Korean Variety Show Takes Over: No.1 in Ratings & YouTube Trends in Just One Week

MBC’s new variety show ‘Good Day’ is making waves right from its debut, sweeping buzz rankings across multiple categories in its first week of airing.

According to Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex, which tracks TV and OTT non-drama buzz, ‘Good Day’ ranked No. 2 in its first week. Notably, it secured the No. 1 spot in news buzz and also topped the TV Sunday category, solidifying its strong presence in the entertainment landscape.

G-Dragon’s Comeback Sparks Explosive Interest

The show's overwhelming popularity is further reflected in the individual buzz rankings. G-Dragon, the star at the center of ‘Good Day’, claimed No. 1 in the non-drama cast category, while Kim Soo-hyun and Jung Hyung-don also made the list at No. 7 and No. 11, respectively, proving the show’s widespread appeal.

Premiering on February 16, ‘Good Day’ brought together a legendary lineup with G-Dragon reunited with longtime collaborators Jung Hyung-don and Defconn, along with Code Kunst, Jo Se-ho, and more. The episode also featured celebrity superfan Kian84 and an engaging conversation with actor Kim Soo-hyun, G-Dragon’s fellow ‘88-liner’.

Following the broadcast, the reunion of G-Dragon, Jung Hyung-don, and Defconn at Dongmyo after 11 years quickly became a viral sensation. The clip racked up over 1.3 million views on YouTube (as of February 18) and soared to the platform’s No. 1 trending video.

Additionally, ‘Butterfly’, the song Kian84 mentioned as one of his favorites, shot to the top of Melon’s trending searches, proving the power of nostalgia-driven content. At the same time, both G-Dragon and BIGBANG trended on Melon’s search rankings, reigniting fans’ excitement.

Social media platforms and online communities have been flooded with clips, reactions, and discussions, further amplifying the show’s success.

A Strong Start in Ratings & Streaming Charts

‘Good Day’ has successfully secured both high ratings and immense buzz, marking a strong start for MBC’s new variety project. The show dominated the 2049 viewership ratings, a key metric indicating a program’s competitiveness among younger audiences, taking the No. 1 spot across all Sunday programs, including dramas and variety shows.

The most-watched moment of the night came from the teaser for the ‘88 Club’, featuring G-Dragon, Kim Soo-hyun, Jung Hae-in, Im Si-wan, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Kwanghee. This scene pushed the show’s peak minute-by-minute rating to 6.2% (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan area).

Beyond TV ratings, ‘Good Day’ also took over the OTT landscape, landing at No. 1 on Disney+ Korea’s ‘Today’s Top 10’ immediately upon release, highlighting its massive popularity among streaming audiences.

G-Dragon’s Music Project: What’s Next?

MBC’s ‘Good Day’ follows G-Dragon as he collaborates with figures from various fields to create the ultimate song of the year. The show airs every Sunday at 9:10 PM KST, and with its record-breaking first week, all eyes are on what’s next for this highly-anticipated music project.