Netflix is stepping into a new era of K-unscripted entertainment with an ambitious slate revealed at Korea’s Unscripted Festival. The streamer announced that viewers can expect a “non-stop variety show slate,” rolling out at least one major unscripted title every month from September this year through February 2026.
The announcement, made through a press release, highlights Netflix’s strategy to expand its presence in the fast-growing K-entertainment ecosystem. By showcasing a wide spectrum of genres — from mystery and adventure to cooking, comedy, romance, and survival — the platform is betting big on the cultural and global appeal of Korean variety shows.
The lineup begins on September 23 with ‘Crime Scene Zero’, a highly anticipated role-playing mystery game show featuring special guests in each episode, starting with Park Sung-woong and Joo Hyun-young. October will see the launch of ‘Physical: Asia’, an extension of the hit competition ‘Physical: 100’, bringing together participants from eight countries including Korea, Japan, Thailand, Türkiye, and Australia. The global expansion of the format will also include versions in the U.S. and Italy.
In November, Netflix teams up with renowned producer Na Young-seok’s crew for the first time, releasing ‘Three Idiots’ in Kenya. The travel-comedy stars Lee Su-geun, Eun Ji-won, and Kyuhyun in a lighthearted adventure across Africa. December follows with ‘Culinary Class Wars’ Season 2, building on the global success of its debut season, which had sparked industry-wide conversations on food culture and competition formats.
The new year will open with the return of ‘Single’s Inferno’ in January 2026, marking its fifth season and reinforcing its status as a global favorite. February will feature ‘Agents of Mystery’ Season 2, while production has also begun on ‘The Devil’s Plan’ Season 3 from acclaimed creator Jeong Jong-yeon.
Netflix also confirmed new entries into its quirky ‘guesthouse universe’, with ‘Kian’s Bizarre B&B Season 2’ and Jae-seok’s B&B Rules! already generating strong audience engagement. Over 55,000 teams applied to participate, with around 3,500 people interviewed, underscoring Yoo Jae-suk’s enduring popularity. Additionally, ‘Better Late Than Single’ returns for a second season, promising a mix of humor and heartfelt storytelling.
Kihwan Yoo, Director of Content (Korea) at Netflix, said last year’s breakout hits demonstrated the cultural impact of K-variety. “Culinary Class Wars sparked fresh conversations within the food industry, while Physical: 100 branching into international editions shows how content can deliver new experiences to broader audiences,” he noted, crediting producers, cast, and crew for their relentless efforts to raise the quality of shows.
From travel escapades and survival challenges to food battles and heartwarming romance, Netflix’s new slate underscores its push to collaborate with both established and emerging creators in Korea. With a continuous stream of premieres set over the next 18 months, the platform is positioning its K-unscripted lineup as a global driver of innovation and cultural storytelling.
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