Kim Shin-young Joins “Knowing Brothers” as the Show’s First Female Permanent Member… Kim Hee-chul Takes a Break for the Time Being

JTBC’s long-running flagship variety show “Knowing Brothers” is set to undergo a major reformat with a bold lineup shuffle. While comedian Kim Shin-young (43) joins as the program’s first-ever female permanent member, original member Kim Hee-chul (43) will put down the mic—at least for now.

■ Kim Shin-young Breaks the “9-Year Forbidden Wall” for “Knowing Brothers”

On the 29th, JTBC officially announced that comedian Kim Shin-young has been selected for the new fixed roster of “Knowing Brothers.” Since the first broadcast in December 2015, “Hyung School” has been operated primarily with male entertainers, and this is the first time a female celebrity has joined as a permanent member.

So far, Kim Shin-young has appeared as a guest a total of five times on “Knowing Brothers,” proving an unmistakable chemistry with the members. In particular, with her unguarded humor every episode, her signature voice impersonations, and staged skits that consistently create “legendary” segments, she left a strong impression on viewers. The production team said, “Kim Shin-young’s quick reflexes and wit will inject fresh energy into the program,” expressing their expectations.

■ Kim Hee-chul, One of the “Founding Contributors,” Takes a Temporary Pause… “We’re Drawing a Line on the Departure Rumors”

Along with Kim Shin-young’s joining, Super Junior’s Kim Hee-chul—who has protected the program for about 10 years—will take a short rest period. It’s reported that Kim Hee-chul has decided to pause his appearances in order to cope with recent condition issues as well as to manage a packed schedule that includes an upcoming global tour.

In response to departure rumors raised by some corners, the production team clearly stated, “It’s not that Kim Hee-chul is leaving the program.” They added, “This is simply a temporary absence while he needs sufficient rest and schedule coordination—so it’s not a departure,” emphasizing the point to ease fans’ concerns.

■ Will “Knowing Brothers” Changes Signal a Turnaround in Ratings?

Recently, in the broadcasting world, format changes for long-running variety shows and roster reorganization have become hot topics. “Knowing Brothers,” too, is understood to be pursuing a strategy of aiming for a wider range of laughter by moving beyond its existing “male high school” (men-focused) concept through the injection of a strong card like Kim Shin-young.

Attention is on what new storylines veteran entertainer Kim Shin-young will create among the existing members, including Kang Ho-dong, Seo Jang-hoon, and Lee Soo-geun. The newly revamped “Knowing Brothers” is expected to hold its first recording soon and then come back to meet viewers.