Jaehwa Bernardo

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From cooking to dating: Korean 'unscripted' shows coming to Netflix

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964388456BlackWhite_Unit_102-03085 (1).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A scene from the first season of &#x27;Culinary Class Wars.&#x27; <em>Photos courtesy of Netflix</em></span></span></span></div><p>While K-dramas often dominate conversations about Korean content, there is a growing appetite for the &quot;unscripted&quot; genre, referring to reality and variety shows. Reflecting this trend, Netflix announced it would launch at least one major unscripted title every month from September 2025 through February 2026.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964427739Crime Scene Zero (1).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for &#x27;Crime Scene Zero&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Crime Scene Zero</strong></div><p>The lineup opens with &quot;Crime Scene Zero,&quot; the latest installment of the mystery game series that first aired on South Korean cable network JTBC in 2014.</p><p>Premiering September 23, the 10-episode &quot;Crime Scene Zero&quot; brings together celebrity players who take on the roles of suspects and detectives in a series of mind games and dramatic twists.</p><p>The cast includes director Jang Jin, broadcaster Park Ji-yoon, comedian Jang Dong-min, actor Kim Ji-hun and K-pop star An Yujin of IVE.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964450599Physical Asia.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for &#x27;Physical: Asia&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Physical: Asia</strong></div><p>In October, the platform will debut &quot;Physical: Asia,&quot; an expanded version of &quot;Physical: 100&quot; featuring contestants from eight countries.</p><p>&quot;Physical: 100,&quot; which first premiered in 2023, initially featured men and women in prime physical condition, including South Korea&#x27;s ex-Olympians and former special forces soldiers, performing absurdly difficult challenges.</p><p>The new &quot;Physical: Asia&quot; introduces a national team format for the first time, with representatives from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.</p><p>Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has been announced as among the participants from the Philippines.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/2/4/manny-pacquiao-joins-netflix-s-physical-asia-1332"><strong>READ: Manny Pacquiao joins Netflix&#x27;s &#x27;Physical: Asia&#x27;<br/></strong></a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17569645180203 Idiots (1) (1).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for &#x27;Three Idiots in Kenya&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Three Idiots in Kenya</strong></div><p>November will see the premiere of &quot;Three Idiots in Kenya,&quot; a new variety show from celebrated producer Na Yeong-seok, marking his first collaboration with Netflix.</p><p>The series features comedian Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won of Sechs Kies and Kyuhyun of Super Junior as they embark on a comedic and unpredictable journey across Kenya.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964547619Class War.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for the second season of &#x27;Culinary Class Wars&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Culinary Class Wars (Season 2)</strong></div><p>Viewers will be treated to a delicious December with the return of the cooking competition &quot;Culinary Class Wars&quot; for its second season.</p><p>The show centers on a competition between &quot;white spoons,&quot; chefs who run acclaimed restaurants, often holding Michelin stars, and underdog chefs called &quot;black spoons.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/10/15/netflix-s-culinary-class-wars-renewed-for-2nd-season-1235"><strong>READ: Netflix&#x27;s &#x27;Culinary Class Wars&#x27; renewed for 2nd season</strong></a></div><p>The first season made history as the first Korean unscripted series to top Netflix&#x27;s Global Top 10 Non-English TV list for three consecutive weeks upon its debut, the streamer said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964574457Single&#x27;s Inferno.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for the fifth season of &#x27;Single&#x27;s Inferno&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Single&#x27;s Inferno (Season 5)</strong></div><p>In January, &quot;Single&#x27;s Inferno&quot; will kick off the new year as it enters its fifth season.</p><p>Since its 2021 debut, the dating show has stranded singles on a remote island called &quot;Inferno,&quot; where the only way out is to match with another participant. Those who succeed earn a night in a luxury hotel dubbed &quot;Paradise.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964729163AMS2_Unit_203_A00268_1 (1).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for the second season of &#x27;Agents of Mystery&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Agents of Mystery (Season 2)</strong></div><p>More mysteries await as &quot;Agents of Mystery&quot; is scheduled to return in February for its second season.</p><p>The program follows a team of celebrities as they solve elaborate mysteries.</p><p>The returning cast includes comedian Lee Yong-jin, actors Lee Hyeri and Kim Do-hoon, singer John Park, and Karina of K-pop group aespa. Joining them is dancer-choreographer Gabee, best known from &quot;Street Woman Fighter.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/8/7/netflix-s-agents-of-mystery-renewed-for-2nd-season-1036"><strong>READ: Netflix&#x27;s &#x27;Agents of Mystery&#x27; renewed for 2nd season<br/></strong></a></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756964616159Jae-seok&#x27;s BNB.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Promotional photo for &#x27;Jae-seok&#x27;s B&amp;B Rules!&#x27;</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Other shows</strong> </div><p>Viewers can also look forward to the return of &quot;Kian&#x27;s Bizarre B&amp;B&quot; for its second season as well as its spin-off &quot;Jae-seok&#x27;s B&amp;B Rules!&quot; led by popular TV personalit Yoo Jae-suk.</p><p>Netflix has also confirmed that &quot;The Devil&#x27;s Plan,&quot; where contestants face off in high-stakes games of wit and strategy, will return for a third season, with production already underway.</p><p>The well-received &quot;Better Late Than Single,&quot; a dating show spotlighting those who have never experienced a romantic relationship, will also come back for a second season, offering a mix of humor and heartfelt moments.</p>

<p>While K-dramas often dominate conversations about Korean content, there is a growing appetite for the 'unscripted' genre.</p>

While K-dramas often dominate conversations about Korean content, there is a growing appetite for the 'unscripted' genre.

Cooking, dating, mysteries: Korean 'unscripted' shows coming to Netflix

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Cooking, dating, mysteries: Korean 'unscripted' shows coming to Netflix

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 04, 2025 03:07 PM PHT

Read More:

K-content

K-unscripted

Korean variety shows

Crime Scene Zero

Physical: Asia

Three Idiots in Kenya

Culinary Class Wars

Single's Inferno

Agents of Mystery

The Devil's Plan

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