Infinite Challenge

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Infinite Challenge (Template:Ko-hhrm; abbreviated as Template:Lang Mudo) is a South Korean television entertainment program, distributed and syndicated by MBC. As of January 2013, it had the largest market share for its timeslot; with between 13 and 17 percent of Korean television viewers watching Infinite Challenge every Saturday night.[1] making it the most-watched free-to-air television program on Saturday evenings, and the most viewed non-drama program in South Korea every week (excluding special sporting events, since November 2006, with the exception of January 2009,[2] April and May 2010[3]).[4] It has kept the same scheduled time, since first airing in 2005. Since 2009, it lasts for roughly 75 minutes, excluding ten minutes of advertising. Episodes are also frequently rerun on several Korean cable broadcasting channels.[5] Since February 19, 2011 (episode 237), the program has been aired in high-definition.[6] Infinite Challenge has been called “the nation’s variety show” and “Korea’s real first variety” for having been successful for over ten years.[7]

Contents

[

]

Infinite Challenge is recognized as the first “Real-Variety” show in Korean television history. The program is largely unscripted and follows a similar format of challenge-based reality television programs, familiar to some audiences in the West. The challenges are often silly, absurd, or impossible to achieve, so the program takes on the aspect of a satirical comedy variety show rather than a more standard reality or contest program. In earlier episodes, the show’s six hosts and staff would continuously proclaim that, in order to achieve its comedic purposes, the program was 3-D: Dirty, Dangerous, and Difficult.[8]

Occasional segments

[

]

These segments are part of the show but are only featured from time to time.

Recent segments

“Muhan News” – This comic-based newscast presents bits of stories which report events that happened to some or all of the cast members, and also reports on aspects of their life outside of the program. As
Yoo Jae-suk

, the moderator of this newscast, says at the beginning of the segment every time, the segment is ‘just for fun’ rather than reporting real events. Since Season 4, this segment has become very infrequent and turned to focus more on actual events in the hosts’ lives while still maintaining a balance between facts and humor.
“Muhan Company” – This is the one of the program’s regular comic sketches (another one is “Park Myungsoo is Twelve Years Old”) and being scripted unlike other Infinite Challenge contents. In this segment, the cast played as the employees from a fictional company called “Muhan Company” (
Template:Lang-ko

) which their characters mainly based on the members’ respective characters. “Muhan Company” originally was the cast’s recreation of old Korean conte by late comedian

Kim Hyung-gon

called “President, President, Our President” (

Template:Lang-ko

), portraying a comic situation of the board of directors of one company, for a special episode following Haha’s return from his military service (S04E199). However, this conte later developed into an episode-long sketch where the concept of board of directors was changed to the staff of one department with Yoo Jae-suk as its head.
“Ha & Soo” – A
situation comedy

(sitcom,

Template:Lang-ko

) acted out by

Jeong Jun-ha

and

Park Myeong-su

. Park Myung-soo’s aggressive, hot-tempered character is highly contrast with Jeong Jun-ha’s timid, simple-minded character and made them constantly quarreling with each other about petty issues. Unlike with other segments, Ha & Soo is not planned in advance. Rather, when Jeong and Park start arguing (usually initiated by Park), other members and the editing team label it as another segment of ‘Ha & Soo’. They the “Best Couple” award at the 2011 MBC Entertainment Awards, making them the first male-male couple to have ever won the title[9]
“Hidden Camera” (
Template:Lang-ko

) – Besides being a key aspect of Jimotmi, the cast and staff of the show also perform hidden-camera segments in which they record the members’ natural behavior to certain contrived situations.

Former segments

“Jimotmi” – Jimotmi which stands for 지켜주지 못해서 미안해 (Jikyeojuji motaeseo mianhae), which means ‘Sorry I could not look out for you.’ In this segment, the members play hidden-camera pranks on each other to see how they react.
“Muhan Theatre” – The cast members of Infinite Challenge unexpectedly present a conte (short-term comic stories). One of the
conte

, “Muhan Company”, later developed into the show’s featured sketch (see above)
“Please, be…”(series) – This segment was introduced to instill common principles to all of the members (apart from their trademark, ‘
selfishness

‘). ‘”Please, come early”‘ (

Template:Lang-ko

) and ‘”Please, be friendly”‘ (

Template:Lang-ko

, featuring

Ha-Ha

and

Jeong Hyeong-don

) were two memorable forms of this segment.
Ah-Ha – A Korean word game in which one member says a word, and the next person must then say that word backwards. For example, ‘Mu-han-do-jeon’ (Name of this program in
Korean

) would be ‘Jeon-do-han-mu.’ Members who failed or made mistakes would be hit over the head. This segment premiered in the 2nd season (Infinite Challenge – The Master of Quiz) and was played occasionally in following seasons.
“One-flash Telepathy” – After hearing a word which has been given from the production booth, each member presents a gesture that he believes best represents that word. The members win a round if all six members perform the same gesture and face a punishment if they do not. The original alleged purpose of this segment was to unite the minds of the members; however, they have yet to succeed. Voice narration for this segment (including ‘Ah-ha’) was done by
Na Gyeong-eun

, who serves as an announcer for the MBC and eventually married

Yoo Jae-suk

.
Television Advertisements – Throughout the episodes, the hosts create some satirical Korean
television advertisements

. For example,

Jeong Jun-ha

performed a parody of

Neutrogena

by

New Caledonia

and also

Hauzen

by

Samsung Electronics

.
Calendar-making Project – During the last three years (2009, 2010, 2011), the members of Infinite Challenge have created a series of unique calendars and donated all profits from these sales to charity. This project has succeed every seasons.[10]

2008 Host-in-Chief Elections

[

]

Candidates

Votes

Notes

Yoo Jae-suk

5 (13.9%)

Park Myeong-su

10 (27.8%)

Elected, but thought to have
meddled with the votes

Jeong Jun-ha

7 (19.4%)

Jeong Hyeong-don

6 (16.7%)

Noh Hong-chul

2 (5.5%)

Ha Dong-hoon

6 (16.7%)

Others

(Invalid votes)

Total
42 (100.0%)

Turnout: 84.0%

After a humorous request by Park Myeong-su to have ‘a new leader in a new year 2008’, all Infinite Challenge members and staff held a vote for a new ‘host-in-chief’ on December 31, 2007, at the nation’s own natural gas field near Ulsan.[11] This episode aired on January 12, 2008.

Major Campaign Pledges

Park Myeong-su

– Promised that he will wipe out the ‘unpopular’ and ‘old-fashioned’ comedy, if elected (썩은개그, 낡은개그 청산)
Jeong Jun-ha

– Providing ‘Winter clothes’ for all hard-working staff (모든 스태프에게 방한복 지급)
Ha Ha

– Liberalization of individual hairstyle (두발 자유화)
Jeong Hyeong-don

– Serving a wide range (selection) of lunch for all members and staff (다양한 중식 제공)
Yoo Jae-suk

(

Inc.

) – Pledged for all eligible voters to serve as a host-in-chief again (재선 도전)

Votings
All entertainment managers and co-ordinators cast their vote earlier that day (06:00 AM) at the South gate of the MBC Headquarters, and the members and other staff of the MBC voted the night of the election, after attending a meeting where all candidates stated their pledges. All votes were counted on the morning of New Year’s Day (08:00 AM).

Results
Most voters expected Yoo Jae-suk to return as the ‘host-in-chief’ without much difficulty. However, to everyone’s shock, Park Myeong-su was found to have earned the most of the votes. (On-air evidence suggests that Park somehow rigged the vote box, as he attempted and succeeded in destroying the evidence caught on CCTV. Furthermore, the tally after the vote count had only 36 votes, when Yoo Jae-suk had declared that there were 42 votes the previous day.) Therefore, Park Myeong-su was elected as the new host-in-chief. Following an agreement that every candidate agreed to before the election, the new host-in-chief’s leadership was to be tested in the next 3 weeks, and if the winner did not show sufficient leadership skills, they were to be recalled and a re-election was to be held. Also as a result of this vote, Noh Hong-chul, the candidate with the fewest votes, was chosen to prepare traditional goods (a grand sum of 200 kg rice from Icheon). He chose the new leader Park Myeong-su to help him with this task.

Aftermath

Candidates

Party Name

Votes

Notes

Yoo Jae-suk

Kung-festival Party (쿵잔치당)

29 (60.4%)

Elected, Regained
his leadership

Park Myeong-su

Wideopened-hair Party (열린머리당)

3 (6.3%)

Jeong Jun-ha

Our

Ji-min

Party (우리지민당)

0 (0.0%)

Jeong Hyeong-don

Creative Awkward Party (창조어색당)

7 (14.6%)

Ha Ha

Absentee Party (무재자당)

5 (10.4%)

Total
48 (100.0%)

Turnout: 96.0%

At the beginning of episode 88 of season 3, (assisting MBC’s historical drama series ‘
Yi San

‘ challenge; aired on January 19, 2008), Host-in-chief

Park Myeong-su

nominated his manager Jeong Seok-kwon as the chairperson of the ‘Host-in-chief Transition Committee,’ despite

Yoo Jae-suk

, who had been left at the bottom by the other members on that day, strongly arguing and resisting this change. However,

Park Myeong-su

eventually did his job of opening and closing that episode, calling the program ‘Host-in-Chief Park’s Muhan Dojeon’.
After a poor performance for three whole weeks by
Park Myeong-su

, he announced at a “press conference” (prepared by Infinite Challenge) that he would, following the promise, step down as the three weeks have passed, and wait for the new election to take place.

Yoo Jae-suk

was appointed as

interim

host-in-chief on February 2, 2008. The second host-in-chief election was held on February 4, 2008 at the MBC Dream Center in

Ilsan

. The re-election coverage was on air on March 15, 2008. At the re-election,

Yoo Jae-suk

won the majority of the votes and was once again reinstated as the ‘host-in-chief.’

WM7

[

]

From July 2009, with Park Myeong-su as president of their club (협회장), the members started training for the long-term WM7 (Wrestling Muhan 7) project, in which they would attempt to stage a professional wrestling show as part of Infinite Challenge. Inviting Son Star (손스타), junior-professional wrestler and the drummer for popular band Cherry Filter, as their coach, the members began learning professional wrestling moves to perform in front of an audience. After numerous injuries (including a concussion suffered by Jeong Hyeong-don), setbacks, and delays, the members finally put on a performance in front of a live audience on August 19, 2010 at Jangchung Gymnasium. The training process itself was broadcast in several half-hour segments within full episodes, except for the last two episodes (which were of the wrestling show itself), from July 3, 2010 to September 11 for a total of 11 episodes. MBC eventually released a DVD edition of this challenge, featuring several unaired segments and stories and the full uncut performance.

2014 Decision

[

]

Mirroring the 2008 Host-in-Chief election, the Infinite Challenge members and crews held a nationwide election to choose not only a leader of Infinite Challenge for the next 10 years, but to promote the citizen’s participation on the upcoming 2014 South Korean local elections.[12]

Major Campaign Pledges

Ha Ha

– “I will protect Infinite Challenge“, promised for a new and fresh generation of leadership
Jeong Hyeong-don

– “I will make you cry after you laugh”, promised to set up a Ratings Emergency Response Headquarter
Yoo Jae-suk

(

Inc.

) – “I will stay with the fundamentals of entertainment shows”, promised for stay in the fundamentals of the show and bring the members that has not fully put their efforts on the show to be flogged in public
Noh Hong-chul

– “I will show you everything”, promised for uncovering every members’ and crews’ secrets as well as featuring the members’ spouses and kids on the show
Park Myeong-su

– As he running as a candidate for blocking Yoo Jae-suk’s effort only, he has no any campaign pledge and going with “Seung-chul, let me buy a food” slogan instead
Jeong Jun-ha

pledged that the members who has not being funny in three weeks a row must demoted temporarily from the shows and let other new talents to take a place.

Internet polling
The crews held two internet polls, first based on their preference of members’ pledges and then after the first episode of Decision 2014 specials aired (May 3, 2014). About 10,000 people participated on the polls. Yoo Jae-suk won the first internet poll with 29%, but lost it to Noh Hong-chul with 44% of votes on the second poll. The result of the second poll alarmed the rest of members who worried that their personal secrets would be revealed if Noh Hong-chul win the actual election. Haha and Jeong Jun-ha then dropped out their nominations and supported Jeong Hyeong-don instead. Park Myeong-su who was running for blocking Yoo Jae-suk’s effort on the election ironically supported his former rival, making the actual election was participated by three candidates only (Jeong Hyeong-don, Yoo Jae-suk, and Noh Hong-chul).

Candidates

Spot polls

Internet votes

Combined votes

Yoo Jae-suk

40,644 (42.63%)

156,551 (43.12%)

197,195 (42.8%)

Noh Hong-chul

35,322 (37.04%)

116,563 (32.11%)

151,885 (34.52%)

Jeong Hyeong-don

(supported by

Ha Ha

Jeong Jun-ha

Park Myeong-su

)

19,327 (20.17%)

89,933 (24.77%)

109,260 (22.68%)

Total
95,351
363,047
458,398

Votings
About 50,000 people, including the members of Infinite Challenge, cast their votes on May 22, 2014 on the polling stations at ten major cities on South Korea (Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, Gwangju, Busan, Jeju, Chuncheon, and Jeonju). Another 34,000 people cast their votes earlier on the preliminary voting on May 17–18, 2014. Internet voting also held at the same time of actual poll for the people who not able to cast their votes on the polling stations. 363,047 people participated on the internet voting.

Result
The winner of Infinite Challenge’s Decision 2014 is decided by combining the spot polls and the online votes by 50:50 percentage. Yoo Jae-suk won the election by defeating Noh Hong-chul with 45,310 marginal votes or 8.29% of the combined votes.

Infinite Challenge Song Festival

[

]

Started from 2007, the first festival was won by Haha “The Story of a Short Kid (키작은 꼬마 이야기)”, the hosts randomly collaborate with real musicians in order to compete for the “Infinite Challenge Song Festival” that is held every two years.

History

[

]

Season 1

[

]

Template:Further information
The title of Season 1 was Reckless Challenge (무모한 도전). Led by Yoo Jae-suk, six or more Korean entertainers (with Noh Hong-chul and Jeong Hyeong-don as a regular members) tried to complete a ‘sporting’ mission in an outdoor studio, which was based on a viewer’s suggestion submitted through the show’s homepage. Some of the absurd challenges included racing in a foot-powered swan-shaped paddle boat against a motor boat, playing a tennis match against Maria Sharapova, appearing live on stage at a public fashion show, and playing football against Thierry Henry. A large part of the humor comes from the fact that the cast is generally not well-suited to the challenges they attempt. This program can be compared to the filmed-in-studio Wetten, dass..? of Germany, as the program mainly focuses on the process and progress of the challenges, rather than focusing on the accomplishment of a mission.[13] This format lasted only from April 23, 2005 to October 22, 2005. Despite having a strong following, its average ratings were very low (roughly 5 percent). Due to its sports-related theme, reruns of Season 1 and sports-related episodes of Season 4 (i.e. WM7) episodes are frequently aired on MBC Sportsplus, MBC’s satellite and cable network for sports-casting.

Season 2 and 3

[

]

Template:Further information
From October 29, 2005 to April 30, 2006, Season 2 was titled Excessive Challenge (무리한 도전). For the first few episodes, the program was fairly similar to the first season. However, because the cast members wanted to redefine their characters, they decided to change the whole program concept, calling it Infinite Challenge – Master of Quiz in the third season. Since then, six hosts (with Yoo Jae-suk as ‘host-in-chief’) played a Korean-letter game called ‘Ah-ha’ (see below); competed in their knowledge and mental power; participated in on-line popularity polls about specific themes; and explored other comic features.[14] Although the average ratings were low, the unity and dynamics of the members significantly improved. A panelist from Season 1, Park Myeong-su, came back as a co-host, and Haha and Jeong Jun-ha also became co-hosts of the program.

Season 4

[

]

Template:Further information
On May 6, 2006, the fourth and current season (format) of the program that now simply known as Infinite Challenge (무한도전), went on air. Special coverage of 2006 World Cup Germany was featured for the entire month of June 2006, along with some ‘Ah-ha’ specials (with Shinhwa, for example) at the beginning of each episode. However, in July 8, 2006, the program took its memorable first step as the first ‘Real-Variety’ television program in Korean television history, with the airing of a segment called ‘Please, come early’: The six members were asked to come to the recording session on time or experience some form of punishment (일찍 와주길 바래, a part of the ‘Please, be…’ series see below), combining elements of both Reality TV and Variety programming, including comic characters from each of the Infinite Challenge members, see ‘hosts’). Thereafter, the program has created challenges with regard to anything related to real life (excluding some critical issues such as religions and sexual preferences), in outdoor studios, with little use of acting or heavily based plotting. Since December 2, 2006, the program has received the highest ratings of prime-time lineups for Saturday evening.[15]

In January 2012, the program took a 6-month hiatus due to a labor strike conducted by MBC’s reporters and producers. During this period, new episodes were not produced and MBC, instead, aired reruns of previous episodes.[16] In November 2015, Muhan Dojeon arranged special exhibition and expo titled “Expo of Muhan Dojeon”, in KINTEX.[17] The program took a 7-week hiatus from broadcast in early 2017, which Kim Tae-ho, the main PD, signified as a period to normalize the production process which has been shorten considerably where the production team had less time and always rushed to meet the deadline. The PD also reveals that the program still continues their regular shooting schedules while being off the air.[18]

Hosts

[

]

Timeline

[

]

8608c59117ae20ecb3a1a08830047d06

Current

[

]

Name

Joined

Nickname

Character Description and Notes

Yoo Jae-suk

(유재석, Host-in-chief)

Since April 2005

Captain Yoo (유반장)[19]
The First-in-command (1인자)
Nation’s MC (국민 MC)
The grasshopper (메뚜기)
Playboy Yoo/Nal Yoo (날유)
The Sun (해님)
God Yoo(유느님)
Mr. My-Nipples-Below (저쪼아래)

As host-in-chief, he led all Infinite Challenge members in attempting to reach the goal of each episode. In 2008, he was temporarily replaced by Park Myeong-Su, but was reinstated as host-in-chief several weeks later.

Park Myeong-su

(박명수)

May – July 2005[20]
Oct. 2005 – present

Giant Star/Geo-seong (거성)[21]
Father (아버지)
The Second-in-command (2인자)
The Son of the Devil (악마의 아들)
NYSD(뉴욕쇠독)
Rash Man(깨방정)
Sancho Park (산초박)
Alien (외계인)
The leafhopper/Rice insect (벼멸구)
Worthless older brother (하찮은 형)
Unique Myeong-su (고유명수)
(A play on 고유명사/”Proper noun”)
CEO Park/Park sajang (박사장)
Point five (쩜오)
Great Park (그레이트 박)
Flag Park(박깃발)
The odd one out (쭈구리)
Peter(피터)
Reversal Park (박번복)
Ten Jobs (십잡스)
Mr. Tricky Park
Winner Park (박대상)
One head, Two smell (한 머리 두 냄새)
Waiter Park (웨이터 박)
Senior Park (박선배)
Boy Park (소년명수)
Laughter Hunter (웃음 사냥꾼)
Three Meals Myeong-su (명수세끼)
DJ Park(DJ 박)
Laughter dead (웃음 사망꾼)

Park has continuously proclaimed his nickname (Geo-seong, or Giant Star). He is often referred to as “Father” by the rest of the members due to his elderly look and his position as the oldest member of the program. This is especially prevalent when Myeong-su’s receding hair is flattened or his make-up is removed. See

his page

for more details. His (on-air) persona is that of a veteran grumpy “upperclassman” of the other members. He often shouts or reprimands his “underclassmen,” usually about humorously trivial matters. Thanks to his current work as the co-host of Infinite Challenge, Park Myeong-su gained more than 250 nicknames throughout his appearances on the program as listed by the netizens.[22]

Jeong Jun-ha

(정준하)

Since March 2006

The Helmet (헬멧),[23]
The Lord of Eating (식신)
Monster (괴물)
The Third-in-command (3인자)
Stupid brother (바보형)
Mr. Jeong Joong-ang (정중앙씨)
Fat-fatso (뚱뚱보)
Jjeori Jjang (쩌리짱)
Global Moron[24]
Cool Guy(쿨가이)
Manager Jeong (정총무)
Jeong Jun-yeon-a(정준연아)
(

Kim Yuna

Parody)
Somewhat lacking but a good friend
(약간 모자라지만 착한 친구)
Jonathan(조나단)
The Lovester(사랑 전도사, 사랑꾼)
Wax drippings Jeong (정촛농)
Grandfather (할아버지)
Icon of Aging (노화의 아이콘)
Variety Show Zombie
Jung Jun Ha-rabogi (Jung Jun Grandfather)
The man that shook the world through dieting
Funeral Photo Jun Ha
The Creation Myth of The Dieting World
Ndotto’s Father (도토 아빠)
MC Minzy (MC 민지)

His character is mainly defined by 3 things: his size (often referred to as being 0.1 tons, or 100 kilograms), appetite, and a degree of slowness in judgment. His extraordinarily large head (supposedly 8 kg) has gotten him, on a few occasions, called “Chivas Degal” (Degal = is a shortened word for “Degari”, a vernacular word for “head”). In the 50th episode special of season 3, he was challenged to eat 50 plates of noodles in five minutes. The plates altogether weighed about 10–30 kg. (He succeeded, but had to go straight to the lavatory and subsequently slept in the back of the studio). On episode 61 of season 3, he went to a hair salon with Hong-chul to curl Hong-chul’s hair. He asked a woman who was working there if she knew Jun-ha’s name, but she said Joong-ang by mistake. Since that time, the members, including the creator

Yoo Jae-suk

, have frequently teased him as Mr. Jeong Joong-ang (정중앙씨), which means ‘Mr. Square-in-the-middle’.

Haha

(하하)
(Ha Dong-hoon, 하동훈)

December 2005 – March 2008

March 2010 – present

Shorty (단신)
Childhood friend(with Noh Hong-chul)
(죽마고우)
Little one (꼬마)
The

M.A.

Ha (석사 하하)
The Top Little one(상꼬맹이)
The Friend Who Lacking If Compared With the One At the Same Age
(또래에 비해 떨어지는 친구)
Hybrid Sammy Sosa Rio Levy (하이브리드 샘이솟아 리오레이비)

Haha is long considered the cutest and best-looking member of the cast. He is also the most-educated member, having obtained a

Master of Arts

in Theatre & Film at

Daejin University

; however, during the episode of the 50th special, he only got 20 points on a 100-point elementary-level spelling test. In episode 62 of season 3, he sang a song called ‘A Little Boy’s Story’ (키작은 꼬마 이야기) as a tribute to his short height, which is a constant target of ridicule among the cast. It was a huge sensation with viewers. Haha temporarily left the show from March 2008 through March 2010 in order to fulfill his mandatory military service. In his final episode before entering the service, Haha performed at a guerrilla concert that was secretly organized by his fellow co-hosts.

Yang Se-hyung

(양세형)

March 2017 – present

Yang Se Bari (양세바리)

Similar to Gil’s early appearances on the show, Yang Se-hyung first appeared on the show regularly as a de facto member. He made his first appearance in the ‘Perfect Sense’ segment of episodes 474 and 475 in April 2016. After appearing regularly for almost a year, Yang Se-hyung was added to the show intro when Infinite Challenge returned from their 7-week break on March 18, 2017.

Former

[

]

Name

Joined

Nickname

Character Description and Notes

Jun Jin

(전진)
(Park Chung-Jae, 박충재)

July 2008 – November 2009

Junstin Jinberlake (전스틴)
The roll-in kid (굴러들어온 놈)
Jan Jin (잔진)
The Million Dollar Boy (백만돌이)

In June 2008,

Shinhwa

member Jun Jin appeared on the show to replace Haha. Jin showed his extraordinary physical talent and was a target for all the other members of Infinite Challenge, who envied his looks and abilities during many challenges.

Gil

(길)
(Gil Seong-joon, 길성준)

April 2009 – April 2014

Baldy/Bbaak-Bbaak-ei (빡빡이)
Come between-Gil(이간길)
Honey jar(꿀단지)
Fat-fat-fatso (뚱뚱뚱보)
Ip-sae (입새)
(as he only brushes his teeth once a day)
Gilmeo (길메오)
(as a ‘cameo’ proclaimed by Yoo Jae-suk)
Overreacting (무리수)
The friend who born unfunny
(태생적으로 재미없는 친구)
Icon of Betrayal (배신의 아이콘)

Gil made his first appearance on an episode which featured Korean figure skater

Kim Yuna

in April 2009, ostensibly substituting for Jeong Jun-ha, who had to leave the episode recording early. He remained a de facto member of Infinite Challenge until he became a full member later that year. During the

Boxing

episodes in January 2010, Gil showed off his 9-year-long training in the sport. Gil is often called the Unfunny Friend due to his inability to ad-lib as quickly as the other co-hosts.

On April 23, 2014, Gil was caught by the police due to drunk-driving. Fans of the variety show have been flooding the board with requests for Gil to leave the show for his inappropriate actions. Eventually, the MBC executives announced his leave on the same day.[25]

Noh Hong-chul

(노홍철)

April 2005 – November 2014

Stone Kid/Psychopath/Crazykid/Dol+I
(‘돌+아이’),[26]
Childhood friend(with Haha)
(죽마고우)
Quickmouth (퀵마우스)[27]
Noh Jji-rong (노찌롱)
Global Fraudster(글로벌 사기꾼)
Noh big-jaw(노하관)
Fraudster (사기꾼)
Affirmation Noh (노긍정)
Anal Fistula Patient(치루치루)
Dekopon (한라봉)
Ppakku (빡구)

‘

돌+아이/Dol+I

‘ was created by

Yoo Jae-suk

during episode 22 of season 3. Quickmouth was his original character, due to his ability to speak very rapidly. 돌+아이 (when written without the plus sign) is a Korean curse word meaning psychopath, or an extremely crazy person. Since this is a show watched by families, the staff humorously put a plus (+) sign in the middle to separate the word so its literal meaning becomes ‘Stone+Kid’ when in actuality it means ‘psycho’. On-screen graphics often depict this nickname by displaying a large capital ‘I’ that looks to be made of stone (‘아이’ is pronounced like the letter ‘I’).

Similarly to former member Gil, Noh Hong-chul was caught driving under influence of alcohol on November 7, 2014. Following the incident, Noh Hong-chul released an official apology to the public through MBC.[28] On the afternoon of November 8, MBC announced that Noh Hong Chul would be leaving the show and Infinite Challenge would continue on with the five remaining cast members.[29]

Jeong Hyeong-don

(정형돈)

April 2005 – November 2015

Fatso (뚱보)
Awkward fatso (어색한 뚱보)[30]
Jinsang (진상, nuisance)
Jeong Hang-don (정항돈)
The Moon (달님)
Doni (도니)
Crazy Existence (미친존재감)
Gaehwadong Orange-Tribe
(개화동 오렌지족)
Top Four MC (4대천왕)

A comedian by profession before joining the team, Jeong Hyeong-don used to appear in the Korean comedy show

Gag Concert

(where Do-Re-Mi Trio being one of his many skits). However, over many episodes, he has demonstrated remarkable talent in everything imaginable (for example, catching grapes with his mouth or playing a Korean jump-rope game) except being funny. He is teased by the other members for this. His character is also defined by the ability to make anyone around him feel awkward (as seen in the earlier episode)

In November 2015, Jung Hyeong-don had suspended all broadcasting activities due to health reasons.

On July 29, 2016, Jeong Hyeong-don’s label, FNC Entertainment, officially announced that Jeong Hyeong-don would permanently leave the show after a nine-month hiatus from the broadcast due to poor health condition.[31][32]

Hwang Kwanghee

(황광희)

April 2015 – March 2017

Paper Doll (종이인형)
Incarnation Of Envy (질투의 화신)
Bad Actor (발연기)
Amberjack Kwanghee
Music Industry AlphaGo.

Hwang Kwanghee was the youngest member among the cast of Infinite Challenge while he was on the show. A member of

ZE:A

idol group, Hwang Kwanghee joined the Infinite Challenge cast in April 2015. He was selected through the Sixth Man project which was held in order to fill the empty position after Noh Hong-chul left the program following a drunk driving incident.

Kwanghee left the program in march 2017 in order to complete his military duty.[33]

Occasional Appearances

[

]

There are a number of people who both individually work for this program and irregularly appear with Infinite Challenge members (hosts). They are frequently referred to as ‘the 8th member’ (제8의 멤버).

Name

Nickname

Occupation

Character Description and Notes

Defconn

(데프콘)

Daepho-phone(대포폰)
Peh-conn-ie(프콘이)

Singer
Long-time buddy of

Jeong Hyeong-don

Since MuDo’s ‘

Rowing

challenge’ during the Spring-Summer season of 2011, he is the frequent pinch-hitter of this programme, while one or more cast members in absence. Together with Jung Hyung-don, he formed a

hip-hop

duo “

Hyeongdon and Daejoon

” (형돈이와 대준이). Defconn currently is the cast member of KBS2 Sunday variety show,

2 Days & 1 Night

Jeong Seok-kwon
(정석권)

Manager Jeong
(Jeong Sil-jang 정실장) Narrow-mouth Frog Brother (Mangkongei Hyong 맹꽁이형)

Long-time buddy &
Entertainment Manager of

Park Myeong-su

While serving as a manager, Jeong Sil-jang had aspirations to be a comedian in his own right. Whenever he was given a chance to appear on-screen, he was often ridiculed by other cast members for attempting to constantly outperform others and for overacting in order to gain attention. As such, many of his parts were usually edited out of the final broadcast. To restrain his growing popularity,

Park Myeong-su

often teasingly ordered that his manager not appear on the show again.

Choi Jong-hun
(최종훈)

Choi Co-ordi. (최코디)
Almighty Co-ord. Choi
(Man-neung Choi-codi
/만능 최코디)

Entertainment Manager of

Jeong Jun-ha

As Jeong Jun-ha’s coordinator, Choi also hoped to become a rising star as a professional actor his common hope of rising stardom (as a professional actor), with a lot of help from

Jeong Jun-ha

himself.[34] He prepared a bunch of radishes for the members on ‘

Kimchi

Preparation’ (S03E30) and ‘

Jun

(Semi-)

Hines Ward

‘(S03E77) episodes well, and he presented his professional agricultural skills on the episodes ‘MD Goes to country’ (S03E25) and ‘Rice-planting’ (S03E56).

Kim Oak-jeong
(김옥정)

Mrs. Kim (김옥정 여사)
Oak-jeong Kim (옥정 킴)
Jung d’Oak-jeong (융드옥정, named after her favourite outfit, the Jung Dress)

Mother of

Ha Ha

As has been regularly reported by the hosts, Kim has minimal cooking skills and is often humorously featured on the show to feed the cast members. She appeared for the first time in episode 83 of the third season; her closing comment of ‘Hit that jackpot!’ (Dae-bak Teo-ji-se-yo! 대박 터지세요) became an enormously popular new-year greeting.

TEO

Kim Tae-ho

(김태호)

Bro. TEO

(태호 형)
TEO PD (태호 PD)

Executive Producer of Infinite Challenge

A pioneer of Korean entertainment, Kim Tae-ho produces and directs the show. Besides helping to create the unique Real-Variety format, Kim also innovated Korean television by adding unique captions to the show. Although captions are commonplace on Korean variety shows, Kim’s captions went beyond simple descriptions or commentary, adding information on cast members’ emotions and expressing reactions to the show, giving the captions an interactive feel that aligned with the viewing audience’s thoughts. With high sensitivity for fashion, he gained extraordinary popularity when he officially opened his ‘

Cyworld

‘ webpage. Although his presence is mostly felt through his captioning and occasional off-screen soundbites, he appeared as a

witness

of the

Moot court

challenge, which aired on February 20, 2010.

Kim Tae-hee
(김태희)

Writer Kim (김태희 작가)

Writer of Infinite Challenge

As a high-profiled co-writer of Muhan Dojeon and a

Korean actress

-namesake, she enjoys her huge popularity from dedicated viewers. During the ‘Making a song for X-mas challenge'(S03E33) episode, she became very popular when

Noh Hong-chul

said that she ‘has the posterior of (actress)

Kim Tae-hee

, but the front of Muhan Dojeon (infinitely challenging).’

Shin Mi-so
(신미소)

Miso Co-ordi. (미소코디)

Fashion Co-ordinator of

Yoo Jae-suk

Busan

-native who helped assemble

Yoo Jae-suk

‘s wardrobe, Shin was also a popular ‘guest’ on the show. She debuted during a ‘100-minute Debate’ (episode 42 of season 3), in which she was caught falling asleep in the audience. This incident made her name the top online keyword of March 2007. She was also featured when she accidentally broke a set of illuminators when

Lee Young-ae

appeared on Muhan Dojeon (episode 52 of season 3). She eventually appeared as a co-host of ‘Madness Couples’ (episode 75 of season 3) with the Host-in-chief

Yoo Jae-suk

. She was known to be able to argue with all six members of the show, earning her the nickname ‘

Aegis ship

.’

Awards and nominations

[

]

Year
Award
Category
Recipients
Result

2006
6th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Daesang (Grand Prize)

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

Best Programme; Voted By Netizen

TEO PD

with entire directing crew of Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

Distinguished Male Award

Haha

Template:Won

Excellence Award in a Variety Show

Park Myeong-su

Template:Won

2007
MBC Programme Creating Award
Outstanding Entertainment Programme

TEO PD

Template:Won

Best Programme

Template:Won

Meritorious Service Medal

Template:Won

7th MBC Entertainment Awards
Best Programme; Voted By Viewers
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

Congeniality Award

Park Myeong-su

Template:Won

2008
8th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Best Variety Show
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

Outstanding Male Entertainer

Jeong Hyeong-don

Template:Won

Special Award – Best Star

Jun Jin

Template:Won

89th National Athletic Competition
Aerobic Amateur Club 6-People 2nd place

Park Myeong-su

Template:Won

44th

Baeksang Arts Awards

Best Entertainment Program
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

20th Korean Broadcasting Awards
Best TV Entertainment Programme

TEO PD

Template:Won

2009
9th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Grand Prize (Daesang)

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

Excellence Award in a Variety Show

Noh Hong-chul

Template:Won

Best New Male Entertainer

Gil Seong-joon

Template:Won

PD Award

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

Producer of the Year
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

People’s Choice – Best Entertainment Program

Template:Won

36th Korean Broadcasting Awards
Best TV (Programme) Director

TEO PD

Template:Won

Best TV Entertainment Programme

Template:Won

2010
10th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Daesang (Grand Prize)

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

Top Excellence Award in a Variety Show

Park Myeong-su

Template:Won

Bizarre Award

Park Myeong-su

Template:Won

11th Korean National Assembly Awards
Best TV Program of the Year

TEO PD

with entire directing crew of Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

22nd Korean Producers Awards
Best TV Entertainment Program

Template:Won

2011
11th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Top Excellence Award in a Variety Show

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

“Best Couple” Award

Park Myeong-su

Jeong Jun-ha

Template:Won

Template:Refn

Popularity Award

Jung Jae-hyung

Template:Won

53rd Annual National Rowing Championships
2000m Novice Inn (Special Award)
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

MelOn Music Awards

Nóng Trend Award
Infinite Challenge West Coast Highway Song Festival

Template:Won

Korea Women Link blue media
Family Award (The Butterfly Effect Feature)
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

2012
12th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Daesang (Grand Prize)[35]

Park Myeong-su

Template:Won

PD Award

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

“Best Couple” Award

Kim C

& Jo Jung Chi

Template:Won

2013
13th

MBC Entertainment Awards

[36]
Programme of the Year Award
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

Popularity Award

Noh Hong-chul

Template:Won

“Best Couple” Award

Jeong Hyeong-don

G-Dragon

Template:Won

Top Excellence Award in a Variety Show

Jeong Hyeong-don

Template:Won

49th

Baeksang Arts Awards

Daesang (Grand Prize) for Television

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

2014
14th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Daesang (Grand Prize)

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

People’s Choice – Entertainment Program of the Year
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

PD Award

Haha

Template:Won

Top Excellence Award in a Variety Show

Jeong Jun-ha

Template:Won

MBC PD’s Association
PD of the Year

TEO PD

Template:Won

2015
42nd Korea Broadcasting Awards
Daesang (Grand Prize)[37]
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

Template:Refn

Amnesty International Korean Media Awards 2015
Media Award of the Year
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

15th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Best Writer Award
Lee Eun-ju

Template:Won

Special Contribution Award
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

High Excellence for Variety Show Male

Haha

Template:Won

People’s Choice – Best Entertainment Program
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

51st

Baeksang Arts Awards

Best Male Variety Performer

Jeong Hyeong-don

Template:Nom

2016

52nd

Baeksang Arts Awards

Jeong Jun-ha

Template:Nom

16th

MBC Entertainment Awards

Daesang (Grand Prize)

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Won

Jeong Jun-ha

Template:Nom

Top Male Excellence Award in Variety Show

Template:Won

Yoo Jae-suk

Template:Nom

Male Excellence Award in Variety Show

Hwang Kwanghee

Template:Nom

People’s Choice – Entertainment Program of the Year
Infinite Challenge

Template:Won

Popularity Award

Yang Se-hyung

Template:Won

Guests

[

]

International

[

]

Name

Appeared

Occupation

Notes

Fedor Emelianenko

Season 4 Episode 18 ~ Episode 19

PRIDE

heavyweight champion

Appeared two episodes; he taught each member submission holds – Season 4

Thierry Henry

[38]

Season 4, Episode 57 ~ Episode 58

Football(Soccer) Player

Appeared two episodes – Season 4

Maria Sharapova

Season 1, Episode 23 ~ Episode 24

Tennis player

Appeared two episodes – Season 1

Michelle Wie

Season 4, Episode 1 ~ Episode 2

Golfer

Appeared two episodes – Season 4

Paris Hilton

Season 4, Episode 81

Starlet

Appeared one episode – Season 4

Tenku Tsubasa

(前田睦美)

Season 4, Episode 189 and 190

Athlete (Boxer)

Appeared two episodes – Season 4

MC Hammer

[39]

Season 4, Episode 312

Singer, Rapper

Appeared one episode (Season 4), while featuring

PSY

for

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013

Ryan Seacrest

[40]

Season 4, Episode 312

TV Show Host, Broadcaster

Appeared one episode (Season 4), while preparing

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013

, with

PSY

Yoo Jae-suk

Noh Hong-chul

, and

Haha

Daisy Donovan

[41]

Season 4, Episode 326

TV show presenter, Broadcaster

Appeared one episode (Season 4), to introduce this programme as one of South Korea’s ‘traditional television show’, to the viewers in the United Kingdom. Her report was eventually shown on

Channel 4

television show called “The Greatest Shows on Earth”, on July 8, 2013.

Usain Bolt

[42]

Season 4, Episode 371

Jamaican sprinter

Appeared one episode(Season 4), among Jamaica special episodes(369~371).

Ali Bongo Ondimba

Season 4, Episode 445

President of

Gabon

After meeting and delivering food to the president’s long-time chief security officer, Park Sang-chul,

Jeong Jun-ha

did an interview with the President.

Jack Black

[43]

Season 4, Episode 465

Actor, Musician

Appeared one episode(Season 4), to promote his new film “Kung Fu Panda 3”

Korean

[

]

Numerous Korean celebrities have appeared on the show due to its popularity. Many of the guests have some relationships with the co-hosts of the show, including:

Template:Col-3

Actors

Cha Seung-won
Cha Tae-hyun
Gong Hyung-jin
Bong Tae-gyu
Choi Ji-woo
Jo In-sung
Joo Sang-wook
Kim Min-kyo
Kim Seul-gie
Kim Su-ro
Kim Tae-hee
Ko Chang-seok
Lee Da-hae
Lee Young-ae
Kim Hye-sung
Jung Il-woo
Han Hye-jin
Lee Yo-won
Han Ji-min
Lee Seo-jin
Han Sang-jin
Lee Jong-soo
Jeon Won-joo
Jung Si-ah
Oh Ji-ho
Yoon Sang-hyun
Choi Cheol-ho
Jung Joon-ho
Jang Seo-hee
Kim Bum
Julien Kang
Park Bo-young
Park Shin-hye
Park Bo-gum
So Ji-sub
Shin Se-kyung
Kim Hee-ae
Son Ye-jin
Kim Hye-soo
Lee Je-hoon
Jung Woo-sung
Hwang Jung-min
Joo Ji-hoon
Choi Min-yong

Comedians

Ji Sang-ryeol
Lee Yoon-suk
Kim Hyun-chul
Kim Je-dong
Shin Bong-sun
Song Eun-yi
Kim Shin-young
Baek Bo-ram
Kim Kyung-jin
Park Hwi-soon
Ahn Young-mi
Byun Ki-soo
Kim Mi-hwa
Kim Young-chul
Lee Guk-joo
Kim Jong-min

Template:Col-3

Musicians

Lee Jung
Cool
- Kim Sung-soo
- Yoo Chae-young
Bae Seul-ki
Hyukoh
Girls’ Generation
- Jessica
- Sunny
- Seohyun
Turbo
- Kim Jong-kook
- Kim Jung-nam
Lee Hyo-ri
Brown Eyed Girls
- Narsha
Lee Seung-chul
Joo Young-hoon
Lee Soo-young
B1A4
- Baro
Shinhwa
SS501
Tony Ahn
Sung Si-kyung
Jewelry
Park Jung-ah
Seo In-young
Hwangbo
MC Mong
Lee Min-woo
Bbaek Ga
Wheesung
Uhm Jung-hwa
Son Dam-bi
After School
- Lizzy
Lee Jung-hyun
Tiger JK

/

Yoon Mi-rae
No Brain
YB
Lee Sung-jin
Son Ho-young
2PM
- Junho
- Jaebeom
Kara
- Seungyeon
- Jiyoung
S.E.S.
- Bada
- Shoo
Epik High
Eun Ji-won
Park Hyun-bin
K.Will
MBLAQ
- Lee Joon
Sangchu
One Two
CNBLUE
Sistar
Secret
4minute
Orange Caramel
SHINee
Kangta
Super Junior
- Donghae
- Siwon
f(x)
IU
GFriend
Big Bang
Jung Jae-hyung
Lee Juck
Sweet Sorrow
10cm
Psy
Leessang
- Gary
2AM
- Jinwoon
- Jo Kwon
Park Bom
Defconn
All Lies Band
Go Young-wook
BoA
G-Dragon
Kiha & the Faces
Infinite
Kim C
ZE:A
- Hyungsik
- Siwan
Kim Bum-soo
John Park
So Chan-whee
Jo Sung-mo
Kim Hyun-jung
Kim Gun-mo
Cool
Jinusean
Park Jin-young
Zico
Sechs Kies
Dok2
BewhY
Gaeko
EXO
Winner
- Mino
DinDin
Lee Hi
Mad Clown
Kim Jong-wan

Template:Col-3

Sports/athletes

Lee Yong-dae

/

Lee Hyo-jung
Kim Yeon-ah

, international figure skater
South Korea women’s national handball team
Choi Hyun-mi

, WBA Women’s Featherweight Champion
Son Yeon-jae

, South Korean rhythmic gymnast
Lee Sung-yong

, Korean Professional Baseball Batter
Lee Sang-hwa

, South Korean long track speed skater

Others

Ahn Hye-kyung

, broadcaster
Na Kyung-eun

, broadcaster
Choi Moon-soon

, then-CEO of

MBC
RED : Business Structure Basics | Types of Structure
Ohm Ki-young

, then-CEO of

MBC
Lee Sang-bong

, fashion designer
Park Kyung-chu

, broadcaster
Huh Young-man

, famed comics artist and writer
Hong Jin-kyung

, model and a CEO of food venture company
Lee Hye-jung

, chef
Yang Ji-hoon

, chef
Myung Hyun-ji

, chef
Kang Seung-hyun

, model
Choi Dan-bi

, lawyer
Jang Jin-young

, lawyer
Jang Yoon-joo

, model (Moderator of 2011 Calendar-making project)
Bae Hyun-jin

, broadcaster

Ratings

[

]

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

January 6, 2007

16.0%

January 13, 2007

18.5%

January 20, 2007

18.5%

January 27, 2007

17.8%

February 3, 2007

17.5%

February 10, 2007

17.2%

February 17, 2007

15.6%

February 24, 2007

14.9%

March 3, 2007

17.7%

March 10, 2007

15.1%

March 17, 2007

15.2%

March 24, 2007

16.6%

March 31, 2007

14.2%

April 7, 2007

15.4%

April 14, 2007

14.7%

April 21, 2007

13.4%

April 28, 2007

Template:Color

May 5, 2007

17.2%

May 12, 2007

16.0%

May 19, 2007

15.3%

May 26, 2007

13.1%

June 2, 2007

14.0%

June 9, 2007

16.1%

June 16, 2007

16.0%

June 23, 2007

18.6%

June 30, 2007

18.8%

July 7, 2007

15.8%

July 14, 2007

16.4%

July 21, 2007

17.7%

July 28, 2007

17.6%

August 4, 2007

15.6%

August 11, 2007

19.9%

August 18, 2007

24.1%

August 25, 2007

21.9%

September 1, 2007

20.0%

September 8, 2007

19.3%

September 15, 2007

20.7%

September 22, 2007

22.4%

September 29, 2007

23.5%

October 6, 2007

20.5%

October 13, 2007

20.4%

October 20, 2007

23.1%

October 27, 2007

19.5%

November 3, 2007

21.2%

November 10, 2007

21.9%

November 24, 2007

22.4%

December 1, 2007

17.6%

December 8, 2007

Template:Color

December 15, 2007

21.3%

December 22, 2007

21.3%

December 29, 2007

22.3%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

January 5, 2008

23.6%

January 12, 2008

25.8%

January 19, 2008

27.9%

January 26, 2008

25.0%

February 2, 2008

26.4%

February 9, 2008

Template:Color

February 16, 2008

27.4%

February 23, 2008

22.0%

March 1, 2008

19.7%

March 8, 2008

21.6%

March 15, 2008

20.1%

March 22, 2008

20.9%

March 29, 2008

20.6%

April 5, 2008

17.2%

100

April 12, 2008

19.5%

101

April 19, 2008

17.9%

102

April 26, 2008

21.2%

103

May 3, 2008

17.1%

104

May 10, 2008

16.3%

105

May 17, 2008

15.4%

106

May 24, 2008

14.9%

107

May 31, 2008

13.9%

108

June 7, 2008

15.4%

109

June 14, 2008

15.4%

110

June 21, 2008

17.0%

111

June 28, 2008

16.9%

112

July 5, 2008

16.0%

113

July 12, 2008

16.8%

114

July 19, 2008

16.6%

115

July 26, 2008

16.7%

116

August 2, 2008

14.7%

117

August 16, 2008

13.6%

118

August 23, 2008

15.6%

119

August 30, 2008

14.9%

120

September 6, 2008

15.8%

121

September 13, 2008

15.4%

122

September 20, 2008

20.1%

123

September 27, 2008

14.6%

124

October 4, 2008

14.0%

125

October 11, 2008

17.7%

126

October 18, 2008

15.4%

127

October 25, 2008

17.0%

128

November 1, 2008

17.9%

129

November 8, 2008

15.8%

130

November 15, 2008

16.4%

131

November 22, 2008

17.2%

132

November 29, 2008

17.1%

133

December 6, 2008

14.8%

134

December 13, 2008

Template:Color

135

December 20, 2008

15.4%

136

December 27, 2008

15.3%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

137

January 17, 2009

Template:Color

138

January 24, 2009

15.9%

139

January 31, 2009

15.2%

140

February 7, 2009

17.6%

141

February 14, 2009

14.4%

142

February 21, 2009

16.1%

143

February 28, 2009

16.4%

144

March 7, 2009

16.7%

145

March 14, 2009

13.6%

146

March 21, 2009

14.0%

147

March 28, 2009

14.9%

148

April 4, 2009

13.7%

149

April 11, 2009

14.2%

150

April 18, 2009

16.9%

151

April 25, 2009

Template:Color

152

May 2, 2009

15.7%

153

May 9, 2009

12.8%

154

May 16, 2009

16.6%

155

May 30, 2009

13.2%

156

June 6, 2009

13.1%

157

June 13, 2009

12.9%

158

June 20, 2009

17.5%

159

June 27, 2009

14.1%

160

July 4, 2009

15.8%

161

July 11, 2009

17.9%

162

July 18, 2009

15.3%

163

July 25, 2009

14.7%

164

August 1, 2009

12.8%

165

August 8, 2009

16.8%

166

August 15, 2009

16.7%

167

August 22, 2009

15.3%

168

August 29, 2009

14.5%

169

September 5, 2009

16.2%

170

September 12, 2009

15.3%

171

September 19, 2009

15.7%

172

September 26, 2009

17.2%

173

October 3, 2009

14.1%

174

October 10, 2009

14.3%

175

October 17, 2009

14.4%

176

October 24, 2009

16.8%

177

October 31, 2009

18.1%

178

November 7, 2009

18.0%

179

November 14, 2009

18.6%

180

November 21, 2009

15.8%

181

November 28, 2009

17.1%

182

December 5, 2009

15.9%

183

December 12, 2009

15.3%

184

December 19, 2009

13.6%

185

December 26, 2009

13.4%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

186

January 2, 2010

16.5%

187

January 9, 2010

Template:Color

188

January 16, 2010

17.4%

189

January 23, 2010

17.1%

190

January 30, 2010

16.3%

191

February 6, 2010

15.2%

192

February 13, 2010

16.2%

193

February 20, 2010

17.5%

194

February 27, 2010

16.8%

195

March 6, 2010

19.3%

196

March 13, 2010

15.6%

197

March 20, 2010

19.0%

198

March 27, 2010

17.2%

199

May 22, 2010

17.2%

200

May 29, 2010

13.9%

201

June 5, 2010

15.6%

202

June 12, 2010

16.1%

203

June 19, 2010

16.0%

204

June 26, 2010

16.5%

205

July 3, 2010

14.4%

206

July 10, 2010

Template:Color

207

July 17, 2010

16.8%

208

July 24, 2010

14.3%

209

July 31, 2010

13.6%

210

August 7, 2010

13.5%

211

August 14, 2010

15.7%

212

August 21, 2010

16.3%

213

August 28, 2010

13.5%

214

September 4, 2010

16.2%

215

September 11, 2010

17.5%

216

September 18, 2010

13.8%

217

September 25, 2010

15.8%

218

October 2, 2010

16.0%

219

October 9, 2010

14.0%

220

October 16, 2010

15.4%

221

October 23, 2010

16.3%

222

October 30, 2010

13.3%

223

November 6, 2010

14.4%

224

November 20, 2010

13.2%

225

November 27, 2010

15.0%

226

December 4, 2010

15.1%

227

December 11, 2010

14.5%

228

December 18, 2010

15.2%

229

December 25, 2010

13.5%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

230

January 1, 2011

15.8%

231

January 8, 2011

17.8%

232

January 15, 2011

18.4%

233

January 22, 2011

18.9%

234

January 29, 2011

17.9%

235

February 5, 2011

Template:Color

236

February 12, 2011

17.1%

237

February 19, 2011

17.3%

238

February 26, 2011

15.2%

239

March 5, 2011

16.6%

240

March 12, 2011

13.7%

241

March 19, 2011

14.8%

242

March 26, 2011

16.4%

243

April 2, 2011

14.8%

244

April 9, 2011

16.2%

245

April 16, 2011

Template:Color

246

April 23, 2011

14.4%

247

April 30, 2011

18.7%

248

May 7, 2011

15.1%

249

May 14, 2011

14.4%

250

May 21, 2011

15.3%

251

May 28, 2011

13.3%

252

June 4, 2011

13.8%

253

June 11, 2011

15.4%

254

June 18, 2011

14.1%

255

June 25, 2011

17.4%

256

July 2, 2011

18.5%

257

July 9, 2011

17.5%

258

July 16, 2011

17.2%

259

July 23, 2011

14.4%

260

July 30, 2011

16.1%

261

August 6, 2011

18.0%

262

August 13, 2011

18.0%

263

August 20, 2011

17.1%

264

August 27, 2011

17.5%

265

September 3, 2011

16.8%

266

September 10, 2011

18.1%

267

September 17, 2011

18.0%

268

September 24, 2011

17.4%

269

October 1, 2011

16.4%

270

October 8, 2011

18.6%

271

October 15, 2011

19.2%

272

October 22, 2011

18.0%

273

October 29, 2011

17.4%

274

November 5, 2011

18.6%

275

November 12, 2011

17.1%

276

November 19, 2011

17.0%

277

November 26, 2011

17.0%

278

December 3, 2011

16.1%

279

December 10, 2011

15.6%

280

December 17, 2011

17.9%

281

December 24, 2011

17.5%

282

December 31, 2011

18.2%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

283

January 7, 2012

Template:Color

284

January 14, 2012

17.9%

285

January 21, 2012

17.3%

286

January 28, 2012

19.5%

287

Aired online

Unknown

288

July 28, 2012

Template:Color

289

August 4, 2012

13.6%

290

August 11, 2012

12.4%

291

August 18, 2012

14.2%

292

August 25, 2012

14.4%

293

September 1, 2012

12.8%

294

September 8, 2012

14.4%

295

September 15, 2012

14.0%

296

September 22, 2012

14.6%

297

September 29, 2012

14.7%

298

October 6, 2012

15.1%

299

October 13, 2012

13.7%

300

October 20, 2012

15.1%

301

October 27, 2012

14.4%

302

November 3, 2012

13.2%

303

November 10, 2012

12.7%

304

November 17, 2012

16.3%

305

November 24, 2012

15.6%

306

December 1, 2012

15.8%

307

December 8, 2012

15.8%

308

December 15, 2012

14.5%

309

December 22, 2012

15.7%

310

December 29, 2012

14.5%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

311

January 5, 2013

15.5%

312

January 12, 2013

Template:Color

313

January 19, 2013

16.4%

314

January 26, 2013

14.7%

315

February 2, 2013

14.6%

316

February 9, 2013

12.8%

317

February 16, 2013

13.7%

318

February 23, 2013

Template:Color

319

March 2, 2013

14.2%

320

March 9, 2013

14.9%

321

March 16, 2013

14.7%

322

March 23, 2013

14.4%

323

March 30, 2013

15.3%

324

April 6, 2013

15.0%

325

April 13, 2013

12.5%

326

April 20, 2013

14.1%

327

April 27, 2013

12.0%

328

May 4, 2013

10.6%

329

May 11, 2013

13.4%

330

May 18, 2013

14.3%

331

May 25, 2013

11.6%

332

June 1, 2013

11.4%

333

June 8, 2013

12.5%

334

June 15, 2013

13.5%

335

June 22, 2013

13.3%

336

June 29, 2013

11.9%

337

July 6, 2013

13.2%

338

July 13, 2013

11.9%

339

July 20, 2013

13.1%

340

July 27, 2013

11.3%

341

August 3, 2013

11.7%

342

August 10, 2013

12.2%

343

August 17, 2013

12.7%

344

August 24, 2013

11.7%

345

August 31, 2013

12.0%

346

September 7, 2013

13.7%

347

September 14, 2013

11.5%

348

September 21, 2013

12.3%

349

September 28, 2013

14.4%

350

October 5, 2013

12.3%

351

October 12, 2013

14.4%

352

October 19, 2013

16.1%

353

October 26, 2013

15.0%

354

November 2, 2013

16.8%

355

November 9, 2013

15.0%

356

November 16, 2013

13.5%

357

November 23, 2013

14.3%

358

November 30, 2013

13.7%

359

December 7, 2013

12.7%

360

December 14, 2013

14.7%

361

December 21, 2013

15.8%

362

December 28, 2013

15.6%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

363

January 4, 2014

14.5%

364

January 11, 2014

15.7%

365

January 18, 2014

13.4%

366

January 25, 2014

13.2%

367

February 1, 2014

13.4%

368

February 8, 2014

12.8%

369

February 22, 2014

13.0%

370

March 1, 2014

13.7%

371

March 8, 2014

11.1%

372

March 15, 2014

11.8%

373

March 22, 2014

11.5%

374

March 29, 2014

10.7%

375

April 5, 2014

10.0%

376

April 12, 2014

10.9%

377

May 3, 2014

10.1%

378

May 10, 2014

11.8%

379

May 17, 2014

11.6%

380

May 24, 2014

13.4%

381

May 31, 2014

12.6%

382

June 7, 2014

12.2%

383

June 14, 2014

11.4%

384

June 21, 2014

12.7%

385

June 28, 2014

Template:Color

386

July 5, 2014

9.9%

387

July 12, 2014

10.0%

388

July 19, 2014

10.2%

389

July 26, 2014

11.8%

390

August 2, 2014

12.6%

391

August 9, 2014

11.6%

392

August 16, 2014

12.3%

393

August 23, 2014

11.1%

394

August 30, 2014

13.1%

395

September 6, 2014

12.3%

396

September 13, 2014

11.8%

397

September 20, 2014

12.7%

398

October 4, 2014

10.3%

399

October 11, 2014

12.5%

400

October 18, 2014

12.4%

401

October 25, 2014

10.9%

402

November 1, 2014

12.5%

403

November 8, 2014

14.2%

404

November 15, 2014

13.3%

405

November 22, 2014

14.0%

406

November 29, 2014

13.8%

407

December 6, 2014

13.5%

408

December 13, 2014

14.6%

409

December 20, 2014

15.3%

410

December 27, 2014

Template:Color

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide ratings

411

January 3, 2015

Template:Color

412

January 10, 2015

14.1%

413

January 24, 2015

13.9%

414

February 7, 2015

12.7%

415

February 14, 2015

13.7%

416

February 21, 2015

13.0%

417

February 28, 2015

13.2%

418

March 7, 2015

13.3%

419

March 14, 2015

12.2%

420

March 21, 2015

13.5%

421

March 28, 2015

13.2%

422

April 4, 2015

15.0%

423

April 11, 2015

12.6%

424

April 18, 2015

12.9%

425

April 25, 2015

12.2%

426

May 2, 2015

11.3%

427

May 9, 2015

11.3%

428

May 16, 2015

11.7%

429

May 23, 2015

Template:Color

430

May 30, 2015

13.1%

431

June 6, 2015

13.0%

432

June 13, 2015

12.1%

433

June 20, 2015

16.5%

434

June 27, 2015

13.4%

435

July 4, 2015

15.6%

436

July 11, 2015

14.9%

437

July 18, 2015

16.1%

438

July 25, 2015

15.2%

439

August 1, 2015

14.1%

440

August 8, 2015

14.5%

441

August 15, 2015

15.2%

442

August 22, 2015

21.1%

443

August 29, 2015

15.1%

444

September 5, 2015

16.9%

445

September 12, 2015

14.8%

446

September 19, 2015

14.9%

447

September 26, 2015

16.0%

448

October 3, 2015

13.4%

449

October 10, 2015

14.8%

450

October 17, 2015

13.7%

451

October 24, 2015

14.0%

452

October 31, 2015

14.4%

453

November 7, 2015

14.6%

454

November 14, 2015

11.6%

455

November 21, 2015

14.1%

456

November 28, 2015

13.2%

457

December 5, 2015

13.8%

458

December 12, 2015

12.4%

459

December 19, 2015

12.6%

460

December 26, 2015

14.8%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide Ratings

461

January 2, 2016

17.0%

462

January 9, 2016

13.4%

463

January 16, 2016

12.8%

464

January 23, 2016

Template:Color

465

January 30, 2016

15.6%

466

February 6, 2016

16.5%

467

February 13, 2016

16.2%

468

February 20, 2016

14.6%

469

February 27, 2016

12.7%

470

March 5, 2016

13.0%

471

March 12, 2016

12.0%

472

March 19, 2016

11.3%

473

March 26, 2016

11.5%

474

April 2, 2016

Template:Color

475

April 9, 2016

13.6%

476

April 16, 2016

15.0%

477

April 23, 2016

14.3%

478

April 30, 2016

16.4%

479

May 7, 2016

11.4%

480

May 14, 2016

12.0%

481

May 21, 2016

13.5%

482

May 28, 2016

13.8%

483

June 4, 2016

14.2%

484

June 11, 2016

13.3%

485

June 18, 2016

13.1%

486

June 25, 2016

12.1%

487

July 2, 2016

13.0%

488

July 9, 2016

12.1%

489

July 16, 2016

15.0%

490

July 23, 2016

12.3%

491

July 30, 2016

11.8%

492

August 6, 2016

11.8%

493

August 13, 2016

13.0%

494

August 20, 2016

13.9%

495

August 27, 2016

14.7%

496

September 3, 2016

15.7%

497

September 10, 2016

13.3%

498

September 17, 2016

14.1%

499

September 24, 2016

13.8%

500

October 1, 2016

14.0%

501

October 8, 2016

12.6%

502

October 15, 2016

12.5%

503

October 22, 2016

12.4%

504

October 29, 2016

11.8%

505

November 5, 2016

13.1%

506

November 12, 2016

12.3%

507

November 19, 2016

14.9%

508

November 26, 2016

14.0%

509

December 3, 2016

11.7%

510

December 10, 2016

12.8%

511

December 17, 2016

12.9%

512

December 24, 2016

Template:Color

513

December 31, 2016

11.9%

Template:Hidden end

Template:Hidden begin

Episode

Original airdate

AGB Nielsen

Nationwide Ratings

514

January 7, 2017

12.5%

515

January 14, 2017

Template:Color

516

January 21, 2017

12.6%

517

February 18, 2017

8.9%

518

February 25, 2017

Template:Color

519

March 4, 2017

9.0%

520

March 11, 2017

9.1%

521

March 18, 2017

10.8%

522

March 25, 2017

11.2%

523

April 1, 2017

11.4%

524

April 8, 2017

8.9%

525

April 15, 2017

10.2%

526

April 22, 2017

9.8%

527

April 29, 2017

10.8%

Template:Hidden end

The show in popular culture

[

]

During the 12th episode (aired on August 16, 2007) of
MBC

‘s Monday-night variety programme ‘Jippijiggi'(지피지기), comedian Park Su-hong urged

Noh Hong-chul

,

Jeong Hyeong-don

, and

Ha Ha

(members of Muhan Dojeon) to create a new comic-variety program called ‘Yuhan Dojeon'(유한도전, 有限挑戰, Finite Challenge). However, this was a joke when he attended this program as a guest.[44]
MBC Drama

, MBC’s Drama and Entertainment channel on

Skylife

and Cable TV, has decided to launch a brand-new comic variety show called

Infinite Girls

(무한걸스), the female edition of Infinite Challenge. Six Korean entertainers including Song Eun-yi (송은이),

Shin Bong-sun

(신봉선),

Kim Shin-young

,

Hwangbo

, Baek Bo-ram and Jung Ga-eun serve as the co-hosts of this program. Previous hosts who have already left the show include Ahn Hye-kyeong (안혜경, who is former

Haha

‘s girlfriend), Kim Hyeon-suk (김현숙), Bin-wu (빈우),

Kim Ga-yeon

(김가연) and Jung Shi-ah.[45] It aired on September 23, 2007, as a pilot (special) program for

Hangawi

holidays. Since October 15, 2007, This format went a regular-scheduled programme at the

MBC Every1

,

MBC

‘s Cable and

Satellite

network for comedy and variety shows, eventually.
On December 27, 2007, the
SERI

, a well-known economic research institute of South Korea, picked this program as the 6th most-influential product and service of the year 2007, due to its strong public popularity and its own productive characters.[46]
Infinite Challenge is often mentioned on other similar programs, when guests asking if the staff of the show in question copied the idea for a segment from Infinite Challenge.
In the first quarter of 2008, the Global Marketing Department of
MBC

reported that MBC had attempted to sell the format of Infinite Challenge to a European agency in

Sweden

. This was the first time in Korean television history that such a deal had been made. However, the contract was not finalized, as there were too many characters on the program for the Swedish company to reproduce. Even so, rights to the show were eventually sold to

Air France

and

Qatar Airways

‘ in-flight broadcast.[47]
The creators of Infinite Challenge filmed an advertisement about
Bibimbap

which has been shown in

Times Square

since November 26, 2010.[48] Due to this involvement, the

Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

had been put up a Plaque of Honour, to acknowledge MuDo’s dedication.[49]
In 2011, Infinite Challenge held the West Coast Highway Music Festival. At this festival 7 teams participated and everyone got a trophy.[50]
The show is also famous for its loyal fans, especially from the youth demographic. Despite the show’s hiatus of 22 weeks due to MBC’s Union Labor Strike in 2012, the show was able to keep its strong popularity with television audiences. It was acclaimed as “the most favorite program in South Korea” numerous times.[51][52]
Members of Infinite Challenge cast (
Yoo Jae-suk

,

Park Myeong-su

,

Jeong Jun-ha

,

Jeong Hyeong-don

,

Noh Hong-chul

,

Haha

,

Gil

) are featured on “

Gentleman

” music video by

Psy

.[53]

Notes

[

]

International

[

]

On June 30, 2015, the rights to air the show was sold to one of the big channels in China; “CCTV-1” proving Infinite Challenge’s rise in popularity as a Korean Variety Show Program.
In October 2015, CCTV is planning to air
Infinite Challenge China version

in China.
Before the export publication rights to China, the program was already popular throughout Asia. People of the world watched this program by YouTube and the highest hit is 3,202,248 (Infinite Challenge Yeong-dong Expressway Festival, Hwangtaeji-Mapsosa.)
The program went to Japan, China, Thailand, America, Africa, German, and etc. for filming. Lots of international celebrities participated in one of episodes.
In April 2013, a show program The Greatest Shows on Earth in the UK came to Korea to shoot Infinite Challenge.

References

[

]

[

]

Template:Infinite Challenge
Template:MBC Programs

Source: https://bloghong.com
Category: en