The MBC entertainment program, Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island, aired on August 19, 2024, and broke its own record for the highest viewership rating. Sports Seoul reported that the Korean variety show featuring BTS' Kim Seok-jin as its special guest earned a viewership rating of 6.4% based on households nationwide, according to measurement agency Nielsen Korea.
For the unversed, the show is also known as It's Good to Get a Good Rest or Pookdahang in Korean. It marked the highest ranking for all Monday entertainment programs. Jin starred in the show's episode 15 and will also be in episode 16, which will be released on August 26, 2024, at 9 pm KST.
The BTS ARMY were thrilled over the news and cheered online for the idol's influence on the show. One fan wrote on X,
"'BTS effect' worked! Jin's appearance broke its own highest viewership ratings → No. 1 on all channels."
Others lauded him as the "Variety show king" for boosting the Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island's rating by appearing in one episode.
"Variety show king Jin strikes again," one fan wrote.
"I am trying my best to behave for my man's sake so... *PRETENDS TO BE SHOCKED*," another fan said.
"Highest recorded viewership," another fan highlighted.
Others praised BTS and its members' collective influence across the globe.
"The timing of this is perfection! Way to go Jin!" Another fan commented.
"Did we expect anything less? It's BTS. That's it, just 2 words. That's enough to explain this." One fan said.
"HAHA This is why I don't believe ANY Korean channel can ever ban BTS. They need BTS more that BTS needs them." One other fan wrote.
More about Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island episode 15 featuring BTS' Jin
BTS' Jin and B1A4's Sandeul joined the Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island crew as workers and worked with Korean TV personality Ahn Jung-hwan in renovating an abandoned space into a half-star hotel. The cast also included Kim Nam-il, chef Lee Yeon-bok, his son Lee Hong-woon, along with Boom and Kim Dae-ho.
Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island's director and producer, Kim Myung-jin, previously told YTN that the BTS idol approached them and expressed his enthusiasm to join the show as a cast member. He added that Jin called them even before he was discharged from his mandatory military enlistment and expressed his wish to be a part of the show.
"Thankfully, Jin's agency contacted him first, saying that he wanted to appear on our program. His schedule was so tight that it wasn't easy to coordinate, but he sent us a love call before he was discharged, so the production team was able to actively prepare quickly."
Meanwhile, in the episode, despite the difficulties and unfavorable weather, celebrity chef Lee Yeon-bok cooked fried seaweed and "chilled jjambbong" (a Korean delicacy), and Jin and Sandeul worked on creating shoe racks. Ahn Jung-hwan teased the BTS idol after he saw him struggling with the hammer and nails, further adding laughter to the show.
In the latest episode of Half-Star Hotel in Lost Island, Jin's cooking and chopping skills were praised by everyone after a few invited locals praised the abalone gimbap he made. The dish trended across South Korea on X.
In other news, the BTS idol's variety show, RUN JIN, will air its second episode on August 20, 2024, on YouTube's BANGTANTV.