But this program does not limit idol contestants who want to show off any type of skill sets that they have,” Kim said.

“As you all could guess, the auditions we have seen and experienced so far had strict set of rules and criteria. Kim Jong-kook, who is the main host and also on the panel, appeared at the online press conference and shared how he believes the show is breaking barriers. The program stars Kim Jong-kook, Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Sun-bin, Lee Hyun-yi, Kim Sung-kyu, and Brave Girls’ Yoo-jung, who together form an observation panel critiquing on the applicants’ performance, as well as cheering them on. In terms of physical strength, all applicants are tested based on three key evaluation criteria - muscle strength, body flexibility and mind control.

“I’m confident that it’ll get more dramatic as the story builds on, seeing the contestants develop their skills along their way toward the end.”

“What makes this show different from other audition programs is the feeling of seeing something raw,” Yeo Woon-hyuk, chief producer for the program said during an online press conference held Friday. Unlike typical idol audition shows that had mostly been staged in studios, “The Wild Idol” aims to deliver stories of contestants in the most natural and challenging setting possible. Through various missions, the contestants are tested and evaluated on their physical strength, skills, and other hidden potentials while out in the wild. “The Wild Idol” presents a series of harsh battles in which a total of 45 male idol applicants face extreme challenges to make it to their debut stage. MBC’s long-awaited survival audition program, “The Wild Idol,” will meet viewers for the first time on Friday at 8:10 p.m.

Mbc the brave cast