'Malja Show' has emerged as a new dark horse on Monday nights.
Premiering on September 19th, KBS2's 'Malja Show' is a generational empathy talk show featuring Kim Young-hee, known for her role as 'Communication Queen Malja Grandma' on 'Gag Concert.' The show transcends generations and relationships to foster genuine communication.
Kim Young-hee, who missed out on the Grand Prize at the '2025 KBS Entertainment Awards' but won the Entertainer of the Year award, brings authenticity to the show. She doesn't hesitate to share her 'dark past' to solve audience dilemmas. In the 'Blood Ties' special aired on October 2nd, Kim humorously revealed an anecdote about her brother secretly advising her husband to 'run away' on their engagement day, filling the studio with laughter.
Kim's honesty shone from the pilot episode. She comforted a young person struggling with a breakup by sharing her similar experience and moved both the audience and viewers to tears by admitting to moments when she felt life was at a standstill.
'Malja Show' is expanding beyond simple entertainment into a 'healing space,' thanks to Kim's unique communication style that breaks down barriers by turning her vulnerabilities into humor.
In this atmosphere, guests also share their 'real stories' without pretense. Yang Chi-seung shared a painful betrayal experience, encouraging the audience's fresh starts, while Park Seo-jin evoked laughter with sibling anecdotes.
Another star of 'Malja Show' is the audience. From stories of searching for a friend from 42 years ago to the concerns of a 20-something aspiring actor and a 60-something woman's public proposal, unscripted, real-life stories pour in every episode. Notably, a former 'Gag Concert' audience member who received advice from 'Malja Grandma' returned to 'Malja Show' to update on their life, showcasing the deep bonds formed beyond a one-time encounter.
As these heartfelt connections accumulate, 'Malja Show' has achieved a peak rating of 2.1% (according to Nielsen Korea) just three episodes into its regular programming, showing a stable upward trend. The production team stated, "'Malja Show' is possible thanks to the audience and viewers who genuinely approach 'Malja Grandma.' We aim to continue being a program that opens your hearts as we laugh and cry together."
'Malja Show' airs every Monday night at 10 PM on KBS2.
Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr