Pop Quiz! After three long years, a very popular K-Pop variety sports show is coming back this Chuseok…
the “Idol Star Athletics Championships!” Did you guess correctly? “Idol Star Athletics Championships” is better known as ISAC to K-Pop fans, and If you’ve been a K-Pop fan for a while, there’s no way you haven’t heard of it, since almost every K-Pop idol has gone to this sports program. In fact, I’m sure your favorite K-Pop groups have been to this program before.
In case anyone is still wondering what this show is all about, let me fill you in. The “Idol Star Athletics Championships” (or ISAC) is a popular Korean variety show that airs around Chuseok and Seollal, two of the country’s most important holidays, and features Korean idols competing in a wide range of multi-sport events such as track and field, archery, wrestling, e-sports, horseback riding, and a lot more!
As a K-Pop fan for a long time, I found it enjoyable to hear the experiences of Korean fans who were there. Countless memorable events have taken place in ISAC, such as when EXO Sehun confused SEVENTEEN Jeonghan for NCT Johnny, when Red Velvet and TWICE members hid Seulgi’s phone, or when SEVENTEEN members flaunted the iconic Vernon phone case!
This is the program where our favorite stars reveal their hidden talent in sports and show us a different side of themselves. The hosts of this year’s ISAC are Jun Hyun Moo, FTIsland’s Lee Hong Ki, and TWICE’s Dahyun. This year, track and field, archery, futsal, eSports, and a newly added category, dance sports, will make up “The 2022 Idol Stars Athletics Championships”.
More than fifty K-Pop groups and solo artists have already committed to appearing at the 2022 ISAC. Who among your favorite K-Pop stars do you think will be attending this year? Let’s find out now!
K-Pop Idols Attending 2022 ISAC
NCT
NCT is one of the lineup’s sunbae alongside Brave Girls. The famous boy band has appeared many times on ISAC and has many memorable moments from their appearances. Of these, one is the “2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships – New Year Special,” where NCT’s Jaehyun surprised the crowd with his amazing bowling skills.
Stray Kids
The lineup also includes Stray Kids, who are a leading group of the fourth generation. The “2020 Idol Star Athletics Championships – New Year Special” featured a hilarious story about Stray Kid’s Bang Chan when the hosts remarked that Bang Chan is no ordinary athlete, and the latter explained that he runs so hard because he thinks Park Jin Young (the CEO of JYP) is following him. He really has a great sense of humor!
IVE
This will be the first time the monster rookie girl group, IVE, is attending ISAC! BUT IVE Wonyoung and Yujin had been to the show before when they were members of IZ*ONE, so it’s not their first time. Wonyoung and Red Velvet Seulgi’s baseball match during the “2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships – Chuseok” is one of my favorites.
ITZY
Also one of the leading girl groups of the 4th generation that just made a comeback with ‘Sneakers’. Iconic matches, huh? This ITZY Ssireum match is quite fantastic if you ask me. During the “2020 Idol Star Athletics Championships – New Year Special,” Ryujin and Yeji’s impressive displays of strength led to two consecutive victories for the group.
ATEEZ
The 2022 ISAC roster will also feature ATEEZ, who just made their comeback. The “2020 Idol Star Athletics Championships – New Year Special featured an exciting relay race between Stray Kids, VERIVERY, SF9, and ATEEZ. VERIVERY and ATEEZ made it to the championship round!
WEi
MBC launched an offshoot of ISAC during the epidemic, with a focus on eSports competitions held on a special outdoor stage. PUBG Mobile and KartRider Rush Plus were the official games that many K-Pop stars played. During the “2020 Idol Star eSports Championships – Chuseok Special,” one of the most memorable matches was between WEi’s Kim Yohan and NCT’s Jeno.
In addition, Kep1er, NMIXX, STAYC, Brave Girls, EVERGLOW, Weeekly, ONEUS, VERIVERY, Billlie, DKZ, Xdinary Heroes, MCND, DRIPPIN, PURPLE KISS, TEMPEST, ALICE, TNX, CLASS:y, KINGDOM, TAN, Rocket Punch, TRI.BE, DKB, YOUNITE, ATBO, ICHILLIN, H1-KEY, CIX, AB6IX, BVNDIT, EPEX, LIGHTSUM, and Lapillus are the groups that have been confirmed to be appearing so far!
ISAC features not only K-Pop groups, but also solo artists! The 2022 ISAC lineup is complete with the addition of WOODZ, Ha Sung Woon, Kwon Eun Bi, Choi Ye Na, Kim Jae Hwan, Jo Yu Ri, and Jeong Sewoon.
The shooting has already been done on July 30 and August 1, and the episode will premiere in September, around the Chuseok holiday. I’m sure many people can’t wait to see their favorite idols. What’s even better about this, by the way? The 2022 ISAC Chuseok Special, as well as all previous ISAC shows, are all available on KOCOWA!
