappropriate-hazing-behavior-towards-b1a4-infinite|access-date=14 January 2017|work=Soompi|publisher=Vicki inc.|date=26 November 2016}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=July 2025}}{{cite news|last=Chheda|first=Manthan|title='SNL Korea' female comedians caught sexually assaulting INFINITE, B1A4 members [VIDEOS]|url=http://en.yibada.com/articles/175564/20161127/snl-korea-female-comedians-caught-sexually-assaulting-infinite-b1a4-members-videos.htm|access-date=14 January 2017|work=Yibada English|agency=Yibada Inc.|publisher=Winnie Wong|date=27 November 2016}} A sexual assault case was filed by petition agency, E-People, against comedian Lee Se-young{{cite news|last=Jeong|first=G.|title=SNL Korea Sexual Assault Case Officially Submitted To The Police, Lee Se Young's Agency Responds|url=https://www.soompi.com/2016/11/30/police-receive-petition-investigation-lee-se-young/?li_source=LI&li_medium=article-recommended-articles|access-date=14 January 2017|work=Soompi|agency=Viki inc.|date=30 November 2016|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118035523/https://www.soompi.com/2016/11/30/police-receive-petition-investigation-lee-se-young/?li_source=LI&li_medium=article-recommended-articles|url-status=live}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=July 2025}} but the charges were eventually dropped.{{cite news|last=Chheda|first=Manthan|title=Lee Se Young's sexual assault charges dropped; Netizens react angrily to dismissal of case against comedian Lee Se Young's sexual assault charges dropped; Netizens react angrily to dismissal of case against comedian|url=http://en.yibada.com/articles/183196/20170104/lee-se-youngs-sexual-assault-charges-dropped-netizens-react-angrily-to-dismissal-of-case-against-comedian.htm|access-date=14 January 2017|work=Yibada English|agency=Yibada|publisher=Winnie Wong|date=4 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116171502/http://en.yibada.com/articles/183196/20170104/lee-se-youngs-sexual-assault-charges-dropped-netizens-react-angrily-to-dismissal-of-case-against-comedian.htm|url-status=live}}

SNL Korea was met with heavy criticism after airing a sketch that featured a joke about actress Um Aing-ran's chest. Um had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year and underwent surgery. Jung Yi-rang, the actress who portrayed Um in the sketch, was unaware of the severity of the condition and issued an apology to Um.{{cite news|last=Choi|first=R.|title="SNL Korea" Swept Up In Controversy For Unintentionally Poking Fun At Actress With Breast Cancer|url=https://www.soompi.com/2016/12/03/snl-korea-swept-controversy-unintentionally-poking-fun-actress-breast-cancer/|access-date=14 January 2017|work=Soompi|agency=Viki inc.|date=3 December 2016|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118035527/https://www.soompi.com/2016/12/03/snl-korea-swept-controversy-unintentionally-poking-fun-actress-breast-cancer/|url-status=live}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=July 2025}}

Season 8 of the SNL Korea ended on December 24, 2016, with singer Hwang Chi-yeul as the last host. tvN issued a statement saying that the show will return for another season but "with a new image".{{cite news|last=Do|first=K.|title="SNL Korea" To End Season, Promises To Return With New Image|url=https://www.soompi.com/2016/12/10/snl-korea-end-season-promises-return-new-image/|access-date=14 January 2017|work=Soompi|agency=Viki Inc.|date=10 December 2016}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=See reliable sources list on WP:KO/RS|date=July 2025}}{{cite web|title=SNL8, 24일 마지막 방송..."많이 반성하고 다시 오겠다"|url=http://www.dispatch.co.kr/622217|website=Dispatch|date=10 December 2016|access-date=14 January 2017}}

{{further|List of Saturday Night Live Korea episodes}}

• Gag Concert
• Infinite Challenge
• Korea's Got Talent

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://tvn.cjenm.com/ko/snl/ SNL Korea official tvN website] {{in lang|ko}}
• {{Facebook|tvnsnl|SNL Korea}}
• {{Twitter|tvn_snl|SNL Korea}}
• {{YouTube|u=oSNLKOREAo|SNL Korea}}

{{Saturday Night Live}}

{{TVN (South Korea) Variety Programs}}

Category:TvN (South Korean TV channel) original programming

Category:South Korean variety television shows

Category:2011 South Korean television series debuts

Category:2010s satirical television series

Category:2020s satirical television series

Category:2010s television sketch shows

Category:2020s television sketch shows

Category:Korean-language television shows

Korea

Category:South Korean television series based on American television series

Category:Coupang Play original programming