# Invincible Youth

Invincible Youth (Korean: 청춘불패; Hanja: 靑春不敗; RR: Cheongchun bulpae) is a South Korean variety show which aired its first season on KBS2 from October 23, 2009 to December 24, 2010. Season 1 featured seven girls (collectively known as G7) from K-pop idol groups wherein they experience how it is to live and survive in the Korean rural outdoors. It started its second season on November 12, 2011 featuring eight girls.

## Background
### Season 1

The first season of the show involved Korean entertainers meeting weekly to work and learn about farming in a Yuchi-ri village in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province in South Korea. This involved both agricultural work, interacting with members of an aging rural community, and competing in challenges involving agrarian or domestic tasks. As the show's popularity grew, the cast and crew began work to make their filming location a sustainable site for agritourism, enter produce in food competition, and promote environmentally conscious farming. Some of the products were sold within the local community, to the general public, or distributed as gifts.
The G7 girls initially included Narsha of Brown Eyed Girls, Sunhwa of Secret, Hyuna of 4Minute, Hyomin of T-ara, Sunny and Yuri of Girls' Generation, and Hara of Kara.
On Friday, May 14, 2010, the PD of the show Kim Ho-sang announced that Sunny, Yuri, and Hyuna would be leaving the show due to scheduling conflicts with their respective groups' overseas promotions. Their replacements were decided through private auditions with members of other K-pop girl groups.
On May 30, it was confirmed that After School's Jooyeon, f(x)’s Victoria and Kim Sori will become the three new members of G7 on Invincible Youth. Kim Jong-min (of Koyote) also became a semi-permanent member for a month under the moniker of being a "Variety show mentor" for the new members.
On the August 27th episode, it was announced that Kim Tae-woo will be taking a temporary leave of absence due to a surgery he is to receive for his throat. He vowed to come back to the show as soon as he makes a full recovery. Starting episode 44, Song Eun-i filled in as a semi-permanent MC in Kim Tae-woo's absence. On December 8, 2010, it was revealed that Invincible Youth finished recording their finale episode. They had filmed for over one year, since October 2009.
In an interview with Star News on December 10, production director (PD) Kim Sang-ho said, "We're not discontinuing the show because of low viewer ratings. There has been a lot of conflicting schedules due to girl groups like KARA expanding their activities overseas. It was difficult to take out some of the fixed members, so we decided to end season one for now. There's a lot of trust being placed on the worth of the Invincible Youth brand. After discussions with other producers, everyone agreed to end season one and go ahead with season two next year."
Season 1 Slogan: 청춘은 지지 않는다~ 청춘~ 불패 (Youth Don't Lose! Invincible Youth!)

### Season 2

Executive producer (CP) Kim Ho-sang told Star News on August 31 that the second season will take place in a fishing village in Daebu Island, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
G8 members included Girls' Generation's Sunny and Hyoyeon, Amber (f(x)), Suzy (miss A), Bora (Sistar), Yewon (Jewelry), Ko Woo-ri (Rainbow), Jiyoung (Kara). Lee Soo-geun, Ji Hyun-woo and Boom served as MC's. Sunny is the only returning member from Season 1, although Hyoyeon, Jiyoung and Bora were guests during the previous season.
The first episode of Invincible Youth 2 premiered on November 12, 2011 in South Korea, while the international premiere on KBS World was on December 2, 2011.
Prior to the airing of the April 7th episode, multiple news reports were released confirming that cast members Lee Soo-geun, Ji Hyun-woo, Amber and Woori will be leaving the show. Season 1 cast member Kim Shin-young returned as an MC starting from the April 14th episode.
It was then later revealed that Sunny would also be leaving the show. As she was the only member from season 1, they agreed that she would stay on with season 2 until the program became somewhat stable. She left the show after the July 7th episode. Comedian Lee Young-ja was cast afterwards, starting with the July 21st episode.
Invincible Youth 2 stopped airing in mid-November due to scheduling conflicts with the cast members as well as low ratings. The final episode was filmed November 7 and aired on November 17.
Season 2 Slogan: 청춘이여 영원하라! 청춘~ 불패 (Youth is Forever! Invincible Youth!)

## Invincible Youth members
### Season 1
#### Hosts

| Cast (Hangul) | Date | Nicknames | Notes |
| Nam Hee-suk (남희석) | 23 October 2009–12 December 2009 | Nam MC Uncle Hee-suk | Left for personal reasons |
| Noh Joo-hyun (노주현) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | Village Chief Hulk | |
| Kim Tae-woo (김태우) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | Bear Tae-woo Immature Fool Of Yuchiri | Went on temporary leave after episode 44 in order to undergo throat surgery |
| Kim Shin-young (김신영) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | Pig (Don) Chef Korea's Famous Comedian | |
| Song Eun-i (송은이) | 10 September 2010–24 December 2010 | Song Senior | Temporary replacement for Kim Tae-woo |

#### G7 members

| Cast (Hangul) | Date | Nicknames | Group |
| Narsha (나르샤/박효진) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | Adult-Dol Reusha Hyojin Miss Laminate | Brown Eyed Girls |
| Hyomin (효민/박선영) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | Folding Screen CEO (Completely Edited Out) Wall flower Naming Master Hyoderella | T-ara |
| Sunhwa (한선화) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | White Paper Wet Feet Girl Blank Sunhwa Airhead Sunhwa | Secret |
| Hara (구하라) | 23 October 2009–24 December 2010 | Haragoo Goossain Bolt Stealthy Hara Quick-Mouth Hara Thief Hara | Kara |
| Sunny (써니/이순규) | 23 October 2009–11 June 2010 | Soonkyu Chicken Catcher Aegyo (Cute) | Girls' Generation |
| Yuri (권유리) | 23 October 2009–11 June 2010 | Class-President Yul Yoochi-ri Village's Daughter in Law Yoga Instructor Yuri | Girls' Generation |
| Hyuna (김현아) | 23 October 2009–11 June 2010 | Maknae Producer Kim Jing Jing (Whiny) Hyuna | 4Minute |
| Kim Sori (김소리) | 18 June 2010–24 December 2010 | Vein Sori Sona Lisa | Solo Artist |
| Victoria (빅토리아/송치엔/宋茜) | 18 June 2010–24 December 2010 | Wu Lin Girl Censor Vic Victory | f(x) |
| Jooyeon (이주연) | 18 June 2010–24 December 2010 | Clumsy Jooyeon Dead Weight (Jim) Jooyeon | After School |

### Season 2
#### Hosts

| Cast (Hangul) | Date | Nicknames |
| Boom (붐) | 12 November 2011–17 November 2012 | Min-ho Gotta Get That Big Nose |
| Ji Hyun-woo (지현우) | 12 November 2011–7 April 2012 | Hyung-tae |
| Lee Soo-geun (이수근) | 12 November 2011–7 April 2012 | Uncle Soo-geun Lee Soo-geun 2NE1 |
| Kim Shin-young (김신영) | 14 April 2012–17 November 2012 | 44 Shin-young Empty Stomach |
| Lee Young-ja (이영자) | 21 July 2012–17 November 2012 | Mom (Eomma) |

#### G8 members

| Cast (Hangul) | Date | Nicknames | Group |
| Hyoyeon (김효연) | 12 November 2011–17 November 2012 | Hyoding (Kid Hyoyeon) Yoghurt Ajumma Sancho Breaky Breakomaneci | Girls' Generation |
| Yewon (김예원) | 12 November 2011–17 November 2012 | Laminate Ducushong U-Go-Girl Fish Market Aunty Chitty Chitty Bongsuni Un-Grown Katydid | Jewelry |
| Bora (윤보라) | 12 November 2011–17 November 2012 | Bosain Bolt Nacho Ggamanova Boraski Alba Lucky Icon Infant | Sistar |
| Jiyoung (강지영) | 12 November 2011–17 November 2012 | Jigoo (Ji-fool) Am-Tell Girl Dacushong All-Grown Giant Baby | Kara |
| Suzy (배수지) | 12 November 2011–17 November 2012 | Nation's First Love Giant Maknae Jobless Him Suzy King Feet 285mm from Gwangju Bacushong Eonnyeoni Grown-feet | miss A |
| Ko Woo-ri (고우리) | 12 November 2011–7 April 2012 | Granny | Rainbow |
| Amber (엠버/유일운/劉逸雲) | 12 November 2011–7 April 2012 | Eunyoung Terminator The Rising Star in Farming | f(x) |
| Sunny (써니/이순규) | 12 November 2011–7 July 2012 | Soonkyu 60's Sunny Louisoddong Gaeddongi/Dog Dung Grasshopper | Girls' Generation |

## List of special guests
### Season 1

| Episode Number | Airdate | Guest stars | Notes |
| Episode 6 | November 29, 2009 | Minho (SHINee) | |
| Episode 10 | December 25, 2009 | Go Se-won Park Hwi-sun Son Hoyoung (g.o.d) Onew (SHINee) Im Seulong (2AM) Heo Kyung-hwan | Christmas Special |
| Episode 18 | February 19, 2010 | Heechul (Super Junior) B2ST Yeon Jung-hoon Lee Kye-in Nicole Jung (Kara) Hyoyeon (Girls' Generation) | |
| Episode 19 | February 26, 2010 | Roh Yoo-min Shindong (Super Junior) | Replaced Kim Tae-woo who held a concert in the United States |
| Episode 20 | March 5, 2010 | Lee Kye-in | Episode also featured the cast from the documentary Old Partner |
| Episode 22 | March 19, 2010 | Sooyoung (Girls' Generation) | Replaced Yuri who could not participate due to the swine influenza |
| Episode 23 | March 26, 2010 | Sooyoung (Girls' Generation) Koo Jun-yup Ock Joo-hyun | |
| Episode 24 | April 9, 2010 | Koo Jun-yup | |
| Episode 26 | April 30, 2010 | Ham Eunjung (T-ara) Kim Jong-min (Koyote) | Ham Eunjung replaced Hara who did not appear due to Kara's sponsorship promotions in Thailand |
| Episode 27 | May 7, 2010 | Lee Joon (MBLAQ) Jeong Jun-ha | |
| Episode 29 | May 21, 2010 | Cast Gag Concert | Referred to as "Gag 7" in reference to "G7" |
| Episode 30 | May 28, 2010 | Cast Gag Concert | Referred to as "Gag 7" in reference to "G7" |
| Episode 36 | July 9, 2010 | Secret Shin Ji (Koyote) | Surprise guests for G7's Special Army Concert |
| Episode 37 | July 16, 2010 | Sunny | Special invitation for G7's trip to Japan |
| Episode 38 | July 23, 2010 | Sunny | Special invitation for G7's trip to Japan |
| Episode 39 | July 30, 2010 | Jung Myung-hoon Go Joo-won | |
| Episode 40 | August 6, 2010 | MBLAQ | |
| Episode 41 | August 13, 2010 | MBLAQ Jiyeon (T-ara) Lee Seok-hoon (SG Wannabe) Park Hyun-bin | Summer Vacation Special |
| Episode 42 | August 20, 2010 | Yuri | Special invitation for G7's Farm Products Exhibition |
| Episode 43 | August 27, 2010 | 2PM Lizzy (After School) JeA (Brown Eyed Girls) | Replacing Hara and Victoria who were absent due to their respective group's promotions in Japan |
| Episode 44 | September 10, 2010 | Karam (The Boss) Kim Young-chul Song Eun-i | |
| Episode 48 | October 8, 2010 | Park Gwang-hyun | |
| Episode 51 | October 29, 2010 | Sunny Hyuna Go Joo-won Lee Kye-in Chung Myung-hoon Kim Tae-woo | 1 Year Anniversary Special, Part 1 |
| Episode 52 | November 5, 2010 | Luna, Sulli, Krystal (f(x)) Song Jieun (Secret) Kang Jiyoung (Kara) | 1 Year Anniversary Special, Part 2 |
| Episode 53 | October 8, 2010 | Bora (Sistar) | |
| Episode 54 | November 26, 2010 | Bora (Sistar) | Replacing Hara and Narsha who were absent due to their respective group's promotions in Japan |
| Episode 55 | December 3, 2010 | Taemin (SHINee) | Replacing Victoria |
| Episode 58 (Finale) | December 24, 2010 | Kim Tae-woo | Surprise Appearance |

### Season 2

| Episode Number | Airdate | Guest stars | Notes |
| Episode 9 | January 15, 2012 | Im Ha-ryong | |
| Episode 12 | February 25, 2012 | Song Dae-kwan Tae Jin-ah | Missing Sunny and Hyoyeon due to Girls' Generation's promotions in America |
| Episode 17 | March 31, 2012 | 2AM | |
| Episode 19 | April 14, 2012 | Choi Hong-man | Kim Shin-young debut and missing Jiyoung but appear later in the show |
| Episode 20 | April 20, 2012 | Shinhwa | |
| Episode 21 | April 27, 2012 | Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Jung-shin (CNBLUE) | Missing Jiyoung |
| Episode 22 | May 5, 2012 | Jung Yong-hwa, Lee Jung-shin (CNBLUE) Taeyeon (Girls' Generation) Narsha (Brown Eyed Girls) | Replacing Bora and Suzy |
| Episode 23 | May 12, 2012 | Gong Hyung-jin | Missing Jiyoung but appear later in the show |
| Episode 24 | May 19, 2012 | Sung Min (Super Junior) | |
| Episode 25 | May 26, 2012 | Park Sang-myun Hyuna, Sohyun (4minute) | Missing Jiyoung |
| Episode 26 | June 2, 2012 | Andy (Shinhwa) L (Infinite) Lee Hyun-woo Baek Sung-hyun Kang Kyun-sung Park Hwi-sun | Missing Sunny, Hyoyeon, Bora, Jiyoung |
| Episode 27 | June 9, 2012 | Joo Sang-wook In Gyo-jin Hyomin (T-ara) Sunhwa (Secret) | Missing Sunny and Hyoyeon but they appear later in the show |
| Episode 28 | June 16, 2012 | Jo Min-ki Son Byong-ho | |
| Episode 29 | June 23, 2012 | Kang Dong-ho Kang Ji-sub Goo Hara (Kara) | Replacing Bora who did not appear due to Sistar's music video shooting in Hawaii (Hara), Dano Special |
| Episode 30 | June 30, 2012 | Baek Ji-young | |
| Episode 31 | July 7, 2012 | Jo Kwon (2AM) Lee Joon (MBLAQ) Hwang Kwanghee (ZE:A) | Sunny farewell |
| Episode 33 | July 28, 2012 | Wooyoung (2PM) | |
| Episode 37 | September 1, 2012 | B2ST | Initially missing Hyoyeon but she appears later in the show |
| Episode 38 | September 8, 2012 | Chung Hoon Cho Jun-Ho Song Dae-Nam Kim Jae-Bum (2012 South Korea Judo Olympic Team) | |
| Episode 44 | November 3, 2012 | Taru Salminen Abigail Cancian Brownwyn Mullen Bianca Mobley (Global Talk Show) | Missing Jiyoung |

## Music

Season 1: During Season 1, a short clip of "I Can Do Better" by Avril Lavigne is played at the start of each episode. "Rockstar" by Miley Cyrus was used as an opening theme for a number of early episodes. A medley of songs by the American rock group Journey performed by the cast of the American television show Glee was used to open several of the final episodes. The ending theme of every episode is a track titled "All About You" by an English pop rock group named Mcfly.
Season 2: During Season 2 the ending theme for episode 1 through to episode 7 is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. In subsequent episodes, the ending theme is "I Will" by The Beatles. After the cast change, it has since been replaced with promotions for PVs.

## Awards

| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2009 | 22nd KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Newcomer | Kim Shin-Young | Won |
| 2010 | 23rd KBS Entertainment Awards | Best female MC | Yuri | Nominated |
| 2010 | 23rd KBS Entertainment Awards | Best female MC | Goo Hara | Won |
| 2010 | 16th Hongcheon WaxyCorn King Festival | Special Prize | Invincible Youth | Won |
| 2010 | Bugs Music Awards | Top Variety Star | Narsha | Nominated |

### Other recognitions

| Year | From | Category |
| 2010 | Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | Appreciation Plaque |
| 2010 | Korea Rural Community Corporation | President's Commendation |

## Media release

In Japan, Invincible Youth received a DVD release in 5 Volumes released on May 3, 2011 under Broadway Entertainment. The show was re-released in 9 volumes on June 3 of the same year. The second season was released in Japan in 11 volumes on August 5 and October 7, 2011.
KBS's official YouTube channel KBS World released the full show on YouTube on 2013. The first season gathered over 22,000,000 views while the second season experienced a drastic fall in views gathering only about 2,000,000 views. Overall the show amassed over 25,000,000 views making it one of the channel's most-watched shows of all time.