Invincible Youth

Invincible Youth
GenreReality television
StarringSee below
Voices ofSunny (episodes 1–31)
Goo Ha-ra (episodes 31–58)
Opening themeReady, Get Set, Go! by Peppertones
Rockstar by Hannah Montana
Ending themeAll About You by McFly
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes104
Production
Executive producerKim Ho-sang
Production locationsYuchi-ri, Nam-Myeon, Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea (Season 1)
Daebu Island, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (Season 2)
Camera setupMulti-camera setup
Running time60-70 minutes
Original release
NetworkKorean Broadcasting System
ReleaseOctober 23, 2009 (2009-10-23) –
November 17, 2012 (2012-11-17)

Invincible Youth (Korean청춘불패; Hanja; RRCheongchun bulpae) is a South Korean variety show which aired its first season on KBS2 from October 23, 2009 to December 24, 2010. Season 1 featured seven girls (collectively known as G7) from K-pop idol groups wherein they experience how it is to live and survive in the Korean rural outdoors. It started its second season on November 12, 2011 featuring eight girls.[1][2]

Background

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Season 1

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The first season of the show involved Korean entertainers meeting weekly to work and learn about farming in a Yuchi-ri village in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province in South Korea. This involved both agricultural work, interacting with members of an aging rural community, and competing in challenges involving agrarian or domestic tasks. As the show's popularity grew, the cast and crew began work to make their filming location a sustainable site for agritourism, enter produce in food competition, and promote environmentally conscious farming. Some of the products were sold within the local community, to the general public, or distributed as gifts.

The G7 girls initially included Narsha of Brown Eyed Girls, Sunhwa of Secret, Hyuna of 4Minute, Hyomin of T-ara, Sunny and Yuri of Girls' Generation, and Hara of Kara.[3]

On Friday, May 14, 2010, the PD of the show Kim Ho-sang announced that Sunny, Yuri, and Hyuna would be leaving the show due to scheduling conflicts with their respective groups' overseas promotions. Their replacements were decided through private auditions with members of other K-pop girl groups.[4]

On May 30, it was confirmed that After School's Jooyeon, f(x)’s Victoria and Kim Sori will become the three new members of G7 on Invincible Youth. Kim Jong-min (of Koyote) also became a semi-permanent member for a month under the moniker of being a "Variety show mentor" for the new members.[5]

On the August 27th episode, it was announced that Kim Tae-woo will be taking a temporary leave of absence due to a surgery he is to receive for his throat. He vowed to come back to the show as soon as he makes a full recovery. Starting episode 44, Song Eun-i filled in as a semi-permanent MC in Kim Tae-woo's absence. On December 8, 2010, it was revealed that Invincible Youth finished recording their finale episode. They had filmed for over one year, since October 2009.

In an interview with Star News on December 10, production director (PD) Kim Sang-ho said, "We're not discontinuing the show because of low viewer ratings. There has been a lot of conflicting schedules due to girl groups like KARA expanding their activities overseas. It was difficult to take out some of the fixed members, so we decided to end season one for now. There's a lot of trust being placed on the worth of the Invincible Youth brand. After discussions with other producers, everyone agreed to end season one and go ahead with season two next year."

Season 1 Slogan: 청춘은 지지 않는다~ 청춘~ 불패 (Youth Don't Lose! Invincible Youth!)

Season 2

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Executive producer (CP) Kim Ho-sang told Star News on August 31 that the second season will take place in a fishing village in Daebu Island, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.

G8 members included Girls' Generation's Sunny and Hyoyeon, Amber (f(x)), Suzy (miss A), Bora (Sistar), Yewon (Jewelry), Ko Woo-ri (Rainbow), Jiyoung (Kara). Lee Soo-geun, Ji Hyun-woo and Boom served as MC's.[6] Sunny is the only returning member from Season 1, although Hyoyeon, Jiyoung and Bora were guests during the previous season.

The first episode of Invincible Youth 2 premiered on November 12, 2011 in South Korea,[1][2] while the international premiere on KBS World was on December 2, 2011.

Prior to the airing of the April 7th episode, multiple news reports were released confirming that cast members Lee Soo-geun, Ji Hyun-woo, Amber and Woori will be leaving the show. Season 1 cast member Kim Shin-young returned as an MC starting from the April 14th episode.

It was then later revealed that Sunny would also be leaving the show. As she was the only member from season 1, they agreed that she would stay on with season 2 until the program became somewhat stable. She left the show after the July 7th episode.[7] Comedian Lee Young-ja was cast afterwards, starting with the July 21st episode.

Invincible Youth 2 stopped airing in mid-November due to scheduling conflicts with the cast members as well as low ratings.[8] The final episode was filmed November 7 and aired on November 17.

Season 2 Slogan: 청춘이여 영원하라! 청춘~ 불패 (Youth is Forever! Invincible Youth!)

Invincible Youth members

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Season 1

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Hosts

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Cast (Hangul) Date Nicknames Notes
Nam Hee-suk (남희석) 23 October 2009 – 12 December 2009 Nam MC
Uncle Hee-suk
Left for personal reasons
Noh Joo-hyun (노주현) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 Village Chief
Hulk
Kim Tae-woo (김태우) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 Bear Tae-woo
Immature Fool Of Yuchiri
Went on temporary leave after episode 44 in order to undergo throat surgery
Kim Shin-young (김신영) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 Pig (Don) Chef
Korea's Famous Comedian
Song Eun-i (송은이) 10 September 2010 – 24 December 2010 Song Senior Temporary replacement for Kim Tae-woo

G7 members

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Cast (Hangul) Date Nicknames Group
Narsha (나르샤/박효진) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 Adult-Dol
Reusha
Hyojin
Miss Laminate
Brown Eyed Girls
Hyomin (효민/박선영) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 Folding Screen
CEO (Completely Edited Out)
Wall flower
Naming Master
Hyoderella
T-ara
Sunhwa (한선화) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 White Paper
Wet Feet Girl
Blank Sunhwa
Airhead Sunhwa
Secret
Hara (구하라) 23 October 2009 – 24 December 2010 Haragoo
Goossain Bolt
Stealthy Hara
Quick-Mouth Hara
Thief Hara
Kara
Sunny (써니/이순규) 23 October 2009 – 11 June 2010 Soonkyu
Chicken Catcher Aegyo (Cute)
Girls' Generation
Yuri (권유리) 23 October 2009 – 11 June 2010 Class-President Yul
Yoochi-ri Village's Daughter in Law

Yoga Instructor Yuri
Girls' Generation
Hyuna (김현아) 23 October 2009 – 11 June 2010 Maknae
Producer Kim
Jing Jing (Whiny) Hyuna
4Minute
Kim Sori (김소리) 18 June 2010 – 24 December 2010 Vein Sori,
Sona Lisa
Solo Artist
Victoria (빅토리아/송치엔/宋茜) 18 June 2010 – 24 December 2010 Wu Lin Girl
Censor Vic
Victory
f(x)
Jooyeon (이주연) 18 June 2010 – 24 December 2010 Clumsy Jooyeon
Dead Weight (Jim) Jooyeon
After School

Season 2

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Hosts

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Cast (Hangul) Date Nicknames Notes
Boom () 12 November 2011 – 17 November 2012 Min-ho
Gotta Get That
Big Nose
Ji Hyun-woo (지현우) 12 November 2011 – 7 April 2012 Hyung-tae
Lee Soo-geun (이수근) 12 November 2011 – 7 April 2012 Uncle Soo-geun
Lee Soo-geun 2NE1
Kim Shin-young (김신영) 14 April 2012 – 17 November 2012 44 Shin-young
Empty Stomach
Lee Young-ja (이영자) 21 July 2012 – 17 November 2012 Mom (Eomma)

G8 members

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Cast (Hangul) Date Nicknames Group
Hyoyeon (김효연) 12 November 2011 – 17 November 2012 Hyoding (Kid Hyoyeon)
Yoghurt Ajumma
Sancho
Breaky
Breakomaneci
Girls' Generation
Yewon (김예원) 12 November 2011 – 17 November 2012 Laminate
Ducushong
U-Go-Girl
Fish Market Aunty
Chitty Chitty

Bongsuni
Un-Grown
Katydid
Jewelry
Bora (윤보라) 12 November 2011 – 17 November 2012 Bosain Bolt
Nacho
Ggamanova Boraski
Alba
Lucky Icon

Infant
Sistar
Jiyoung (강지영) 12 November 2011 – 17 November 2012 Jigoo (Ji-fool)
Am-Tell Girl
Dacushong

All-Grown
Giant Baby
Kara
Suzy (배수지) 12 November 2011 – 17 November 2012 Nation's First Love
Giant Maknae
Jobless
Him Suzy
King Feet 285mm from Gwangju
Bacushong

Eonnyeoni
Grown-feet
miss A
Ko Woo-ri (고우리) 12 November 2011 – 7 April 2012 Granny Rainbow
Amber (엠버/유일운/劉逸雲) 12 November 2011 – 7 April 2012 Eunyoung
Terminator
The Rising Star in Farming
f(x)
Sunny (써니/이순규) 12 November 2011 – 7 July 2012 Soonkyu
60's Sunny
Louisoddong

Gaeddongi/Dog Dung
Grasshopper
Girls' Generation

List of special guests

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Season 1

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Episode Number Airdate Guest stars Notes
Episode 6 November 29, 2009 Minho (SHINee)
Episode 10 December 25, 2009 Go Se-won
Park Hwi-sun
Son Hoyoung (g.o.d)
Onew (SHINee)
Im Seulong (2AM)
Heo Kyung-hwan
Christmas Special
Episode 18 February 19, 2010 Heechul (Super Junior)
B2ST
Yeon Jung-hoon
Lee Kye-in
Nicole Jung (Kara)
Hyoyeon (Girls' Generation)
Episode 19 February 26, 2010 Roh Yoo-min
Shindong (Super Junior)
Replaced Kim Tae-woo who held a concert in the United States
Episode 20 March 5, 2010 Lee Kye-in Episode also featured the cast from the documentary Old Partner
Episode 22 March 19, 2010 Sooyoung (Girls' Generation) Replaced Yuri who could not participate due to the swine influenza
Episode 23 March 26, 2010 Sooyoung (Girls' Generation)
Koo Jun-yup
Ock Joo-hyun
Episode 24 April 9, 2010 Koo Jun-yup
Episode 26 April 30, 2010 Ham Eunjung (T-ara)
Kim Jong-min (Koyote)
Ham Eunjung replaced Hara who did not appear due to Kara's sponsorship promotions in Thailand
Episode 27 May 7, 2010 Lee Joon (MBLAQ)
Jeong Jun-ha
Episode 29 May 21, 2010 Cast Gag Concert Referred to as "Gag 7" in reference to "G7"
Episode 30 May 28, 2010 Cast Gag Concert Referred to as "Gag 7" in reference to "G7"
Episode 36 July 9, 2010 Secret
Shin Ji (Koyote)
Surprise guests for G7's Special Army Concert
Episode 37 July 16, 2010 Sunny Special invitation for G7's trip to Japan
Episode 38 July 23, 2010 Sunny Special invitation for G7's trip to Japan
Episode 39 July 30, 2010 Jung Myung-hoon
Go Joo-won
Episode 40 August 6, 2010 MBLAQ
Episode 41 August 13, 2010 MBLAQ
Jiyeon (T-ara)
Lee Seok-hoon (SG Wannabe)
Park Hyun-bin
Summer Vacation Special
Episode 42 August 20, 2010 Yuri Special invitation for G7's Farm Products Exhibition
Episode 43 August 27, 2010 2PM
Lizzy (After School)
JeA (Brown Eyed Girls)
Replacing Hara and Victoria who were absent due to their respective group's promotions in Japan
Episode 44 September 10, 2010 Karam (The Boss)
Kim Young-chul
Song Eun-i
Episode 48 October 8, 2010 Park Gwang-hyun
Episode 51 October 29, 2010 Sunny
Hyuna
Go Joo-won
Lee Kye-in
Chung Myung-hoon
Kim Tae-woo
1 Year Anniversary Special, Part 1
Episode 52 November 5, 2010 Luna, Sulli, Krystal (f(x))
Song Jieun (Secret)
Kang Jiyoung (Kara)
1 Year Anniversary Special, Part 2
Episode 53 October 8, 2010 Bora (Sistar)
Episode 54 November 26, 2010 Bora (Sistar) Replacing Hara and Narsha who were absent due to their respective group's promotions in Japan
Episode 55 December 3, 2010 Taemin (SHINee) Replacing Victoria
Episode 58 (Finale) December 24, 2010 Kim Tae-woo Surprise Appearance

Season 2

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Episode Number Airdate Guest stars Notes
Episode 9 January 15, 2012 Im Ha-ryong
Episode 12 February 25, 2012 Song Dae-kwan
Tae Jin-ah
Missing Sunny and Hyoyeon due to Girls' Generation's promotions in America
Episode 17 March 31, 2012 2AM
Episode 19 April 14, 2012 Choi Hong-man Kim Shin-young debut and missing Jiyoung but appear later in the show
Episode 20 April 20, 2012 Shinhwa [9]
Episode 21 April 27, 2012 Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Jung-shin (CNBLUE) Missing Jiyoung
Episode 22 May 5, 2012 Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Jung-shin (CNBLUE)
Taeyeon (Girls' Generation)
Narsha (Brown Eyed Girls)
Replacing Bora and Suzy
Episode 23 May 12, 2012 Gong Hyung-jin Missing Jiyoung but appear later in the show
Episode 24 May 19, 2012 Sung Min (Super Junior)
Episode 25 May 26, 2012 Park Sang-myun
Hyuna, Sohyun (4minute)
Missing Jiyoung
Episode 26 June 2, 2012 Andy (Shinhwa)
L (Infinite)
Lee Hyun-woo
Baek Sung-hyun
Kang Kyun-sung
Park Hwi-sun
Missing Sunny, Hyoyeon, Bora, Jiyoung
Episode 27 June 9, 2012 Joo Sang-wook
In Gyo-jin
Hyomin (T-ara)
Sunhwa (Secret)
Missing Sunny and Hyoyeon but they appear later in the show
Episode 28 June 16, 2012 Jo Min-ki
Son Byong-ho
Episode 29 June 23, 2012 Kang Dong-ho
Kang Ji-sub
Goo Ha-ra (Kara)
Replacing Bora who did not appear due to Sistar's music video shooting in Hawaii (Hara), Dano Special
Episode 30 June 30, 2012 Baek Ji-young
Episode 31 July 7, 2012 Jo Kwon (2AM)
Lee Joon (MBLAQ)
Hwang Kwanghee (ZE:A)
Sunny farewell
Episode 33 July 28, 2012 Wooyoung (2PM)
Episode 37 September 1, 2012 B2ST Initially missing Hyoyeon but she appears later in the show
Episode 38 September 8, 2012 Chung Hoon
Cho Jun-Ho
Song Dae-Nam
Kim Jae-Bum
(2012 South Korea Judo Olympic Team)
Episode 44 November 3, 2012 Taru Salminen
Abigail Cancian
Brownwyn Mullen
Bianca Mobley
(Global Talk Show)
Missing Jiyoung

Music

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Season 1: During Season 1, a short clip of "I Can Do Better" by Avril Lavigne is played at the start of each episode. "Rockstar" by Miley Cyrus was used as an opening theme for a number of early episodes. A medley of songs by the American rock group Journey performed by the cast of the American television show Glee was used to open several of the final episodes. The ending theme of every episode is a track titled "All About You" by an English pop rock group named Mcfly.

Season 2: During Season 2 the ending theme for episode 1 through to episode 7 is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. In subsequent episodes, the ending theme is "I Will" by The Beatles. After the cast change, it has since been replaced with promotions for PVs.

Awards

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Year Ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
2009 22nd KBS Entertainment Awards Best Newcomer Kim Shin-Young Won [10]
2010 23rd KBS Entertainment Awards Best female MC Yuri Nominated
Goo Hara Won [11]
16th Hongcheon WaxyCorn King Festival Special Prize Invincible Youth Won [12]
Bugs Music Awards Top Variety Star Narsha Nominated

Other recognitions

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Year From Category
2010 Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Appreciation Plaque [13]
Korea Rural Community Corporation President's Commendation [14]

Media release

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In Japan, Invincible Youth received a DVD release in 5 Volumes released on May 3, 2011 under Broadway Entertainment.[15] The show was re-released in 9 volumes on June 3 of the same year. The second season was released in Japan in 11 volumes on August 5 and October 7, 2011.[16]

KBS's official YouTube channel KBS World released the full show on YouTube on 2013. The first season gathered over 22,000,000 views while the second season experienced a drastic fall in views gathering only about 2,000,000 views. Overall the show amassed over 25,000,000 views making it one of the channel's most-watched shows of all time.

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b "KBS 가을개편 단행… 한류 주역들 전면 배치". kr.news.yahoo.com. November 2, 2011. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "f(x) Amber Joining "Invincible Youth"". Korean Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  3. ^ "Cast Introduction". Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  4. ^ "'청춘불패' G7 와해…소시 유리·써니, 포미닛 현아 탈퇴". May 14, 2009.
  5. ^ "Yahoo". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  6. ^ "Full cast list for 'Invincible Youth 2' confirmed – say hello to the new 'G8'!". Allkpop. October 17, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  7. ^ "Sunny to leave Invincible Youth 2". invincibleyouth.com. July 6, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-01-26. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  8. ^ "Invincible Youth 2 cancelled". invincibleyouth.com. November 5, 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  9. ^ Ho, Stewart (20 April 2012). "Why is Suzy on Shinhwa Eric's Back?". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  10. ^ bntnews. "[2009 KBS 연예대상] 김신영, 쇼오락 MC 여자신인상 수상". bntnews (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  11. ^ "Lee Kyung-kyu wins grand prize at KBS Entertainment Awards". 아시아경제 (in Korean). 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  12. ^ "청춘불패팀 홍천찰옥수수축제 현장촬영 [G7 appeared at the Hongcheon Corn Festival!]". m.hcinews.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-12-24.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "KBS '청춘불패', 농식품부장관 표창 [KBS 'Invincible Youth', Commendation from the Minister of Agriculture and Food]". KBS News (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  14. ^ "[이문원 문화비평]꼴찌 '청춘불패' 그런데 웃네요". mobile.newsis.com (in Korean). 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  15. ^ "Seishun Fuhai - G7 no Idol Noson Nikki - Vol.4 Variety DVD". CDJapan. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  16. ^ "Seishun Fuhai - G7 no Idol Noson Nikki - Season 2 DVD Box 1 Variety DVD". CDJapan. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
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