SIIA's Nam Gyu-ri Cries Announcing Group's 20th Anniversary Reunion

One revelation stopped the studio cold. Nam Gyu-ri, lead vocalist of the iconic 2000s K-pop duo SIIA, paused mid-story and began to cry — not because the memory was painful, but because the road to reunion had taken far longer than it should have.

The May 6 episode of MBC's long-running talk show Radio Star brought together an unlikely but electric lineup: actor Choi Daniel, singer Nam Gyu-ri (SIIA), vocalist Ahn Ji-young of Bolbbalgan4, and TXT (Tomorrow X Together) member Beomgyu. Themed around the concept of "eye-catching personality" ('안광'), the episode became one of the most talked-about installments in recent weeks — landing the show at number one in both metropolitan household ratings and the 20-to-54 age demographic, with a peak rating of 3.5 percent.

Nam Gyu-ri's Tearful SIIA Reunion Announcement

The biggest news of the night came from Nam Gyu-ri, who announced that SIIA — the duo she formed with members Lee Bo-ram and Kim Yeon-ji in 2006 — would be making a full 20th anniversary reunion. To make it happen, Nam told the hosts she had gone one step further than most reunion planning allows: she established a company called "SIIA Corporation," appointing herself as CEO and her fellow members as executive directors.

The announcement landed with visible emotion. As Nam Gyu-ri recalled the moment when the three women harmonized again after years apart, she was moved to tears. "Why did it take us so long to find each other again — going around in circles all this time?" she said, her voice breaking.

The moment immediately resonated with fans online, many of whom grew up with SIIA's music in the mid-2000s. Clips of Nam's tearful announcement circulated widely across social media within hours of the episode airing.

Away from the reunion news, Nam Gyu-ri also gave the studio a glimpse of her less expected sides. She revealed that she once faced off against a Tekken world-ranking third-place competitor — and won. She also disclosed that she routinely grills samgyeopsal (Korean pork belly) for breakfast each morning, earning her the label of dedicated meat enthusiast from the hosts.

TXT's Beomgyu Reveals His Off-Duty Life With BTS Jin

If Nam Gyu-ri brought the emotional centerpiece of the episode, TXT's Beomgyu brought the energy. Making his first solo variety show appearance, the 23-year-old idol immediately announced his ambitions: he wants to be known as a legitimate variety entertainer, not just a musician who occasionally appears on television.

Beomgyu wasted no time establishing his personality. He unleashed a self-described "17 types" of aegyo (affectionate expressions) in rapid succession, demonstrated a personally invented heart gesture, and refused to let any lull in the conversation go unfilled. The hosts invoked the nickname "Kkap-kwon" — a playful title for variety show masters who dominate through sheer comic instinct — in admiring recognition of what they were witnessing.

One of Beomgyu's most revealing moments came when he described his friendship with BTS's Jin (Kim Seok-jin). "Jin hyung and I both love gaming, so whenever we have the same day off, I go to his place and we play games all day," he said. When host Kim Gura suggested that spending a free day gaming indoors might be a missed opportunity, Beomgyu was firm: "No no no. Jin hyung told me — why go out when you can stay in and game? There's no risk." Beomgyu added with complete sincerity, "You never know what can happen out there. Spending the day with someone you like, playing a game you love — that's the good life."

The exchange landed perfectly, illustrating the kind of self-aware humor that made Beomgyu an instant standout on his debut variety appearance. He also discussed his ongoing friendly rivalry with TXT bandmate Soobin, who has become one of the group's most recognized variety presences. "Soobin hyung and I are always competing on variety shows," Beomgyu said. "He wins with his words. I win with energy. Totally different styles." He added that Soobin's beloved watermelon-cutting segment from a previous show had been his own idea originally — a claim that sent the studio into laughter.

Choi Daniel's Warm Charisma and Offbeat Humor

Actor Choi Daniel, whose recent appearance on the variety program Gukidong Friends opened the door to new friendships with peers including Jang Do-yeon, Lee Da-hee, Jang Geun-suk, and Ahn Jae-hyun, brought a different kind of energy to the episode. He shared that while new connections had formed easily, reaching out to keep them going still felt awkward. "We're friends now, but texting first feels weird," he said honestly — a comment that drew knowing laughs from the other guests and the hosts.

Choi also opened a segment he called his personal "Humor Archive" — a collection of jokes he considers funny that he has been storing for occasions just like this. He delivered one on air with total confidence, only to realize the studio reaction was more bemused than amused. The gap between his certainty and the crowd's silence became the joke itself. He also revisited a memorable anecdote from the drama Jugglers, in which a kiss scene became unexpectedly famous — not for the kiss, but for his backside silhouette, which became a separate viral topic entirely.

What the Numbers Say

Radio Star has been a fixture in Korean entertainment television since 2007, known for its sharp hosts and genuine candor from guests. The May 6 episode, according to Nielsen Korea data released the following day, claimed the top spot in both metropolitan household ratings and the commercially important 20-to-54 demographic. The peak rating of 3.5 percent came during Nam Gyu-ri's account of eating a live caterpillar during a jungle-themed variety shoot — a moment the studio visibly did not see coming.

The combination of Nam Gyu-ri's reunion announcement, Beomgyu's chaotic debut energy, and Choi Daniel's quietly absurdist charm gave the episode an unusual tonal range that made it easy to watch and hard to forget. For TXT fans in particular, Beomgyu's performance serves notice that the group's variety presence — already strong through Soobin's numerous solo appearances — is about to expand in a very different direction.