OSEN reported that "Infinite Challenge" (MBC), one of Korea's oldest and still one of the most popular variety shows has donated around 27 million dollars to charity and many different non-profit organizations. The production crew and lead producers have told OSEN that all the participants of making the show will continue to contribute to society with their profits.
According to MBC statistics, "Infinite Challenge" has donated around 60 percent of all the funds that MBC has given away to charity and non-profit organizations. The actors and crew first started this act of contribution in 2006, when the MCs were filming an episode where they decided to make an "Infinite Challenge" new-year calendar featuring the actors according to the different months. At the time the show had a 30-percent view rate and the crew ended up selling tens of thousands of calendars. At the time, MBC announced that all the money that they made from calendar sales will be given to Korean homeless shelters.
Later, "Infinite Challenge" actors and crew developed new ways where they could raise money to donate to charity and non-profit organizations. For instance in 2010 in their 300th episode, the actors held a quiz show where the members would answer questions that were ridiculously easy and whoever answers the question correctly will get to donate a sum of money or in some cases their entire pay check to charity. Earlier this year, the members had the opportunity to train to become race car drivers and participated in the Korean Speed Festival held in Incheon. Each member would sponsor a non-profit organization by placing its logo on his race car while racing and in the case that they would win prize money would donate all the money to that group. Although none of the members ended up winning anything from the KSF, many of their fans expressed great gratitude for their genuine hearts and hard work while training for this tournament.
"Infinite Challenge" was first launched by MBC with the working title, "Reckless Challenge" in 2005. The theme of the show was 3D which stood for difficult, dirty and dangerous. It was literally a variety show where the panel would be challenged to try out very ridiculous and difficult things. In episode 1, the team's challenge was to play tug-of-war with a bull and for the Thanksgiving special that year they had to race 100 meters with a subway train.
Initial reactions to the show were highly disappointing and skeptical with many MBC insiders expressing that the show was probably too unorganized (all talks were unscripted) and in short no fun to watch at all. However in 2006, MBC lead producer was put on the director's chair. With Jaesuk Yu as main MC and the addition of current members including comedian Myeongsoo Park, Junha Jung and singer Haha, "Infinite Challenge" gave great laughter and emotion to Korean viewers all over the nation and world through their many different challenges including Latin dancing, special forces, fashion modeling, rowing, bobsledding, acting, challenging UFC fighters in boxing, pro-wrestling and even car racing.
The show is now reaching its 10-year anniversary, with the members all entering their late 30s. Many are even expecting that the show will remain popular until at least one of the members decided to leave the entertainment business for good.
