The Idol Star Athletics Championships (ISAC) is celebrating its 15th anniversary this Chuseok holiday season, proving once again why this unique television special remains an essential part of Korean pop culture. This year's event brought together a record-breaking 374 idols from 61 different K-pop groups, making it one of the largest gatherings in the Korean entertainment industry.
The three-part special aired from Monday through Wednesday, offering viewers an entirely different perspective on their favorite K-pop stars. Unlike typical music shows and red carpet events, ISAC showcases idols competing in various athletic events including track sprints, ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling), penalty shootouts, and pistol shooting competitions. This format provides fans with an unscripted and candid look at their idols' teamwork, competitive spirit, and personalities that are rarely displayed during standard promotional activities.
ISAC has firmly established itself as part of Korea's Chuseok tradition, with many families incorporating the show into their holiday viewing rituals. However, the program's history has not been without controversy, as it has faced persistent criticism regarding safety concerns and harsh filming conditions. Several idols have sustained injuries during high-intensity competitions, while fans have voiced complaints about marathon filming schedules and inadequate facilities. Social media campaigns have emerged demanding safety reforms or even complete cancellation of the program, with critics arguing that the physical risks and pressure placed on idols may outweigh the entertainment value.
The show's cultural impact extends far beyond television screens. Maggie Kang, director of Netflix's acclaimed "KPop Demon Hunters," revealed during an interview that she had initially envisioned the highly anticipated encounter between Huntrix and Saja Boys taking place at ISAC rather than at a joint fan signing event. This creative consideration underscores ISAC's special role as a significant gathering point for idols, fandoms, and major cultural moments in the K-pop industry.
Monday's opening episode demonstrated the show's enduring popularity with impressive viewership numbers. According to Nielsen Korea, ISAC achieved a nationwide household viewership rating of 3.1 percent, making it the most-watched variety television program in its time slot. The penalty shootout segment proved particularly captivating, with minute-by-minute ratings peaking at 5.7 percent, successfully uniting multi-generational audiences and diverse fandoms.
Veteran hosts Jun Hyun-moo, Lee Chang-sub, Lee Eun-ji, and Jonathan provided skillful commentary that combined professional sports analysis with entertaining humor. Instead of following a traditional opening ceremony format, the idols warmed up with an energetic K-pop dance routine. CRAVITY's Hyeongjun created a spontaneous viral moment with his impromptu performance of Jennie's "Like JENNIE," which immediately ignited social media buzz and fan reactions.
Several standout performances highlighted the competitive spirit of the event. In the women's 60-meter final, tripleS's Nien decisively claimed the gold medal in what resembled a competitive family feud-style race, putting intra-group rivalries at center stage. The men's race saw LUN8's Chael clinch the gold medal with an impressive record time of 7.79 seconds, showcasing the athletic abilities of K-pop performers.
The newly reinstated penalty shootout segment brought high-stakes drama featuring idols with creative nicknames inspired by world-class soccer players. Participants included Song Heung-min Eun-seok, Neheemar Sohee, and Kylian Yoonbappe Yoon of RIIZE, adding both humor and excitement to the competitive atmosphere.
In the women's team ssireum competition, SAY MY NAME achieved an upset victory with an aggressive strategy, jokingly promising to buy their agency CEO a car to celebrate their win. The men's pistol shooting event, which was introduced as a new addition replacing archery, saw RIIZE clinch first place through a combination of skill and eye-catching performance that captivated viewers.
The second and third parts of the special were scheduled to air at 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, though broadcast times were subject to potential changes depending on KBO postseason wildcard game coverage. This scheduling flexibility demonstrates the show's adaptation to other major sporting events while maintaining its holiday programming commitment.
