Cover Global superstar Park Bo Gum leads the healing Korean variety show ‘The Village Barber’ (Photo: Instagram/@tvn.asia)
Global superstar Park Bo Gum leads the healing Korean variety show ‘The Village Barber’ (Photo: Instagram/@tvn.asia)
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From cosy countryside escapes to feel-good food adventures, these new healing Korean variety shows offer the ultimate comfort watch
Healing Korean variety shows serve as counter-programming to the usual chaotic K-variety formats that viewers have grown used to. Trading madcap antics and high-stakes challenges for quiet mornings and shared meals in idyllic settings, healing variety shows are all about making meaningful connections.
From countryside barbershops and island fishing trips to senior-friendly dessert cafés and spontaneous road journeys, these upcoming series place celebrities in settings where the pace is slower, the work is hands-on, and the interactions feel refreshingly real. The result is television that soothes rather than stimulates—perfect for viewers seeking a softer kind of escape.
In case you missed it: 10 Korean variety shows to help you unwind this weekend
‘The Village Barber’
Above Healing Korean variety show ‘The Village Barber’ returns for season 2 in the later half of the year
Park Bo-gum goes on a little side quest in healing Korean variety show The Village Barber, where he opens a small barbershop in Muju, a remote village in the countryside. Keen on connecting with the locals, the beloved actor finds use for the barber’s license he famously obtained years ago while fulfilling his mandatory military service.
Joining him are good friends and former co-stars Lee Sang-yi (Good Boy) and Kwak Dong-yeon (Love in the Moonlight), who offer more than just moral support. Lee Sang-yi earned a nail technician license to expand the shop’s services, while Kwak Dong-yeon learned to make bungeo-ppang and other snacks for the waiting clients. A few celebrity guests—namely Rain (Bloodhounds 2), Park Hae-joon (When Life Gives You Tangerines), Kim So-hyun (Good Boy), and Culinary Wars chef Yoon Nam-no—drop by to help out, too.
As with most healing Korean variety show, the vibe is chill and cozy. The trio bond with the residents as they cut and style hair and nails, and share meals. Stories are swapped, mementos are given and by the time they have to leave, tears are shed.
You can watch the entire first season, which is now streaming on HBO Max, before season 2 drops in the second half of 2026. Fingers crossed, Park Bo-gum has passed his perming license by then.
See more: 6 reasons why Park Bo-gum’s ‘Good Boy’ is your next must-watch K-drama
‘Fresh Off the Sea in Calape’
Above It may not be a full vacation, but it’s not all work and no play for the castmates of this top-rating healing Korean variety show
A sun-soaked spin-off of the beloved Korean variety show Fresh Off the Sea, Fresh Off the Sea in Calape swaps Korea’s countryside for the shores of Bohol in the Philippines—though this is far from a laid-back island escape. True to the show’s premise, its celebrity cast immerses themselves in local livelihoods, sourcing regional ingredients to prepare delicious meals.
The original series first won audiences over with the easy chemistry of Yum Jung-ah (Sky Castle, The Defects, Cleaning Up), Park Joon-myeon (Under the Queen’s Umbrella, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, Perfect Crown), Ahn Eun-jin (My Dearest, Hospital Playlist, Dynamite Kiss) and YouTuber Dex (Single’s Inferno, Bloodhounds 2). Season two saw a cast refresh with Lim Ji-yeon (The Glory, The Tale of Lady Ok, My Royal Nemesis) and Lee Jae-wook (Alchemy of Souls, Extraordinary You, Dear Hongrang) stepping in. For this Philippine-set spin-off, Yum, Park, and Dex reunite, joined by Kim Hye-yoon (Lovely Runner, Extraordinary You, Sky Castle)—a standout guest from the season 2.
In the spinoff’s opening episode, the cast dives straight into the deep end—literally—digging through mud to catch alimango (local crabs), a task far more challenging than expected. The second episode offers a breather—a boat tour to see the island's dolphins and turtles—before the surprises and hard work inevitably pick back up.
Already a hit, Fresh Off the Sea in Calape has earned the top spot in viewership ratings two weeks in a row. You can catch the latest episodes on Viu, every Saturday.
See more: From ‘Perfect Crown’ to ‘Princess Hours’: K-dramas featuring romance between royals and non-royals
‘Bonjour Bakery’
Above The healing Korean variety show brings the art of exquisite French patisserie to the quiet countryside
In this Korean variety show, four celebrities open the very first French dessert café that caters exclusively to seniors in a remote rural village. From the teasers, it’s clear Bonjour Bakery passes the vibe check—from the cozy café and beautifully crafted pastries to the peaceful countryside setting and adorable grandmas and grandpas.
Leading the front of house are Kim Hee-ae (The World of the Married, Queenmaker, My Husband’s Woman) and Kim Seon-ho (Start-Up, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Can This Love Be Translated?), bringing warmth and charm to each guest interaction. In the kitchen, Cha Seung-won (A Korean Odyssey, You’re All Surrounded, Our Blues) and Lee Ki-taek (The Devil Judge, The Practical Guide to Love, Moonshine) take charge, crafting delicate pastries and desserts with precision and flair.
It will be interesting to see how Cha Seung-won, who once starred in the healing Korean variety show Three Meals a Day, and Kim Seon-ho, one-time cast member of 2 Days & 1 Night, bring their experience to the show, and how relative newcomers Kim Hee-ae and Lee Ki-taek shape its dynamic.
Bonjour Bakery starts airing on Coupang Play on May 8. There’s no word yet on whether it is being picked up by any of the major streaming platforms.
‘Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition’
Above Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-joon and Choi Woo-shik are back together in the brand new K-variety series ‘Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition’
The K-drama stars in this healing Korean variety show are practically veterans of the format. Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-joon and Choi Woo-shik have worked together in a number of variety shows including several seasons of Youn’s Kitchen (including its spinoff, Youn’s Stay) and Jinny’s Kitchen, as well as one season of Summer Vacation.
In tvN’s Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition—a continuation of the popular travel variety series Youth Over Flowers—PD Na Young-seok sends the three on a trip across South Korea with only the clothes on their backs and their trademark playful chemistry. They have no itinerary, no pre-planned destination and are equipped with a limited budget.
The famous friends ride public transport, drink from one bottle of water, visit a laundromat and go without skincare for five nights and six days. To catch their chaotic and healing K-variety road trip, stream Unplanned Trip: Limited Edition when it premieres on Viu on May 3.
‘Jae-seok’s B&B Rules’
Above Is it healing or chaotic? Viewers will find out when Jae-seok’s B&B Rules streams on Netflix this May
Netflix’s B&B K-variety universe is expanding beyond Kian’s Bizarre B&B with the addition of Jae-seok’s B&B Rules. The cast is led by Yu Jae-seok, the “Nation’s MC” and variety show veteran from Running Man, Hangout with Yoo, Whenever Possible, You Quiz on the Block, Sixth Sense. He is joined by former Running Man castmate Lee Kwang-soo, Byeon Woo-seok (Perfect Crown, Lovely Runner, 20th Century Girl) and Ji Ye-eun from Kian’s Bizarre B&B.
With Jae-seok—and Lee Kwang-soo—involved, it’s looking less healing Korean variety show and more chaotic variety series. B&B guests will be asked to complete missions, compete in games and participate in talent shows. There are also evening bonding sessions, which could be where the “healing” portion of their stay comes in. Maybe it’s not just fun and games after all.
Check in with the cast members and guests when Jae-seok’s B&B Rules arrives on Netflix on May 26.
As K-variety continues to evolve, healing Korean variety shows offer a welcome counterbalance to louder entertainment trends—reminding viewers that sometimes, the most compelling stories come not from dramatic twists, but from ordinary moments shared between strangers, friends, and food.
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Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
