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2009 South Korean TV series or program

Qualifications of Men

Key facts

instance oftelevision program
directorShin Won-ho
genrereality television
All data from the card 14
Also known as
Man's Qualification Qualifying Men The Qualities of a Man To Be a Man Who Is the Man What Makes a Man
Genre
Reality television
Written by
Lee Woo-jung
Directed by
Lee Hwang-seok
Starring
Lee Kyung-kyuKim Gook-jinKim Tae-wonLee Yoon-seokKim Jun-hoJoo Sang-wookYoon Hyung-bin
Country of origin
South Korea
Original language
Korean
No. of seasons
1
No. of episodes
205
Producer
Han Kyung-cheon
Running time
approx. 60-70 minutes
Production companies
Hoon Media CorporationVision Productions
Network
KBS2
Release
March 29, 2009 –April 7, 2013

Qualifications of Men (Korean: 남자의 자격; RR: Namjaui jagyeok) was a Korean reality-variety show that aired on KBS2 from March 29, 2009 to April 7, 2013 as one of two segments in Happy Sunday.

Subtitled "101 Things a Man Must Do Before He Dies," the show involved a group of male celebrities of different ages and personalities who take on missions that would make them a "real man." The missions range from physical to emotional, and they meet and learn skills from many mentors in different areas.

Cast

Former

Mentors

  • Episode 1 – 3 (Marry twice, Anti-smoking education): Lee Oi-soo
  • Episode 4 – 5, 10 (Going to an army twice, Tears): Nam Jin
  • Episode 6 – 7 (Nursing a child): Park Sa-rang
  • Episode 12 (Debating): Kim Sung-soo
  • Episode 13 – 14 (Knowledge): Park Jee-seon
  • Episode 15 (Paragliding): Kwon Chang-jin
  • Episode 17 – 18 (Creating an UCC): Yoo Se-yoon, 2PM
  • Episode 18 – 19 (Bicycle trip): Yoo Se-yoon
  • Episode 22 (Wakeboarding): Lee Kyung-kyu
  • Episode 47, 56, 67 – 68 (Making a band): Kim Tae-won
  • Episode 63 – 65, 70 – 74 (Choir): Kolleen Park
  • Episode 93, 121, 135 (Tap dance): Tap trainer Lee Jung-kwon

5 major plans

2010

  • Hiking Jirisan (completed)
  • Get licenses (completed)
  • Backpacking (Delayed to 2011)
  • Forming a Band (completed)
  • Watching the World Cup (completed)

2011

  • Backpacking (May 16 – 26, West Australia, completed)
  • Having a new hobby (Tap Dancing completed)
  • Creating a short film (completed)
  • Samul nori (completed)
  • Becoming a CEO (completed)

History

As part of Happy Sunday, Qualifications of Men replaced the second season of Immortal Music Classics in late March 2009. In the early episodes, the cast joked that their primary aim was not to disturb the ratings of sister segment 2 Days & 1 Night.

The original cast included the main MC Lee Kyung-kyu, who made his comeback into the Korean TV industry with this show; Kim Gook-jin, a comedian who previously attempted to become a professional golfer; Kim Tae-won, leader of the legendary rock-ballad band Boohwal; Lee Yoon-seok, a comedian known for his doctor's degree and conversely his ridiculously weak strength (though since joining the show, Kim Tae-won took over his title of "Weakling of the nation"); Yoon Hyung-bin, a comedian from the show Gag Concert; and actors Lee Jung-jin and Kim Sung-min.

The cast went through a variety of physically and emotionally taxing missions, usually spanning over 24 hours, performing the likes of serving mandatory military service again, crying, becoming employees of random companies, not smoking for a day, wake-boarding, singing in a choir, participating in an amusement park parade show, and forming an amateur band. The most memorable moment for the program was when 2 of the members (Kim Gook-jin and Kim Sung-min) was selected as a guest for the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Acrobatic Team, during their 2009 Far East Tour at Osan Air Base, in South Korea. For the Choir episodes, both of the Choir teams won awards (with guest Kolleen Park and Kim Tae-won as conductors).

In late 2010, Kim Sung-min was dropped from the program after being arrested for drug use. He was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for meth use and smuggling, suspended for 4 years.

On April 10, 2011, Korean baseball legend Yang Joon-hyuk (he currently holds the records for home runs, RBI, and best batting average) made his debut as a member of the show.

On May 8, 2011, Lee Jung-jin appeared in his final episode and Jun Hyun-moo became the newest and 7th member of the show. Jun is a KBS news announcer and reporter known for his variety and comedic skills (particularly for his parody of SHINee's "Lucifer" dance).

On July 31, 2012, Yang Joon-hyuk and Jun Hyun-moo left the show, and 2 new members—actor Joo Sang-wook and Gag Concert comedian Kim Jun-ho—joined the crew.

Qualifications of Men initially maintained good ratings; in 2009, it placed second among the most viewed Sunday night programs for 16 weeks with more than 30% viewership ratings. But after four years on air, ratings dropped, until it was overtaken in popularity by MBC's Dad! Where Are We Going?, which premiered in 2013. KBS cancelled the show, and it aired its last episode on April 7, 2013. With its cancellation, the show's raison d'être was unfinished, with the program coming to a close before the cast members were able to finish filling out the list of 101 things, only getting up to #94.

Broadcasting times

Broadcasting times
Channel Date Broadcasting time
KBS2 March 29, 2009
October 4, 2009
February 14, 2010
June 20, 2010
February 6, 2011
March 27, 2011
April 17, 2011
May 1, 2011
June 5, 2011
June 19, 2011
July 3, 2011
July 24, 2011
August 28, 2011
September 25, 2011
October 2, 2011
October 16 – November 20, 2011
December 4 – April 7, 2013
Sunday 17:10
April 5, 2009 17:30
May 16, 2010 16:10
May 30, 2010 16:25
October 24, 2010 18:00
November 21, 2010 17:15
February 27, 2011
March 6, 2011
July 10, 2011
July 31, 2011
September 4, 2011
September 11, 2011
October 9, 2011
November 27, 2011
17:00
May 8, 2011 16:50
April 12 – September 27, 2009
October 11 – February 7, 2010
February 21 – May 9, 2010
May 23, 2010
June 6, 2010
June 13, 2010
June 27 – October 17, 2010
October 31 – November 14, 2010
November 28, 2010 – January 30, 2011
February 13, 2011
February 20, 2011
March 13, 2011
March 20, 2011
April 3, 2011
April 10, 2011
April 24, 2011
May 15–29, 2011
June 12, 2011
June 26, 2011
July 17, 2011
August 7–21, 2011
September 18, 2011
17:20

Awards

Year Award Category Recipient Ref
2009 8th KBS Entertainment Awards Top Entertainer Award Kim Sung-min
Kim Tae-won
Viewer's Choice Program Happy Sunday
2010 1st Company Band Festival Bronze (4th place) Qualifications of Men
7th Geoje National Choir Competition Participation Award
47th Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union General Assembly Entertainment Award
17th Korean Entertainment Art Awards Top Excellence Award for Variety Show
Korea Communications Standards Commission Program of the Month (September)
Korea Content Awards Minister's Award, Arts category
방송인상 Special Award
9th KBS Entertainment Awards Special Merit Award Kolleen Park
Viewer's Choice Program Happy Sunday
Grand Prize (Daesang) Lee Kyung-kyu
2011 Korean PD Awards Best Program, TV Variety Show category Qualifications of Men
1st KBS National Choir Festival: The Harmony Silver
Korean Advertisers Association Awards Good Program, Variety Show category
Korea Tap Festival Popularity Award
Korea Communications Standards Commission Program of the Month (October)
10th KBS Entertainment Awards Special Merit Award Kim Tae-won
Best Newcomer in a Variety Show Yang Joon-hyuk
Top Entertainer Award Jun Hyun-moo
KBS 감동대상 Grand Prize (Daesang) Qualifications of Men
2012 17th Busan Choral Festival & Competition Silver, Pop category
11th KBS Entertainment Awards Best Teamwork
Best Newcomer in a Variety Show Joo Sang-wook

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