Universe League
| Universe League | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hangul | 유니버스 리그 |
| Revised Romanization | Yunibeoseu rigeu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yunibŏsŭ rigŭ |
| Genre | Reality competition |
| Created by | SBS |
| Presented by | Jay Park |
| Opening theme | "We Ready" |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | SBS TV |
| Release | November 22, 2024 |
| Related | |
| Universe Ticket (2023–2024) | |
Universe League (Korean: 유니버스 리그) is a 2024 South Korean boy group survival reality competition series created by SBS. It premiered on SBS TV on November 22, 2024, and airs every Friday following. The show will end with the formation of a boy group with the amount of members unknown as of right now. The final group will debut under F&F Entertainment, an entertainment company related to the clothing brand of the same name, F&F.
The show serves as a sequel to Universe Ticket, this time featuring all male contestants.
Concept
[edit]Universe League is a K-pop survival show built around a league-style format, dividing 42 contestants into three teams: Beat, Rhythm, and Groove. The competition unfolds over five stages, collectively referred to as P.R.I.S.M, with each stage focusing on a distinct aspect of the contestants' journey. Episode 1 starts off with the contest in the "P" stage, for "Pick", where the contestants form teams through a draft process and begin showcasing their skills. The ultimate goal is to win the Prism Cup, which secures the team's debut in a global boy group. [1]
Background and promotion
[edit]At the end of the finale episode of Universe Ticket on January 17, 2024, a "Coming Soon" video was released and announced the second season titled Universe League.[2] On January 22, F&F Entertainment announced the preparation for the season two and planned to broadcast it on SBS at the end of this year.[3]
On April 15, SBS and F&F organized a global audition and began recruiting boys who were born before 2011 regardless of nationality starting April 22.[4]
On October 14, SBS announced that the program would premiere on November 22, after releasing the concept trailer on its social media accounts.[5] The next day, the profiles of the 42 contestants were revealed.[6]
Cast
[edit]- Host: Jay Park
- Team Rhythm Directors: Ten & Yangyang
- Team Groove Director: Lee Chang-sub
- Team Beat Directors: Yugyeom & El Capitxn
Episodes
[edit]- Episode 1 (November 22, 2024)
- Episode 2 (November 29, 2024)
- Episode 3 (December 6, 2024)
- Episode 4 (Decemeber 13, 2024)
Contestants
[edit]There are 42 contestants participating in the competition from various countries. The English names of contestants are presented in accordance with the official website.[7]
- Color key
| Final member of the debut group | |
| Contestant eliminated in the final episode | |
| Contestant eliminated in third elimination round | |
| Contestant eliminated in second elimination round | |
| Contestant eliminated in first elimination round | |
| Left the show | |
| Team Rhythm | |
| Team Groove | |
| Team Beat |
| Company | Name | Age | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| No.1 Entertainment | An Yul (안율)[a] |
14 | Beat |
| Bill Entertainment (빌엔터테인먼트) |
Ayumu (아유무) |
20 | Rhythm |
| Woollim Entertainment (울림엔터테인먼트) |
Bae Jaeho (배재호)[b] |
16 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Cha Woongki (차웅기)[c][d] |
22 | Beat |
| Bill Entertainment (빌엔터테인먼트) |
Chih En (简志恩 / 즈언) |
17 | Beat |
| CAT'S EYE Okinawa | Daisuke (다이스케) |
15 | Rhythm |
| STARON Entertainment (스타온 엔터테인먼트) |
Eito (金田栄人 / 에이토) |
20 | Rhythm |
| I.E.One Entertainment (缔壹娱乐) |
He Junjin (何俊锦 / 허쥔진) |
19 | Groove |
| CAT'S EYE Okinawa | Hiroto (히로토) |
21 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
James (เจมส์ / 제임스) |
20 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Jang Kyungho (장경호)[d] |
23 | Groove |
| Top Class Entertainment (TOP CLASS 娱乐) |
Jiang Fan (姜帆 / 지앙판)[e] |
19 | Beat |
| Top Class Entertainment (TOP CLASS 娱乐) |
Jin Ziming (晋子铭 / 진즈밍)[e] |
17 | Rhythm |
| SBTown | JL (제이엘)[f] |
20 | Rhythm |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Kairi (今井 魁里 / 카이리)[g] |
21 | Beat |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Kang Junhyuk (강준혁) |
17 | Beat |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Kenta (豊田賢太 / 켄타) |
22 | Groove |
| Eighty6 | Keum Jinho (금진호)[b] |
23 | Beat |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Kim Daeyun (김대윤) |
22 | Groove |
| STARON Entertainment (스타온 엔터테인먼트) |
Kim Dongyun (김동윤) |
16 | Beat |
| PocketDol Studio (포켓돌스튜디오) |
Kim Gi-joong (김기중)[h] |
23 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Kim Hyotae (김효태) |
20 | Beat |
| FirstOne Entertainment (퍼스트원엔터테인먼트) |
Kim Joohyoung (김주형)[i] |
21 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Koo Hanseo (구한서)[j] |
22 | Beat |
| PI Corporation (피아이코퍼레이션) |
Kwon Heejun (권희준) |
23 | Rhythm |
| Top Class Entertainment (TOP CLASS 娱乐) |
Li Zhinuo (李知诺 / 리쯔누오)[e] |
20 | Rhythm |
| I.E.One Entertainment (缔壹娱乐) |
Li Zhiwei (李致伟 / 리쯔웨이) |
22 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Mac (สิริ ไชยกุล / 맥) |
17 | Rhythm |
| Blossom Entertainment (블러썸 엔터테인먼트) |
Nam Doyoon (남도윤) |
15 | Beat |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Park Han (박한) |
21 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Park Jihun (박지훈) |
18 | Beat |
| Bill Entertainment (빌엔터테인먼트) |
Park Juwon (박주원) |
18 | Rhythm |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Park Yeonjun (박연준) |
17 | Beat |
| TOV Entertainment (TOV 엔터테인먼트) |
Royce (张子胤 / 로이스) |
23 | Rhythm |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Seo Jeongwoo (서정우) |
23 | Groove |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Sirin (สิริน เรืองวรรณ / 시린) |
16 | Rhythm |
| EVA Entertainment (EVA 엔터테인먼트) |
Steven (스티븐)[k] |
24 | Rhythm |
| Top Class Entertainment (TOP CLASS 娱乐) |
Xie Yuxin (解雨鑫 / 시웨이신)[e] |
19 | Rhythm |
| Individual Trainee (개인연습생) |
Yeo Gangdong (여강동) |
17 | Groove |
| SME Japan (日本SME) |
Yuito (榎本 唯人 / 유이토)[l] |
16 | Beat |
| Bill Entertainment (빌엔터테인먼트) |
Zen Zen (กิตติกวิน สายสังวร / 젠젠) |
15 | Groove |
| Well Entertainment | Zhang Shuaibo (张帅博 / 장 슈아이 보)[c][m] |
22 | Rhythm |
Missions
[edit]Pick
[edit]The 42 contestants were separated in 7 six-player teams and performed in front of the directors. Following the performance, each Team selected their First Pick. If more than one Team selected the same player, the player could select his Team. The Team(s) not chosen by their First Pick could then select their Second Pick.
| Team | Song | Members | Rhythm | Groove | Beat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE BOYZ | Thrill Ride | An Yul, Mac, Nam Do Yoon, Park Ju Won, Yeo Gang Dong, Zen Zen | Park Ju Won | Zen Zen | An Yul |
| Stray Kids | S-Class | Bae Jae Ho, Chih En, Eito, Kairi, Kim Joo Hyoung, Sirin | Sirin | Kim Joo Hyoung | Chih En |
| EXO | Love Shot | Hiroto, Jang Kyung Ho, Jin Zi Ming, Li Zhiwei, Park Ji Hun, Zhang Shuai Bo | Zhang Shuai Bo | Jang Kyung Ho | Park Ji Hun |
| Wanna One | Boomerang | Kenta, Keum Jin Ho, Kim Dae Yun, Kim Gi Joong, Kwon Hee Jun, Royce | Royce | Kenta | Keum Jin Ho |
| SHINee | Replay | Ayumu, Cha Woong Ki, Daisuke, Kang Jun Hyuk, Seo Jeong Woo, Xie Yuxin | Daisuke | Seo Jeong Woo | Cha Woong Ki |
| BOYNEXTDOOR | One and Only | He Jun Jin, James, JL, Kim Dong Yun, Park Yeon Jun, Yuito | JL | James | Kim Dong Yun |
| RIIZE | Siren | Jiang Fan, Kim Hyo Tae, Koo Han Seo, Li Zhinuo, Park Han, Steven | Steven | Park Han | Jiang Fan |
The remaining 21 players competed in the Bench Test where they showcased their skills 1-on-1 to the directors of each Team. If a player was unable to be scouted in a Team, he was eliminated.
| Team | Starting Team | Bench Team |
|---|---|---|
| RHYTHM | Daisuke, JL, Park Ju Won, Royce, Sirin, Steven, Zhang Shuai Bo | Ayumu, Eito, Jin Zi Ming, Kwon Hee Jun, Li Zhinuo, Mac, Xie Yuxin |
| GROOVE | James, Jang Kyung Ho, Kenta, Kim Joo Hyoung, Park Han, Seo Jeong Woo, Zen Zen | Bae Jae Ho, He Jun Jin, Hiroto, Kim Dae Yun, Kim Gi Joong, Li Zhiwei, Yeo Gang Dong |
| BEAT | An Yul, Cha Woong Ki, Chih En, Jiang Fan, Keum Jin Ho, Kim Dong Yun, Park Ji Hun | Kairi, Kang Jun Hyuk, Kim Hyo Tae, Koo Han Seo, Nam Do Yoon, Park Yeon Jun, Yuito |
Represent
[edit]Each Starting Team and each Bench Team competed against each other, covering representative songs of their Team's directors. The score is based on audience live voting and the player with the highest individual score was selected as the MVP. The Team score was calculated by adding the individual score of each player, while the final Team score was calculated by adding the score of the Starting Team and Bench Team. The Team that finishes second received 3 yellow cards, while the Team that finishes last received 6 yellow cards. Once a player receives 2 yellow cards, he will be eliminated.
| Order | Original Artist | Song | MVP | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Team | ||||
| RHYTHM
(Daisuke, JL, Park Ju Won, Royce, Sirin, Steven, Zhang Shuai Bo) |
WayV | "Give Me That" | Park Ju Won | 1234 |
| Beat
(An Yul, Cha Woong Ki, Chih En, Jiang Fan, Keum Jin Ho, Kim Dong Yun, Park Ji Hun) |
TripleS | "Boys Never Die" | Cha Woong Ki | 966 |
| GROOVE
(James, Jang Kyung Ho, Kenta, Kim Joo Hyoung, Park Han, Seo Jeong Woo, Zen Zen) |
BtoB | "Missing You" | Seo Jeong Woo | 1172 |
| Bench Team | ||||
| RHYTHM
(Ayumu, Eito, Jin Zi Ming, Kwon Hee Jun, Li Zhi Nuo, Mac, Xie Yu Xin) |
NCT U | "Baggy Jeans" | Kwon Hee Jun | 1023 |
| Beat
(Kairi, Kang Jun Hyuk, Kim Hyo Tae, Koo Han Seo, Nam Do Yoon, Park Yeon Jun, Yuito) |
Got7 | "Hard Carry" | Kairi | 979 |
| GROOVE
(Bae Jae Ho, He Jun Jin, Hiroto, Kim Dae Yun, Kim Gi Joong, Li Zhi Wei, Yeo Gang Dong) |
BtoB | "2nd Confession" | Kim Gi Joong | 1181 |
Team Groove finished first with a combined score of 2353, followed by Team Rhythm with 2257, and Team Beat with 1945.
| Team | Starting Team Score | Bench Team Score | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhythm | 1234 | 1023 | 2257 |
| Groove | 1172 | 1181 | 2353 |
| Beat | 966 | 979 | 1945 |
Team Groove earned two trade tickets, while Team Rhythm earned one trade ticket. Trade tickets can be used to trade with lower-ranking teams.
| Team | Contestant Released | Contestant Scouted |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm | Royce | Chih En |
| Groove | Li Zhiwei
Hiroto |
Koo Han Seo
Kwon Hee Jun |
| Beat | N/A | N/A |
Based on the players' ranking from the live audience voting (players ranked first to seventh formed the Starting Team, while players ranked eight to fourteenth formed the Bench Team) and the trades, each Team's Starting Team and Bench Team are the following:
Intercept
[edit]Each Starting Team will receive a new song composed by its Team's directors and will compete with an opposing Bench Team. The winning Team of each match will get to officially release the song.
| Performance | Team | Contestants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Song | Name | Score | Name | Score | Rank |
| 1 | "IGNITION" | Rhythm Starting Team | Chih En | |||
| Daisuke | ||||||
| Hiroto | ||||||
| JL | ||||||
| Park Ju Won | ||||||
| Steven | ||||||
| Zhang Shuai Bo | ||||||
| 2 | Beat Bench Team | Jiang Fan | ||||
| Kang Jun Hyuk | ||||||
| Kim Dong Yun | ||||||
| Kim Hyo Tae | ||||||
| Li Zhiwei | ||||||
| Park Ji Hun | ||||||
| Royce | ||||||
| 3 | "MAMMA MIA (WHO WE ARE)" | Beat Starting Team | An Yul | |||
| Cha Woong Ki | ||||||
| Kairi | ||||||
| Keum Jin Ho | ||||||
| Nam Do Yoon | ||||||
| Park Yeon Jun | ||||||
| Yuito | ||||||
| 4 | Groove Bench Team | He Jun Jin | ||||
| James | ||||||
| Jang Kyung Ho | ||||||
| Kim Dae Yun | ||||||
| Kim Joo Hyoung | ||||||
| Koo Han Seo | ||||||
| Zen Zen | ||||||
| 5 | "Prison" | Groove Starting Team | Bae Jae Ho | |||
| Kenta | ||||||
| Kim Gi Joong | ||||||
| Kwon Hee Jun | ||||||
| Park Han | ||||||
| Seo Jeong Woo | ||||||
| Yeo Gang Dong | ||||||
| 6 | Rhythm Bench Team | Ayumu | ||||
| Eito | ||||||
| Jin Zi Ming | ||||||
| Li Zhinuo | ||||||
| Mac | ||||||
| Sirin | ||||||
| Xie Yuxin | ||||||
Overall Ranking
[edit]Round 1
[edit]Ranking is based on the votes each contestant received during their performance in front of a live audience. Three and six contestants from the 2nd and 3rd placing teams respectively are given yellow cards. If they receive two yellow cards, the contestants will be eliminated.
| Team | Name | Round 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Votes | Rank | ||
| RHYTHM | Park Juwon | 287 | 1 |
| GROOVE | Seo Jeongwoo | 245 | 2 |
| GROOVE | Kwon Heejun | 226 | 3 |
| BEAT | Cha Woongki | 219 | 4 |
| GROOVE | Kim Gi-joong | 213 | 5 |
| GROOVE | Kenta | 197 | 6 |
| RHYTHM | Hiroto | 193 | 7 |
| RHYTHM | Zhang Shuaibo | 191 | 8 |
| RHYTHM | JL | 189 | 9 |
| GROOVE | Yeo Gangdong | 182 | 10 |
| RHYTHM | Chih En | 180 | 11 |
| GROOVE | Park Han | 178 | 12 |
| BEAT | An Yul | 177 | 13 |
| RHYTHM | Steven | 173 | 14 |
| GROOVE | Bae Jaeho | 171 | 15 |
| BEAT | Kairi | 171 | 15 |
| GROOVE | He Junjin | 170 | 17 |
| GROOVE | Jang Kyungho | 169 | 18 |
| BEAT | Yuito | 166 | 19 |
| BEAT | Nam Doyoon | 163 | 20 |
| GROOVE | Koo Hanseo | 159 | 21 |
| RHYTHM | Daisuke | 156 | 22 |
| GROOVE | Kim Daeyun | 153 | 23 |
| RHYTHM | Ayumu | 150 | 24 |
| BEAT | Keum Jinho | 150 | 24 |
| GROOVE | Kim Joohyoung | 150 | 24 |
| RHYTHM | Xie Yuxin | 139 | 27 |
| RHYTHM | Jin Ziming | 134 | 28 |
| RHYTHM | Eito | 132 | 29 |
| RHYTHM | Sirin | 132 | 29 |
| RHYTHM | Li Zhinuo | 130 | 31 |
| BEAT | Park Yeonjun | 129 | 32 |
| GROOVE | James | 126 | 33 |
| BEAT | Kim Hyotae | 116 | 34 |
| RHYTHM | Mac | 112 | 35 |
| GROOVE | Zen Zen | 107 | 36 |
| BEAT | Royce | 106 | 37 |
| BEAT | Li Zhiwei | 99 | 38 |
| BEAT | Jiang Fan | 97 | 39 |
| BEAT | Kim Dongyun | 81 | 40 |
| BEAT | Kang Junhyuk | 75 | 41 |
| BEAT | Park Jihun | 62 | 42 |
Ratings
[edit]| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (Nielsen Korea)[8] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 22, 2024 | 0.7% (53rd) |
| 2 | November 29, 2024 | 0.7% (57th) |
| 3 | December 6, 2024 | 0.6% (49th) |
| 4 | December 13, 2024 | 0.5% (65th) |
Notes
[edit]- ^ An Yul was a contestant on Voice King, Korea's Next K-pop Star and Burning Trotman.
- ^ a b Bae Jaeho and Keum Jinho were contestants on Fantasy Boys.
- ^ a b Cha Woongki and Zhang Shuaibo were contestants on Boys Planet.
- ^ a b Cha Woongki and Jang Kyungho were contestants on World Klass and members of TO1.
- ^ a b c d Jiang Fan, Jin Ziming, Li Zhinuo and Xie Yuxin are members of TOPTEENS.
- ^ JL is member of Pluus.
- ^ Kairi is a former member of TFN.
- ^ Kim Gi-joong is a former member of the boy groups IM and UNB and was contestant on The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project and Wild Idol.
- ^ Kim Joo-hyoung is member of "NINE.i".
- ^ Koo Hanseo was a contestant on Under Nineteen.
- ^ Steven is a member of Luminous and was a contestant on Produce X 101.
- ^ Yuito was a contestant on Nizi Project 2.
- ^ Zhang Shuaibo was a contestant on Youth With You 3.
References
[edit]- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Cyrinwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lee, Seul-gi (January 18, 2024). 8인 걸그룹 데뷔 확정, 유니버스 티켓 시즌2 '유니버스 리그' 바로 온다[결정적장면] [8-member girl group debut confirmed, Universe Ticket Season 2 'Universe League' coming right away[Crucial Scene]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Kang, Seo-jung (January 22, 2024). '유니버스 티켓' 시즌2 예고..男 아이돌 그룹 '유니버스 리그' 연말 방송 ['Universe Ticket' Season 2 preview..Male idol group 'Universe League' broadcast at the end of the year] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Kang, Na-yul (April 15, 2024). '유니버스 티켓' 시즌 2 주인공은 소년들..'유니버스 리그' 모집 시작 ['Universe Ticket' Season 2 main characters are boys...'Universe League' recruitment begins] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Jung, Hye-won (October 14, 2024). '유니버스 리그', 소년 42명 공개...내달 22일 첫방 ['Universe League', 42 boys revealed...First broadcast on the 22nd of next month] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Lee, Seung-hun (October 16, 2024). '유니버스 리그' 소년 42人 프로필 공개..전·현직 아이돌→배우 총출동 ['Universe League' 42 Boys Profiles Revealed..Former and Current Idols→Actors All Out] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ 프로필 [Profile]. SBS. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ 유니버스 리그 시청률 [Universe League ratings] (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Daum.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Korean)