The 24-year-old flagship MBC program Mysterious TV Surprise (hereafter 'Surprise') is back after a three-month overhaul, returning under a new name: Surprise Mystery Salon.
Premiering on the 25th, Surprise Mystery Salon has evolved from reenactment-centered storytelling into an expanded, talk-driven format. In a "salon"-style setting, the hosts and guests dissect the people and circumstances behind each mystery, dialing up the thrill of suspicion and deduction rather than settling for simple shock value.
Producers say they've tightened the show's signature true-story mysteries and boosted immersion through scene-stealing actors' reenactments. Their aim is to move beyond merely "watching" the cases and deliver a viewing experience that "digs in," following context and clues to the very end.
The new season features a three-MC lineup: singer Lee Chan-won, comedian Kwak Beom, and announcer Park So-young. As the main host, Lee Chan-won brings encyclopedic knowledge and steady control—and will also make his first on-screen acting attempt since debut, drawing attention. During the first recording, he even set a ratings pledge, signaling serious determination.
Kwak Beom plays the role of reining in Lee's explanations with sharp counterpoints. Calling himself the "Mystery Destroyer," he keeps the conversation tense with relentless, loophole-piercing questions and sharp humor. Meanwhile, Park So-young, who dubs herself a "Surprise kid," speaks up from the viewers' perspective, keeping the salon balanced.
Actors long associated with 'Surprise'—including Kim Min-jin, Kim Ha-young, and Son Yoon-sang—also join the reenactment segments, elevating each case's atmosphere with denser, more gripping performances.
The producers shared, "The reason 'Surprise' has endured is ultimately the power of storytelling," adding, "Even with a new format, we'll never lose the essence of mystery that keeps you thinking until the end."
Meanwhile, Surprise Mystery Salon premieres on the 25th at 10:40 a.m.