China stars in South Korean variety shows

Bilingual host

Fluent in Chinese, South Korean TV host Saereun believes that learning the language has opened many doors in her professional career. While many of her peers in South Korea have either married or moved away from broadcasting, Saereun continues to appear regularly on stage — a fact she credits to the opportunities her Chinese skills have provided.

Born in 1983, Saereun began studying Chinese in college and spent one semester each as an exchange student in Harbin and Xiamen in Fujian province. She later attended the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation at Ewha Womans University in South Korea before officially beginning her career as a bilingual TV host.

Her first trip to China was to Harbin, a city whose northern dialect she still feels most comfortable with. "It can sometimes be a bit challenging to understand people from southern cities like Xiamen," she said. "But people from both sides are kind and gentle."

In 2005, while studying in Harbin, Saereun witnessed the nationwide sensation sparked by the Chinese TV talent show Super Girl, which popularized the slogan "If you want to sing, sing out loud". Anyone could register to sing for 30 seconds in front of the judges.

Saereun also signed up to compete in the Harbin regional auditions, but as a newcomer unfamiliar with the city's transportation system, she would have struggled to find the venue if not for her Chinese friends, who offered to accompany her on the one-hour bus ride. "My Chinese friends helped me so much during my studies," she said. "I'll always be grateful for their kindness."

That year, Super Girl became a cultural phenomenon, setting viewership records for Chinese reality TV. National champion Li Yuchun even appeared on the cover of Time Asia. Saereun, however, was eliminated in the first round of auditions.

This year, Saereun once again found herself connected to a major talent show — Boys II Planet, where she served as the host for the debut group's fan meeting. Produced by one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies, the show was filmed in Korean and Chinese, featuring 160 male contestants from around the world, with eight debuting in the final lineup — including three from China.

Saereun said the show is currently one of the hottest programs in South Korea, with Chinese contestants attracting significant attention. "When I post about them on social media, some (South) Korean fans comment that they like a particular Chinese contestant so much that they've started learning Chinese."

According to her, the show's producers plan to launch a new season in December focused solely on the Chinese contestants. "No matter the country," Saereun said, "producers always chase ratings — they want to make the most talked-about shows."

Asked why Chinese contestants have become so popular, Saereun pointed to the influence of Chinese actor Yu Xiaoguang, who gained fame in South Korea through the 2017 reality show Same Bed, Different Dreams, which depicted the daily lives of celebrity couples. At the time, even the current South Korean president, Lee Jae-myung, and his wife appeared on the program. Yu participated alongside his actress wife from South Korea, Choo Ja-hyun, forming a beloved cross-cultural couple.

"He left a strong impression on (South) Korean audiences as a kind, family-oriented man," said Lim Ji-su, a 22-year-old student from South Korea who studies in China. Echoing that sentiment, Saereun added that, "Young Koreans, especially those in their teens and twenties, now particularly admire gentle, sweet-tempered Chinese men."

Saereun's career has taken her across China, from bustling metropolises to remote rural villages. She has even hosted fan meetings in China attended by tens of thousands of people. "That was one of the happiest moments of my career," she said.

"China and (South) Korea are like old friends — we know each other well and are both proud of our own cultures," Saereun added. "Differences in views on history or social issues are natural, but if the media can share more positive and constructive stories, it will help create a better atmosphere for communication between our peoples."

Meanwhile, Jiang Lizi continues to run her own video channels on both Chinese and Korean social media platforms — sharing her life in South Korea with Chinese audiences and introducing Chinese culture to South Korean viewers.

"Sometimes it feels like I can't please either side," she said, "but I see myself as a platform for debating. If my videos can help reduce even a little bit of misunderstanding between the two countries, then my work is worthwhile."

For Jiang, the most effective form of cultural exchange is direct experience. "You have to go and see for yourself — only by experiencing something firsthand can you form a new perspective," she said. Many of her South Korean friends who have visited China have come back with good impressions, she added.

In November last year, China announced a visa-free policy for ordinary South Korean citizens, making travel between the two countries easier. Saereun, who has long enjoyed running marathons, has already signed up to participate in one in Shanghai on Nov 30.

A decade ago, Jiang once dreamed of producing her own variety show, one that would take foreigners across China's 56 ethnic villages to live with local families. "I want to see what kind of chemistry would happen," she said.

And perhaps, just like Hualala's story, those real human connections — shared over food, laughter, and daily life — are what move audiences the most, wherever the camera comes from.