Barefooted Friends was a South Korean reality-variety show; a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup, along with Running Man. It was first aired on April 21, 2013. The show is a "real outdoor hardship variety"; a spin on typical outdoor variety shows. The members experience "real happiness" with others through challenges. The words, Barefooted is supposed to mean essence, sincerity, and real hardships, where as Friends not only represents the cast, but the people that are met as well. It has garnered attention as being the come-back program for Kang Ho-dong, the main MC of the program, after leaving Good Sunday's X-man in April 2007. After a seven-month run, the program was cancelled due to low ratings and to make room for K-pop Star 3, with the final episode airing on November 17, 2013. In 2020, due to the requests of Kim Hyun-Joong's Japanese fans, after the completion of his previous Japanese variety show "Raw Hyun-Joong", the Japanese Cable Television "Satellite Theatre " began to air Barefooted Friends from June 28th till July 28th.
Format
Episode 1-6
A new life experience meeting new people in a new place, and exploring the cultural heritage and natural environment unseen elsewhere, the members search for real beauty and happiness on foreign soil. The members travel to foreign countries to experience "real happiness" with locals. Unlike typical vacations, they live like locals and experience what a day in their life is like. Members must provide for themselves as no support from staff is given. The members experience the essence of culture, food, music, nature, and lifestyle while surviving on their own in the foreign country. This program is a differentiated real variety program providing affection and enlightenment to viewers.
Episode 7-31
The members take part in challenges based on different themes.
Cast
The original members of Barefooted Friends are Kang Ho-dong, Yoon Jong-shin, Yoo Se-yoon, Kim Bum-soo, Kim Hyun-joong, Yoon Si-yoon, Eunhyuk, Uee Unlike the other members, this is the first time Kim Bum-soo, Kim Hyun-joong, Yoon Si-yoon, and Uee are participating in a variety show as regulars, and the synergy effect between the experienced variety seniors and rookies are anticipated. As of June 9, 2013, Yoo Se-yoon has left the program due to his DUI case, and will not appear from episode 10. Eun Ji-won has replaced him. On June 11, 2013, Kim Bum-soo suffered an injury to his knee during the recording of the Diving Special and was transported to a hospital. He has since left the program. Eunhyuk has not appeared on the program since the diving special, and is presumed to have left the program. On October 31, 2013, it was announced that Kim Hyun-joong has completed his final filming of the program and will be leaving due to schedule conflicts, airing November 3.
In the ratings below, the highest rating for the show will in be red, and the lowest rating for the show will be in blue. Ratings listed below are the individual corner ratings of Barefooted Friends.
