TWS's Shinyu and Jihoon Bring Dda-rum to JTBC Variety

When two members of K-pop group TWS walk into a variety show studio, even the hosts cannot resist trying to copy them. That is the dynamic waiting for viewers when Shinyu and Jihoon of TWS appear on JTBC's 톡파원 25시 (Tok-Pa-Won 25) on May 4, 2026 — and based on what has already been teased, the Dda-rum Challenge is about to reach a whole new audience.

What Tok-Pa-Won 25 Brings This Week

Episode 208 of JTBC's long-running travel variety series airs May 4 at 8:50 PM KST. The show, hosted by comedian and MC Jeon Hyunmu alongside Yang Sechan, pairs in-studio celebrity guests with pre-recorded virtual travel content — a format that has made it one of JTBC's consistently popular Monday-night programs. This week's destinations cover three cities: Australia's Sydney for a second installment, China's Shanghai, and New York City in the United States.

In the Sydney segment, regular cast member Alphago visits Muscle Beach at Bondi Beach, one of the city's most iconic stretches of coastline and home to a free open-air gym that draws fitness enthusiasts from around the world. The footage shows Alphago attempting a workout challenge among local regulars — the kind of fish-out-of-water scenario the show excels at. The episode then shifts to Observatory Hill Park, which Yang Sechan describes as a favorite destination for Korean travelers and a spot that has developed a reputation online as an ideal location for profile photos.

TWS members have reportedly said they found "genuine inspiration" watching the Sydney content, suggesting that for this particular episode, the connection between the travel segments and the studio guests is more personal than usual. That personal investment adds a layer of authenticity to what might otherwise be a standard variety show format.

The combination of three international cities across a single episode gives this installment an ambitious scope. Where Sydney leans into the outdoors and the Australian lifestyle, Shanghai and New York City offer contrasting backdrops that speak to the show's appeal as a form of travel vicariousness — particularly for viewers who want to experience these destinations without leaving home.

The Moment the Studio Turns Into a Battle Stage

The real entertainment of the episode lies in what happens when Shinyu and Jihoon step in front of the cameras. The two bring with them the signature TWS aesthetic that fans have come to associate with the group: clean energy, natural warmth, and an ease in front of a crowd that translates effortlessly to unscripted television.

Hosts Jeon Hyunmu and Yang Sechan, however, are not about to let the guests outshine them without a fight. Jeon Hyunmu — who has made a running joke of claiming a "parallel theory" resemblance to Shinyu — and Yang Sechan — who has publicly named Jihoon as his all-time favorite celebrity — respond to the duo's arrival by forming a rival unit on the spot. The name they choose: "튀어쓰" (Tweoseu), a phonetic play on TWS that leans into the affectionate parody energy that makes variety show moments memorable.

TWS debuted in 2024 under PLEDIS Entertainment, a HYBE subsidiary, and have built a fan identity around what Korean audiences describe as "청량함" — a quality that translates roughly as fresh, bright, and effortlessly cool. The group's six members — Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, and Gyeongmin — have leaned consistently into this image, and it is that exact quality that makes the contrast with their enthusiastic-but-outmatched hosts so entertaining to watch.

Their fan community, known as 42, has grown steadily alongside the group's momentum, and variety appearances like this one serve a dual purpose: deepening the connection with existing fans who enjoy watching the group in unscripted settings, while introducing the TWS brand to general viewers who may not follow K-pop closely but are tuned in for the travel content.

The Dda-rum Challenge Arrives on Primetime

The episode's centerpiece is the Dda-rum Challenge, built around the viral "Dda-rum" hook from TWS's current title track 널 따라가 (You, You), the lead single from their fifth mini album NO TRAGEDY. The hook has become what K-pop fans call a killing part — a few seconds of a song so catchy and so naturally movement-friendly that it spreads through short-form video and dance challenges faster than conventional promotion could manage.

Seeing Jeon Hyunmu and Yang Sechan attempt the challenge alongside the original performers creates the specific type of comedy that variety television is built for. The contrast between a trained idol group's precision and a comedian's willingness to commit fully regardless of result is a reliable formula — and TWS, who carry an innate likability that translates well beyond their core fanbase, are well-suited to make this version of the bit work.

The Dda-rum hook follows the group's earlier viral moment with the "앙탈 춤" (Angtal dance), a move that spread widely enough to bring TWS to the attention of audiences who had not yet encountered the group's music directly. Two consecutive viral choreography moments within a short timeframe point to a group that understands the mechanics of current pop culture circulation — and one whose music has qualities that make it genuinely easy to participate in, not just passively enjoy.

TWS and the Art of the Variety-Music Balance

K-pop groups treat variety show appearances as a distinct skill set — one that requires a different kind of performance from a concert stage or music show. Being a good variety guest means reading the room, generating moments the hosts can work with, and showing a side of yourself that feels spontaneous rather than rehearsed. It is a skill that develops with experience and that, when done well, tends to expand a group's audience significantly.

TWS has been building this side of their public presence steadily. Alongside the group appearance on 톡파원 25시, individual members have been scheduled across several content platforms during this promotional cycle: Gyeongmin on web variety Limousine Service, Dohoon on 전과자, and Shinyu and Youngjae on 부승관의 비비디바비디부. The distribution of members across different shows reflects a strategic approach to maximizing exposure while keeping each appearance fresh for viewers who may encounter the group for the first time through any one of these platforms.

For Shinyu and Jihoon specifically, the 톡파원 25시 appearance comes at a moment of significant momentum. Their group has just posted its strongest commercial performance to date with NO TRAGEDY, and they are entering a variety program with hosts who are genuinely enthusiastic about them — a combination that tends to produce the kind of unforced, watchable television that clips find their way across social media the next morning.

The chemistry between TWS and this particular show's format is also worth noting. 톡파원 25시 tends to work best when its guest interactions feel organic rather than scripted, and the backstory between Yang Sechan and Jihoon — a host who has openly admired this specific member — gives the episode a genuine personal dynamic that scripted banter cannot replicate. Moments built on real relationships, even lightly comedic ones, tend to be the ones that get remembered.

톡파원 25시 Episode 208, featuring TWS members Shinyu and Jihoon, airs May 4, 2026 at 8:50 PM KST on JTBC. TWS's fifth mini album NO TRAGEDY is available on all major streaming platforms.