Idol Star Athletics Championship 2017: Full List Of K-Pop Artists Set To Appear On Lunar New Year Special Revealed

The much-awaited semi-annual competitive sports program that boasts of bringing top idols together on one field is coming back. The lineup for this year’s Lunar New Year special of Idol Star Athletics Championship has been announced.

The championship, which has become one of the most highly watched shows during the holiday season in South Korea, sees younger talent and senior idols come together for friendly competition, also giving their fans an opportunity for some much sought after interaction. Hundreds of participating idols are split into groups, and then made to compete against other groups, as well as against their own group members. They also get the chance to show their athletic abilities, along with competitiveness, sportsmanship, and teamwork.

Along with events like sprints, hurdles and relays, the championship also holds competitions for swimming, javelin, rhythmic gymnastics, archery, table tennis, basketball and others. The newest edition will also include male aerobics.

The competition, however, is never without controversy as it also known for its routine accidents, which can lead to idols often sustaining injuries that interfere with their schedules following the event.

Recording for the Lunar New Year “Idol Star Athletics Championship,” which will be broadcast by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), will take place Feb. 16.

Here is the full lineup for the upcoming program, revealed by MBC on Friday:

Boy bands — B1A4, B.A.P., EXO, NCT, SF9, NU’EST, Mad Town, MONSTA X, BTS, VIXX, VICTON, Seventeen, Snuper, ASTRO, UP10TION, IMFACT, KNK and TEEN TOP.

Female artists — AOA, EXID, Gugudan, LABOUM, Lovelyz, Red Velvet, Melody Day, MIXX, Berry Good, Brave Girls, SONAMOO, GFriend, Oh My Girl, Cosmic Girls, TWICE. FIESTAR, Jeon Min Kyung, Heyne and Rui.