July’s summer days are when the sunshine hits at its sharpest. Heat shimmers off the asphalt, and a patch of shade under a tree becomes a tiny refuge to catch your breath. Cicadas score the day like background music, and the cold drink in your hand beads up in seconds. In July, when summer speaks to your whole body, TV is serving everything from young love and off‑the‑wall human feats to music that brings people together—and even idols battling it out with zero fear. In short, a true variety “buffet” is ready to take over living rooms.
▲ Netflix Better Late Than Single 2 (July 7)
Born‑single men and women charge into romance like bulldozers.
Better Late Than Single 2 is a makeover dating reality show following people with no dating experience as they take on their very first shot at love. If Season 1 won hearts with awkward growth and deep relatability, Season 2 returns with bolder contestants and unpredictable romance.
Seo In‑guk, Kang Han‑na, Lee Eun‑ji, and Car, the Garden are back as the “Some‑Makers.” Producers highlight the strong presence of the female cast and the full‑on progression of relationships as key viewing points.
▲ TV CHOSUN Ten‑Million Phenoms Show (July 7, 10 p.m.)
Korea’s most extraordinary “phenoms” show off their jaw‑dropping skills.
Ten‑Million Phenoms Show pairs national‑treasure‑level talents with stars for a super‑sized spectacle aiming for 10 million views. With 10 million won in prize money on the line, they pull off outrageous challenges and performances. Kang Ho‑dong and Boom, who earned praise hosting last year’s Chuseok special Ten‑Million Trot Show, reunite as MCs.
Producers point to star‑and‑phenom collaborations—and the sweat and grind behind each challenge—as must‑watch elements.
▲ KBS2 Happy Together - Glad I’m Not Alone (July 10, 8:30 p.m.)
KBS2’s hit variety show Happy Together returns after six years.
Happy Together - Glad I’m Not Alone is a storytelling music audition built around music and “life teammates.” Yoo Jae‑suk, Jang Hang‑jun, and Yoon Jong‑shin will listen closely to contestants’ songs and stories, delivering warm empathy and laughs.
Since its 2001 debut, Happy Together has been loved for segments like “Tray Karaoke,” “Friends,” “Don’t Laugh Sauna,” and “Late‑Night Snack.” Expectations are already high to see how the show will reinvent itself around “music.”
▲ MBN·SBS Plus I Met a Psychopath (July 12, 10 p.m.)
A thriller talk‑variety based on true stories finally lifts the veil.
I Met a Psychopath unpacks real‑life encounters with antisocial personalities lurking around us—psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissists—through reenactments, talk, and expert analysis. Jun Hyun‑moo steps into the thriller genre as host for the first time since debut, while Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, rapper Nucksal, and Heo Young‑ji join as the storyteller squad.
The production team said, “Kyuhyun, Nucksal, and Heo Young‑ji are top‑tier storytellers with distinct charms and perspectives. Please look forward to the fresh talk chemistry they’ll create with Jun Hyun‑moo.”
▲ ENA The Prince and the Pauper (July 27, 11:15 p.m.)
Six idols go to war, battling between heaven and hell.
The Prince and the Pauper is a winner‑takes‑all travel variety where six idols—Super Junior’s Leeteuk and Shindong, PENTAGON’s DAWN, WEi’s Kim Yo‑han, and NCT’s Johnny and Jisung—compete for the prince’s throne against an Egyptian backdrop.
From Cairo to Luxor and Hurghada, missions decide who becomes the prince and who falls to the pauper team. The victorious prince monopolizes the perks, while the losing paupers must endure a rough journey.
All eyes are on the chemistry these six personalities will unleash on screen.