Despite the “Yang Gwan-sik” Craze Outside, Even Park Bo-gum Can’t Save KBS’s “The Seasons”
While the “Yang Gwan-sik” craze is sweeping the internet, KBS’s late-night music talk show “The Seasons: Park Bo-gum’s Cantabile” is failing to attract viewers. Starting with a modest 1.5% viewership rating, it has since dropped to 1.0%, then 0.9%. Last week’s rating hovered at a mere 1.1%, showing no signs of recovery.
“The Seasons,” which changes hosts each season, launched the Park Bo-gum-led Cantabile on March 14. At the time, KBS promoted it as “a bold new season” with “the top actor of the moment as the first-ever MC.” Despite the hype, it has not lived up to expectations.
Compared to previous hosts, including the youngest MC, Lee Young-ji, the show hasn’t shown significant improvement in ratings. Over the two-year run with various stars like Jay Park (Drive), Choi Jung-hoon (Night Park), AKMU (Today Night, Tomorrow Night), Lee Hyori (Red Carpet), Zico (Artist), Lee Young-ji (Rainbow), and now Park Bo-gum (Cantabile), the highest recorded rating was only 1.9% for Lee Hyori’s season.
With a growing number of platforms offering more experimental and raw music talk shows, KBS’s traditional, conservative format feels outdated, like a plain beef broth losing out to spicy, flashy alternatives. “The Seasons” no longer feels fresh or meaningful. Relying on star MCs alone isn’t enough; a full revamp of the show’s structure to better meet the tastes of target audiences is urgently needed.
Cantabile aired just a week after Park Bo-gum’s appearance in the Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” While the Netflix drama gained traction, Cantabile struggled—despite featuring the same star. It’s a clear sign that star power alone cannot guarantee success.
Blaming the MC is pointless. Without evolving the format, even if Hollywood’s Timothée Chalamet were to host, the show might shine briefly but ultimately fade.
