tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’ has been making headlines by achieving approximately 4.7 billion cumulative views with stories that cannot be heard anywhere else.
tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’ (directed by Lee Gi-yeon, written by Lee Eon-joo) is a program where the main host Yoo Jae-suk and co-host Jo Se-ho enter the lives of guests to share honest conversations. Since its first broadcast in 2018, it has maintained solid popularity for seven years. The show captivates viewers as various professionals, lesser-known individuals, and trending figures naturally share their stories. The continuous visits from stars, which are hard to find in existing entertainment shows, add to its charm. Recently, stars such as the iconic G-Dragon, actress Go Hyun-jung, Hyun Bin who appeared on a talk show for the first time in 13 years, Lee Min-ho who made his first talk show appearance, and Song Hye-kyo who returned to a talk show after 23 years have become the center of attention with deep stories that were not shown on other programs.
The unique charm of ‘You Quiz’ that makes stars feel at ease is largely due to the roles of Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho. Yoo Jae-suk, who leads the overall flow of the conversation, and Jo Se-ho, who refreshes the atmosphere with his unique and lively questions, form a strong combination that supports ‘You Quiz’. The comfortable atmosphere of the ‘You Quiz’ set allows stars to muster the courage to appear and share stories they have not been able to tell until now. The differentiated atmosphere created by veteran MC Yoo Jae-suk and lively Jo Se-ho is the reason why ‘You Quiz’ continues to thrive as a popular talk show.
▲ Behind the Comfortable Talk: Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho! Enthusiastic Reviews from Stars
Stars’ reviews can be found quite often. Despite being a somewhat unfamiliar talk show after a long time, stars consistently express that they were able to enjoy it comfortably thanks to Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho. Go Hyun-jung mentioned the deep consideration of the production team through her SNS after appearing on ‘You Quiz’, expressing her gratitude towards Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho, which garnered attention. Hyun Bin also mentioned in a recent interview, “I thought fans and those curious about my story would like it, so I decided to appear,” referring to the two MCs who led him. Lee Je-hoon also expressed his gratitude on his SNS, saying, “Thank you for inviting the main host, the lively host, and all the guests. Thank you to all the viewers as well. ‘You Quiz’ is the best.”
Many stars have shown their affection by posting about watching the live broadcast after the recording of ‘You Quiz’. From G-Dragon, who posted about watching the live broadcast on his SNS, to Lee Jung-jae, numerous stars voluntarily transformed into promotional fairies, showcasing their affection for ‘You Quiz’. Actor Cha Seung-won reportedly sent a text message to the production team saying, “I’m glad the ratings are good,” expressing that he enjoyed the broadcast. Additionally, actor Choi Min-sik is known to have participated in the production team’s after-party after appearing on ‘You Quiz’, drawing interest.
It can be cautious for stars who have not appeared on talk shows for a long time to share their stories. Kim Woo-bin, who shared his journey of overcoming illness on ‘You Quiz’, revealed in an interview, “I was a bit worried because my words on ‘You Quiz’ could hurt or cause pain to someone,” adding, “I was cautious, but many people viewed it positively, and I’m very grateful that they said it gave them strength.” Song Hye-kyo, who shared her story as a woman, actress, and human for the first time on a recent broadcast, reportedly sent a heartfelt message to the ‘You Quiz’ writer saying, “My mother liked it a lot,” adding warmth to the situation.
▲ After Appearing on ‘You Quiz’, Casting in Projects? Ratings and Popularity Create a Win-Win Effect
The meeting between ‘You Quiz’ and stars sometimes leads to unexpected ‘win-win effects’. Kim So-yeon mentioned ‘You Quiz’ as the reason she was cast in the drama ‘Quiet Sales’, drawing attention. She shared that her appearance on ‘You Quiz’ resembled her character in the project, leading to her casting. Jin Ki-joo also used her appearance on ‘You Quiz’ as a stepping stone to be cast in ‘Uncle Sam-sik’, and Byun Yo-han, who appeared alongside her in ‘Uncle Sam-sik’, revealed this story.
Through ‘You Quiz’, unexpected connections and heartwarming stories are shared. The fact that Kim Ok-ran, the director of ‘Love’s Rice Truck’, who has provided warm meals for the past 20 years, is the mother of actress Gong Hyo-jin became a topic of discussion. After appearing on ‘You Quiz’ last January, Gong Hyo-jin returned as a guest on her mother Kim Ok-ran’s episode. Actress Youn Jung-ah visited a bakery in Namhae featured on ‘You Quiz’ and participated in a charitable act by making traditional sweet rice drink, which was further highlighted in the episode of ‘Sisters’ Direct Delivery’.
The win-win effect highlighted by ‘You Quiz’ is also reflected in ratings and popularity. The episodes of ‘You Quiz’ that aired in 2024, from episode 226 to 274, dominated the ratings for all 49 episodes, ranking first in the same time slot including cable and general programming. The recent episode featuring Song Hye-kyo set a record for the highest ratings among the 2049 target audience (nationwide/Seoul metropolitan area) for all episodes aired in 2024, proving the high interest of viewers. (Nielsen Korea, based on paid platforms) Additionally, videos related to ‘You Quiz’ achieved a remarkable cumulative view count of approximately 4.7 billion on YouTube.
It is also overwhelmingly popular. Looking at the popularity indicators released weekly by Good Data Corporation’s FunDex, ‘You Quiz on the Block’ has ranked in the TOP 10 for 47 weeks in the non-drama category, recording first place four times. Furthermore, the cast members who appeared on ‘You Quiz’ have made it to the TOP 10 in the non-drama cast popularity category a total of 53 times, with 17 cast members achieving first place, making it the single program with the most first-place rankings among non-drama cast members. (Based on January to December 2024) Last week, IVE’s Jang Won-young also reached first place in popularity, kicking off ‘You Quiz’s’ unrivaled popularity into 2025.
tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’ airs every Wednesday at 8:45 PM.
