"It wasn't a shoot that could be completed in just one day, so we divided the filming over a period. However, we managed to wrap it up in a relatively short time. Since it was a top-secret project, we had to speed up the filming to prevent any leaks."

Last month, a roundtable interview was held with Choi Hyo-jin, the chief producer of Mnet's 'Show Me The Money 12' (hereafter 'Show Me 12'), at the CJ ENM Center in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. 'Show Me' is a survival program where the best rappers in Korea team up with newcomers to compete, first airing in June 2012. The latest 'Show Me 12' marked a return after four years since the conclusion of season 11 in December 2022, and it ended in April 2026 with Kim Ha-on's victory. The winner reportedly received a prize of 100 million won.

One of the notable changes this season was the introduction of 'Yaksha's World.' For the first time in the series, 'Show Me The Money 12' collaborated with an OTT platform to present the TVING original 'Yaksha's World,' expanding its universe. The hidden league structure, which allowed for the revival of eliminated contestants, added a unique twist and led to the rediscovery of rappers like Untell.

Choi CP explained, "When composing the hidden track for 'Yaksha's World,' the producers were aware, but the participants were not informed. Therefore, even during the filming process, we didn't explain what this content was until right before shooting 'Yaksha's World.' We only asked questions like 'Do you have time?' or 'Do you have any rap prepared?' to proceed. Even the masters we recruited weren't given detailed information about 'Yaksha's World,' and it was conducted in secrecy," he recalled.

He added, "The space of 'Yaksha's World' is something we set up. Within the grand narrative of 'Show Me,' we wanted to depict a world where the flow of time or days isn't felt, a last chance given at the end of the gates of hell, so we unified the costumes." He continued, "However, in the later stages, when people like Uneducated Kid, Young B, Eunhee, and Scarf joined, they all came looking so stylish." Choi CP shared, "Some joked, 'If I had known, I would have dressed up properly too.' They said, 'I didn't know we'd be wearing the same clothes all the time.'"

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr
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