Jung Joon-il

These days, as variety shows are gradually disappearing, this is one of Korea’s representative variety shows that has been responsible for Sunday evenings for over 10 years. This program features numerous stars and members going around various places, playing games, and completing missions. In particular, among the many fun elements of variety shows, this one focuses solely on laughter. Open your eyes! Big fun is coming in! Open your mouth! Big laughter is coming in! Open your heart! Useful lessons are coming in!

You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook is a Korean pop music program that is both a talk show and live music show. The host of this program is You Hee-yeol, also known as Toy, a one-man project band. This program has aired since April 24, 2009.

Competitors are given elaborate masks to wear in order to conceal their identity, thus removing factors such as popularity, career and age that could lead to prejudiced voting. In the first round, a pair of competitors sing the same song, while in the second and third rounds they each sing a solo song. After the First Generation, the winner of the Third Round goes on to challenge the Mask King, and is either eliminated or replaces the previous Mask King through live voting. The identities of the singers are not revealed unless they have been eliminated.

The film, Play, tells the story of how three young men met in chance encounters, formed a band and got discovered. It chronicles the creative struggles, relational vicissitudes and professional mis-steps the band goes through while under the pressure of trying to attract a label to sign them. Just at the moment when all seems lost, the boys are offered a chance to busk in the lobby where fans are waiting to see the indie folk rock band, The Swell Season. Glen Hansard, its guitarist and singer, catches their performance and invites them to join him on stage. Upon learning that the band has not chosen a name, he introduces them as his mates. Thus, the band, Mate, is named.