The musical variety show KBS2 “U synchro” concluded its 12-episode season on December 2, posting a viewership rating of 1.0% in the key 20-49 demographic, according to Nielsen Korea.
The final episode featured a “Legendary Special” lineup, including Jeon In-kwon, BMK, Ha Dong-kyun, Lee Hong-ki, and Lee Moo-jin as the “real dream artists”. Highlights included Jeon In-kwon’s performance “Don’t worry, my dear” in a duet with his AI counterpart, leaving host Yoo Jae-suk emotional. Yoo described the performance as “a moment I want to keep in my heart”.
Other notable phases include BMK’s interpretation of “Calculation” and his duet with AI Ha Dong-kyun “Turn, turn, turn.” Lee Moo-jin performed Yoon Soo-il’s “APT.” and Lee Hong-ki joined him for a duet “This is my world.”
AI-powered performances have also wowed audiences, with AI versions of top artists like Lim Jae-bum (“Snow Flower”), Yoon Do-hyun (“Fireworks”) and Naul (“Bam that gang”). These advanced AI performances have created excitement and intrigue among viewers, blurring the line between human and AI artistry.
58 artists took part in the AI challenge
Throughout its journey, “SyncroU” it featured 58 artists spanning various genres, such as Lee Seung-gi, Jung Yong-hwa, Baek Ji-young, Jay Park, Gummy, and Insooni. The show offered a mix of live covers, duets and AI-enabled challenges that combined music with guessing games, keeping the audience engaged.
Extraordinary covers and public reactions
The show’s appeal extended beyond its artificial intelligence gimmicks. Memorable covers like those of Kim Ki-tae and Kang Hyung-ho “Speed runner” has garnered over 2.61 million views on YouTube, while Gummy’s rendition of “Armageddon” went viral, even prompting the original artist, Karina, to jokingly say she would no longer be invited to perform at events.
AI format: a bold experiment
“U synchro” marked KBS2’s first attempt at integrating artificial intelligence into a musical variety show. AI-generated songs like Lee Eun-mi’s “SPICY” and that of Sunmi “Bad girl, good girl” he showed extraordinary vocal precision. AI Park Myung-soo even imitated the spontaneity of a live performance, such as improvisation through mistakes in lyrics. This innovative format resonated with both younger and older audiences, making it an intergenerational success.
Public feedback and future prospects
Fans praised the show’s amazing cast, emotional performances, and innovative use of artificial intelligence. Social media is full of comments like:
• “The guest lineup was crazy every week.”
• “I hope there is a season 2!”
• “Jeon In-kwon’s ending gave me chills.”
• “Guessing the AI was fun, but the live covers of the artists were the real highlight.”
Even though the first season is over, “U synchro” left the impression of an innovative blend of technology and music.
Source: TenAsia
