[E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] The popular variety show "Happy Together" has returned to TV screens after a six-year hiatus.

On the 10th, the first episode of the KBS2 variety show “Happy Together—It’s Good Not to Be Alone” (Happy Together) aired, featuring friends, family, and groups sharing their heartwarming stories. The lively chemistry between Yoo Jae-suk, Jang Hang-joon, Yoon Jong-shin, and special MC Lee Hyo-ri also captivated viewers.
According to Nielsen Korea, the premiere of “Happy Together” got off to a fresh start with a nationwide rating of 3.0%. This marks the highest opening rating for a KBS variety show this year.
A total of five teams of “life mates” appeared in the first episode. The first team to appear was the backing vocal group “Fill in the Blanks.” Composed of Big Mama’s Shin Yeon-ah, composer Lee Hyun-jung, and backing vocalist Kim Hyo-soo, they are the top backing vocal group responsible for 1990s hits such as “A Single Candle,” “Coming-of-Age Ceremony,” “Wow,” and “Change.”
Shin Yeon-ah explained her reason for participating, saying, “We contributed a lot to the music industry from the late ’90s to the early 2000s, but it’s a shame that no one knows us, so we decided to appear on the show.” “Fill in the Blanks” showcased the vocal harmony skills they’ve honed over decades.
Jang Hang-jun marveled, “It felt like a Grand Prize-winning performance right from the start,” while Lee Hyo-ri drew laughter by sharing her candid reaction: “I started crying within three seconds. These are the songs that comforted me when I was struggling with my identity as a man.” Shin Yeon-ah shared her thoughts, saying, “I was happy practicing for the first time in 24 years. I think I’ll remember this performance for the rest of my life.”

The second team was “Millennium Friends,” consisting of close friends Kim In-sook and Kim Hyun-kyung, who met as parents and have maintained their friendship for 10 years. Among them, Kim In-sook commanded the “Horn-Frame Trio” with the charisma of a Grand Prize winner from the 2025 “National Singing Contest” year-end finals.
The duo performed “Millennium Friends,” getting the entire audience on their feet with their rich vocals and perfectly synchronized, mirror-like choreography. Yoon Jong-shin praised them, saying, “I’m completely smitten with this song. You two should sign a record deal,” while Yoo Jae-suk marveled, “Your chemistry was absolutely incredible. You two really got me pumped up.” Kim Hyun-kyung expressed her gratitude, saying, “My life is amazing because I have my older sister.”
The third team to appear was Click-B, returning as a full group for the first time in 11 years. The members shared updates on their diverse lives—ranging from parenting to running businesses and acting in musicals—which warmed the audience’s hearts. Click-B added to the intrigue by sharing candid, previously untold stories, including the inside story behind their disbandment and the behind-the-scenes details of their reunion.
Click-B’s Oh Jong-hyuk brought smiles to the audience by candidly addressing rumors of discord, saying, “The reason we’re reuniting after 11 years is actually because Min-hyuk and I had cut ties.” Click-B heated up the stage with their unwavering vocal prowess and even more powerful energy, performing “Unbeaten in a Hundred Battles,” their first No. 1 hit after their debut. Lee Hyori offered her heartfelt support, saying, “It was wonderful to see that you still hold such a deep love for your music. I hope you continue to pursue your passion for music.”
The fourth team to participate was “Bangga Bangga,” featuring singer Bang Ye-dam and his parents, Bang Dae-sik and Jeong Mi-young. Bang Dae-sik was the mastermind behind national hit commercial jingles and anime theme songs such as “Enjoy Life,” “Please Give Me Some Time,” and “Pokémon,” while Jeong Mi-young was also a veteran singer known for songs like “Pungpungi, the Fart King.”
After their medley, Yoo Jae-suk gave them a thumbs-up, exclaiming, “I just got goosebumps.” Bang Ye-dam explained his reason for appearing on the show, saying, “I really wanted to sing with my parents, so I persuaded them,” which drew admiration from the audience. They performed “Pledge of Love,” creating a heartfelt family harmony.
Jang Hang-jun praised them, saying, “For the first time, I envied a musical family. I found myself hoping this family would be happy.” Bang Dae-sik choked up, saying, “Thanks to my son, my 40-year career as a trainee has come to an end, and I’m grateful to be able to perform on stage.”
The final participating team was “Like a Turtle,” featuring young Jeon Yu-jun and his mother, Park Eun-ju. The mother and son, who had drawn attention throughout the waiting period as the young boy comforted his nervous mother, finally stood before the hosts and became the center of attention. At that moment, Park Eun-ju revealed, “Yoo-jun has autism spectrum disorder. Although he’s slower than other children, we named the team ‘Like a Turtle’ with the hope that he’ll move forward slowly, just like a turtle,” leaving the audience both surprised and moved.
As the “Like a Turtle” team began to sing, their unexpectedly pure and crystal-clear harmonies filled the room. Many in the audience, including Yoo Jae-suk, had tears welling up in their eyes. This moving performance has left viewers curious about the story behind this mother-son duo.
The preview for Episode 2 also heightened interest by featuring the welcome return of Two Months (Kim Ye-rim and Do Dae-yoon), who are back after 13 years. In particular, a scene showing Yoon Jong-shin greeting Two Months with, “Hasn’t it been way too long?” was captured, raising anticipation for the upcoming broadcast of Episode 2 of “Happy Together.”
“Haetoo” is a storytelling music audition show in which Yoo Jae-suk, who reads people; Jang Hang-joon, who captures stories; and Yoon Jong-shin, who listens to music, tune in to the narratives and harmonies of various “life teammates.” Although “Haetoo” concluded its run with Season 4 in 2020, it has returned to television screens after six years with a new format. It airs every Friday at 8:30 p.m.