The complete group after 11 years, returning with 'Hae-tu'

'Happy Together' Returns After 6 Years: A Meeting of Music and Narrative

KBS2's 'Happy Together,' which met viewers for 20 years from 2001 to 2020, has returned after 6 years with a new format. Starting its first broadcast at 8:30 PM on the 10th, 'Happy Together - Glad We Are Not Alone' (hereafter 'Happy Together') goes beyond a simple talk show, adopting a storytelling music audition format that highlights the narratives and harmonies of various 'life teammates.'

This project is led by three men called the 'Horn-rimmed Trio.' Led by Yoo Jae-suk, who has guarded the entertainment industry for over 30 years, director Jang Hang-jun, who directed the film 'The King and the Man,' and singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin work together. The program's identity was defined by a division of roles: Yoo Jae-suk reads people, Jang Hang-jun captures stories, and Yoon Jong-shin listens to music.

A pre-meeting video of the three MCs garnered over 1.45 million views, generating buzz even before the broadcast. Yoo Jae-suk expressed his ambition to deliver warm and enjoyable broadcasts to viewers. Jang Hang-jun shared his expectation for the emotion arising from the participants' narratives as they look at one another, while Yoon Jong-shin emphasized musical authenticity by presenting love and passion for singing as his judging criteria.

Lee Hyori's Return and Click-B's First Full Group Stage in 11 Years

The center of the first broadcast was occupied by Lee Hyori, who appeared as a special MC. As a former key figure of 'Happy Together,' she led the scene with her characteristic wit. She displayed chemistry with Yoo Jae-suk and Yoon Jong-shin as long-time entertainment siblings of 20 years. When Yoo Jae-suk joked about her recent status, saying, "The sediment in your heart has settled a lot," Lee Hyori responded wittily, "I'm just thankful we could all gather without anyone falling into the abyss."

Despite having previously declined appearances on audition programs, Lee Hyori joined upon hearing the news of 'Happy Together's' restart. She created tension by asking the participants, "May I give some harsh criticisms?" but shed tears just 3 seconds after the stage began. After the performance, she left an honest review, saying, "Each song reminds me of an ex-boyfriend."

First-generation idol Click-B reunited as a full group for a stage for the first time in 11 years. They candidly shared the behind-the-scenes stories of when they were reorganized into a four-member group and the rumors of discord among members. Member Ha Hyun-gon heated up the atmosphere by stating, "After I left, I relieved my stress through nose surgery while watching Click-B win first place on music shows." Yoo Ho-seok tried to stop them, asking, "How much are you going to tell?" in response to the members' unrestrained confessions.

Bang Yedam's Parents' Musical Legacy and Participants' Stories

Singer Bang Yedam proved his musical lineage by taking the stage with his parents. Bang Yedam's father is a person who has worked on over ten thousand songs, from the 'Enjoy Life' CM song to the theme song of the animation 'Pokémon,' and his mother has also sung numerous theme songs, including 'Bboong Bboong-i.'

Stories from participants gathered from all over the country followed. Life dramas mediated through music unfolded, ranging from the Grand Prize winner of the 'National Singing Contest 2025 Year-end Wrap-up' to the story of a mother and son that made Yoo Jae-suk cry. This season is conducted as a team-based audition with no restrictions on age, genre, or number of members, and the finally selected teams will get the chance to perform on a final stage with the viewers.

Mixed Reactions and Production Planning

Public perception of the new format is mixed. Regarding the MC lineup of Yoo Jae-suk, Yoon Jong-shin, Jang Hang-jun, and Lee Hyori, online communities responded with comments like, "It looks like it will be really fun" and "It's good to see Happy Together back after 11 years." On the other hand, there is criticism that it failed to break out of the existing variety show mold. Some netizens expressed fatigue with the repetition of the existing format, saying, "Isn't it time for a generational shift?" and "I'm tired of similar types of variety shows."

The program's framework was built with the participation of planner Park Min-gi, director Kwon Jae-oh, and writer Lee Min-jung. This project is an audition with a new format based on the long-running KBS talk show 'Happy Together' that aired from 2001 to 2020. Appearances by Park Myung-soo and Big Mama's Shin Yeon-ah are also scheduled for later.