Table of Contents Show
K-pop idols are used to sticking to a routine. Whenever a new song or album is getting ready to be released, idols spend hours and hours practicing it. Then, once the song is released, they perform on various music shows where fans cheer them on. Through all of this, they stick to that idol mentality, but once ISAC (Idol Sports Athletics Championships) (2010-) comes around, we can see another side of them.
MBC’s broadcast television program, ISAC (Idol Sports Athletics Championships) (2010-), which debuted in 2010, is more than what people think it is. From seeing idols break free from their idol performing personas to compete in sporting events such as archery, track and field, and penalty shootouts, to reuniting with their fellow idol friends, while interacting with their own fans, shows the impact the program has had since its debut in 2010.
ISAC & Its Evolving History
As previously established, the Idol Star Athletics Championships (2010-)1, made its official debut on television on September 25, 2010 on MBC. This sporting event features several different K-pop idols, singers, and groups who compete against one another in various sporting events. The program is currently on its 21st season of broadcasting and will celebrate its 15-year anniversary2 during the 2025 ISAC, which recently wrapped up filming in late August.
ISAC is often broadcast either during South Korea’s Lunar New Year holiday or their Chuseok holiday. The 2025 special will be broadcast during Chuseok in early October. The yearly program took a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and slowly returned back in 2022.
The program even got 2 spin-off series back in 2020 to suffice for the regular show. The first spin-off was called the “2020 Idol Star eSports Championships – Chuseok Special,3” where various idol groups competed in several individual and group eSports games. The program was filmed outdoors within the COVID-19 guidelines.
The second spin-off series was the “2020 Idol Star Dog-agility Championships – Chuseok Special,” where idols competed alongside their own dogs.
Every ISAC is also MCed by various broadcasters, TV personalities, and even by some idols. The 2025 ISAC program will be MCed by Korea TV personality Jun Hyunmoo, BTOB’s Changsub, and entertainers Lee Eunji and Jonathan.
The first ever ISAC, which was held on September 14, 2010 at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul, had over 130 K-pop idols separated into 16 different teams participating. The 2025 special will have a total of 373 idols from 61 different teams participating in five different sporting events4: track and field, dance sports (ballroom), ssireum (Korean wrestling), penalty shoot-outs, and pistol shooting.
This year’s special will have the largest number of idols participating since its debut back in 2010. Over the years, ISAC has introduced different sporting events, which brought more variety to the show and helped the show gain more popularity. On top of being a major sporting event, ISAC is a huge idol event where fans see their favorite idols be themselves rather than performing on stage.
“Idols On The Field” — Breaking Beyond The Stage Persona
ISAC isn’t necessarily only about the sporting events. Although the games are a main aspect of the program, it’s just a way for viewers to see their idols beyond their idol or stage persona.
K-pop idols are mainly known for their singing, rapping, and dancing abilities, but when they participate, viewers get a chance to see their athletic abilities. For example, the boy group &Team, has already gone viral for their synchronized dances in the past, but in the most recent specials (2024 & 2025), they have gone viral for their fast legs in the 400m relay that they won gold in both years.
Many idols, before they actually even became idols, used to be athletes, and participating allows them to relive their old passions. It also gives them a chance to show off their athletic abilities. For example, RIIZE’s Sungchan, used to play soccer when he was in both elementary and middle school. During the filming of the 2025 ISAC, it was revealed that Sungchan, alongside his two members Eunseok and Sohee won silver in the penalty shoot-out against NCT WISH (who won gold) after beating CLOSE YOUR EYES in the semi-finals.
On top of the program giving idols the opportunity to show off their athletic abilities, idols get to showcase their outgoing personalities, which some have been recognized for in the past. P1Harmony‘s Jiung went viral for his reaction to his fellow member, Intak‘s gold-medal-winning dance sports routine at the 2022 ISAC.
ISAC is also a place for idols to reunite with some of their idol friends. With all of the idols’ busy schedules, they do not often get the opportunity to meet with some of their friends outside of work. Even though this event is still considered to be “work”, during rest periods, all of the idols have the chance to interact with one another.
During the two most recent ISAC’s boy groups ZEROBASEONE and EVNNE went viral for being mistaken as one big group as they were around each other during the entirety of the event.
All members of both groups competed on the K-pop survival show, Boys Planet (2023)5 (which created ZEROBASEONE), so all of them have grown quite close to one another. Both groups cheered each other on and showed off their great chemistry. For fans of both groups, it was heartwarming to see.
Special moments like this allow viewers to see the other sides of their favorite idols’ personas. This look into their personalities helps make the show what it is, instead of just being a sporting event.
Most Memorable Moments In ISAC History
With a nearly 15-year-long run and with over 300+ idols participating, the sporting show has had its fair share of viral moments that helped maintain its legacy.
Sistar’s Bora Wins 4 Medals During First Season
During the inaugural special in 2010, Bora, a member of Starship Entertainment’s star girl group, Sistar, won four medals: three gold and one silver. Bora took home gold in the women’s 100m dash and 100m hurdles and silver in the high jump. As a full group, Sistar took home gold in the 400m relay. Sistar was given the nickname “athlete-idols” after their win. Starship Entertainment (Sistar and K.Will) took second place in the end with their four medal wins. Bora’s four wins created a good start for the future of ISAC.
SHINee’s Minho’s Great Athleticism
SHINee member Choi Minho has often been recognized for his great athleticism, and it has been seen through his participation in the show ever since the beginning. During the 2011 ISAC, Minho was able to clinch 3 gold medals in swimming, hurdles, and high jump. His three gold medal wins prompted him to be known as a fabled sporty idol.
On top of Minho being recognized for his great athleticism during his participation in the show, he revealed in an episode of Issue Club on YouTube, hosted by actress Ji Yeeun, that he’s one of the reasons why ISAC exists in the first place. The initial idea he had was just for SM Entertainment (His company) artists to compete against each other, but instead expanded the idea of other companies competing against each other.
Minho has had a great influence on the program ever since the beginning, and if it wasn’t for him bringing up that idea, then the sporting program may not have existed.
BTOB’s Eunkwang’s Horse Costume
BTOB members have always been recognized for their funny personalities and group dynamic, but this moment definitely takes the cake for them. During the 2016 special, BTOB took part in the archery competition alongside their junior group, CLC. The two groups competing against members of GOT7 and Twice.
Before the archery match began, members Sungjae and Eunkwang made their grand entrance with Sungjae dressed in a historical “Jumong” outfit. What brought everyone to laughter, including CLC member, Seungyeon, was when Eunkwang ran into the arena with his horse costume. This moment alone earned BTOB the reputation of bringing fun to the program.
Whenever the topic of ISAC is brought up, this funny moment from the BTOB is often brought up. BTOB and CLC were also able to clinch the win against GOT7 and Twice in the end, making it to the finale to compete against VIXX and AOA, striking gold in the end.
Cravity’s Hyeongjun Rocks The Stage
From the filming of the 2025 special, attendees posted various videos on social platforms, which showed moments viewers wouldn’t see elsewhere, or rather would have to wait until the broadcasting date.
One of the most viral videos was of Song Hyeongjun, a member of the fourth-generation boy group, Cravity. The participating groups stood together, singing and dancing to get hyped before kicking off the program. But when “Like Jennie” by Jennie started playing, Hyeongjun (with encouragement from his fellow members) ran on stage to take the spotlight.
While Hyeongjun has identified himself as an introvert, this viral moment of his showed the extroverted side of him. It caught the attention of not only the other idols and fans in attendance, but also on X and TikTok, with many people asking who he was. Hyeongjun has also been recognized in the past for his dance abilities, and this is another example of his talent.
With these just being some of the memorable moments from ISAC’s 15 years of broadcasting, it shows how impactful virality is to the show and even helps bring new viewers. It also allows fans and viewers to see different sides of their favorite idol groups.
How ISAC Shapes Fandom Culture
ISAC also gives idols a chance to connect more with their fans. Yes, fans go and watch their favorite idols play different sports, but it’s a little bit more than that. Before lightsticks were a thing, fans would actually hold up different color balloons to show their support in the stands.
Another way idols and their fans connect during ISAC is by having attendees design a support banner for their favorite group.
A notable aspect of being a fan is being able to show support and love, and in the situation of a sporting event, these banners play a huge role. While the fans sit in the stands watching their favorite idols compete in different sporting events, the idols also interact with them, creating great memories with them.
ZEROBASEONE’s Gunwook went viral at the 2024 ISAC for using a whiteboard to communicate with his fans (Zerose) during the sporting event. More idols at the 2025 special also began using whiteboards to communicate with their fans, which also helped create funny and memorable moments.
Since filming ISAC is a day-long event, to make sure their fans are well taken care of, the idol groups prepare meals and other goodies for them. Idol groups have been preparing meals for their fans for the last few years to show their appreciation.
Fan support also helps idols get through the event, knowing that people have their backs. This is another aspect of showing how ISAC shapes fandom culture: it brings fans together for one day, rooting for their favorite idols.
The Future Of ‘ISAC’
With the program celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2025 and maintaining great popularity, it appears that MBC will continue to broadcast the show yearly. Despite going on a hiatus, the introduction of its spin-off series also helped the show maintain its great popularity.
We might begin to see changes in the program that match ongoing trends. Different sporting events may be introduced, and there may be the option of livestreaming the program in countries outside of South Korea, with subtitles in different languages.
There could also be a change in the appearances made by idols in the future, with older or “veteran” groups (second or third generation idols6) in the industry not appearing as much as newer idol groups (fourth or fifth generation), which can also help with the group’s popularity. With the newer seasons of ISAC, some of the groups that have participated are in the early stages of their careers. It is sort of a “stepping stone” for them in the industry.
Even though ISAC maintains its popularity, the show isn’t without its faults. In the past, the show has received backlash7 for overworking the idols. The filming of ISAC can last nearly 15 hours a day. Furthermore, a few idols have gotten injured in the past during events, which also sparked outrage amongst viewers.
Despite all the changes and challenges the show will go through over the years, it will still be considered a prominent event in the K-pop industry for both the idols themselves, their companies, and their fans.
Footnotes
- Idol Star Athletics Championships (TV Series 2010– ) ⭐ 8.0 | Game-Show, Sport. (2010, September 25). IMDb. ↩︎
- Suhaila, R. “‘2025 Idol Star Athletics Championships – Chuseok Special’ Announces MC Lineup And Event Details”. Soompi. 19 Aug 2025. ↩︎
- “Idol Star Athletics Championships” 2020 Chuseok Special I (TV Episode 2020) | Game-Show, Sport. (2020, October 1). IMDb. ↩︎
- Sai, Aishwarya. “Idol Star Athletics Championships (ISAC) 2025: Lineup, winners, sports, MCs & all we know as AHOF, &TEAM, RIIZE, and Hearts2Hearts bag medals.” Sportskeeda. 25 Aug 2025. ↩︎
- Boys Planet (TV Mini Series 2023) ⭐ 7.8 | Music, Reality-TV. (2023, February 2). IMDb. ↩︎
- “4 Generations of K-pop Explained.” K-pop Exchange, 2025. ↩︎
- Joan, Robyn. “Idol Star Athletics Championships Issues Rule That Violates Human Rights” KpopStarz. 26 July 2022. ↩︎