Kingdom: Legendary War (Korean: 킹덤: 레전더리 워; RR: Kingdeom: Rejeondeori Wo) is a television program that aired on Mnet beginning on April 1, 2021 and ending on June 3, 2021. It is known as the male counterpart of Queendom, and the sequel of Road to Kingdom.
The Boyz won the competition, securing a spot in Kingdom. During the finale on June 3, 2021, Stray Kids won the program, finishing in 1st place.
Overview[]
The program is a battle behind 6 trending K-pop boy groups. The program features 4 rounds of performances, with the final round being broadcast live.
The winner of the show will get a reality show specially for the winning boy group, plus a "Kingdom Week" special show.
Promotion and broadcast[]
On December 6, through the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards, the first lineup for Kingdom was announced, and it consists of Road to Kingdom's winner The Boyz, alongside Stray Kids and Ateez.
On January 22, 2021, Mnet confirmed that the hosts of the show will be TVXQ. The show is also expected to air beginning April 1. Six days after, Mnet confirmed that iKON, SF9, and BtoB will join the lineup.
On February 17, 2021, Mnet released the first trailer and announced a global live broadcast of the 100-second group introduction performances which aired on February 23, 2021 via Mnet's YouTube Channel.
On March 16, 2021, Mnet released performance posters and announced a special stage featuring members from each group that will be shown on the March 18 episode of M Countdown.[1][2][3]
Cast[]
Hosts[]
- U-Know Yunho[4]
- Max Changmin
Contestants[]
Rules[]
The overall final ranking of the show is based on the following criteria:
- Self-evaluation points (25%)
- Experts' voting (25%)
- Global voting (40%)
- Performance video view count (10%)
Introduction Stage - 100 seconds Performances[]
The 6 boy groups each perform one of their hit songs (that have won a 1st place in a music show) for a 100 seconds performance that best express themselves.
- The introduction performances were live streamed through Mnet's YouTube channel on February 23, 2021.
- Voting started after the live stream and was closed on February 27, 2021. Viewers will vote on their top 3 groups through the Whosfan app.
- The winning boy group for this round will get 1,000 points, plus the benefit of arranging the cue sheet for the next round of performances.
Round 1 - To The World[]
The six boy groups each perform one of their representative hit songs, which is rearranged and different from their usual stages of the song.
- Voting via the Whosfan app for the round will start from April 15 at 22:00 (KST) and closes on April 18 at 23:59 (KST). Viewers will vote for their top 3 performances.
- The winning boy group for this round will get 20,000 points.
Round 2 - RE:BORN[]
The six boy groups each perform a song from another boy group, and is rearranged into a different style.
- Voting via the Whosfan app for the round started from April 29 at 22:00 (KST) and closes on May 2 at 23:59 (KST). Viewers will vote for their top 3 performances.
Round 3 - No Limit[]
In the 3rd round of the competition, the members of each group will be split into either the dance, vocal, or rap group. Each category will have 1 stage where all vocalists/dancers/rappers perform together.
In other words, viewers will be able to see their favorite idol collaborate with other members of other groups.
- For each stage/category, only 1 idol can win 5000 points for their group.
There is "No Limit" (restrictions) for this round.
- Rap Unit:
- It's One: Sunwoo (The Boyz), Bobby (iKon), Hwiyoung (SF9)
- Mayfly: Bang Chan, Changbin, Han (Stray Kids), Hongjoong (Ateez), Minhyuk (BtoB)
- Dance Unit:
- It's One: Juyeon (The Boyz), Donghyuk (iKon), Taeyang (SF9)
- Mayfly: Lee Know, Felix, I.N (Stray Kids), Wooyoung, San, Yunho, Yeosang, Seonghwa (Ateez), Peniel (BtoB)
- Vocal Unit:
- It's One: song: Spark by Taeyeon - Sangyeon, New (The Boyz), June, Jinhwan (iKon), Inseong, Jaeyoon (SF9)
- Mayfly: song: Love Poem by IU - Seungmin (Stray Kids), Jongho (Ateez), Eunkwang (BtoB)
Final Round - Who Is The King[]
The six boy groups will each perform a newly produced song live on the final episode. The new songs will be released digitally on May 28, 2021 at 12:00 (KST).
- Voting for this round includes live text votes for voters living in South Korea, and through Whosfan app for overseas fans.
- Digitals rankings will be determined via Gaon Music Chart for South Korea, and via Apple Music for overseas, from the time of release to June 1, 2021.
Episodes[]
Episode 1[]
| Order | Artist | Performance Name |
Global Votes |
Ranking | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ateez | "Wave : Overturned"[11] |
504.215 | 5th | The performances were live streamed through Mnet's YouTube channel on Feb 23, 2021. Voting period was from Feb 23 to 27, and the results were announced during the first episode on Apr 1, 2021 for groups ranked 3 to 5. The groups ranked 1, 2, and 6 were revealed during the second episode on Apr 8, 2021. |
| 2 | BtoB | "Beautiful Pain (Choir version)" |
540.621 | 3rd | |
| 3 | SF9[12] | "Good Guy (The Glory I)"[13] |
533.458 | 4th | |
| 4 | Stray Kids | "Miroh" | 690.971 | 1st | |
| 5 | The Boyz | "The Stealer (Epic version)"[14] |
574.273 | 2nd | |
| 6 | iKon | "Rhythm Ta (Kingdom version)"[15] |
489.971 | 6th |
Episode 2 & 3[]
| Order | Artist | Performance name |
Experts' vote |
Self- evaluation points |
YouTube views + Global votes |
Total points |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Boyz | "No Air (A Song of Ice and Fire)"[16] |
1,000.000 | 833.333 | 1,308.733 | 3,142.066 | 3rd |
| 2 | iKon | "Love Scenario" + "Killing Me" (Kingdom ver.) |
333.333 | 555.556 | 1,858.830 | 2,747.719 | 5th |
| 3 | BtoB | "Missing You" (Theatre ver.) | 333.333 | 1,111.111 | 1,524.987 | 2,969.431 | 4th |
| 4 | Stray Kids | Jasin (Oneself 'Ja', Ghost 'Sin')[17] | 1,333.333 | 1,111.111 | 2,235.332 | 4,679.776 | 1st |
| 5 | Ateez | Symphony No.9 (From the Wonderland)[18] |
1,555.556 | 1,388.889 | 1,474.093 | 4,418.537 | 2nd |
| 6 | SF9[12] | Jealous[19] | 444.444 | 0.000 | 1,598.027 | 2,042.471 | 6th |
Episode 4 & 5[]
| Order | Artist | Performance name |
Original artist |
Experts' vote |
Self- evaluation points |
YouTube views |
Global voting |
Total points |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SF9 | "The Stealer (The Scene)" | The Boyz | 747.126 | 1,388,889 | 144.425 | 1,213.682 | 3,494.122 | 3rd |
| 2 | The Boyz | "O Sole Mio (The Red Wedding)" |
SF9 | 919.540 | 0,000 | 291.483 | 1,323.199 | 2,534.222 | 6th |
| 3 | iKon | "Inception (iKon Ver.)"[20] | Ateez | 862,069 | 833,333 | 403.639 | 1,280.600 | 3,379.641 | 5th |
| 4 | Ateez | "Rhythm Ta (The Awakening of Summer)"[21] |
iKon | 1,321,839 | 833,333 | 305.001 | 1,146.890 | 3,607.063 | 1st |
| 5 | BtoB | "Back Door" | Stray Kids | 632,184 | 1,388,889 | 284.497 | 1,293.133 | 3,598.703 | 2nd |
| 6 | Stray Kids | "Pray (I'll Be Your Man)" | BtoB | 517,241 | 555,556 | 570.954 | 1,742.497 | 3,386.248 | 4th |
Episode 7 & 8[]
| Order | Unit | Artist | Performance Name |
Special Judges' votes |
Total points |
Ranking | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rap Units | The unit performances were evaluated by a total of 33 special judges who voted on- site to decide which unit won each round (rap, dance and vocal). The special judges include the Super Junior members Shindong & Donghae, producer and CEO of BNM Rhymer, idol hitmaker Shinsadong Tiger, music critic Kim Youngdae, production team MonoTree, choreographer Lia Kim and idol group members of BDC, Weeekly, Tri.be and Mirae. | ||||||
| 1 | It's One | Sunwoo (The Boyz) Bobby (iKon) Hwiyoung (SF9) |
Full DaSH | 10 | 0.000 | 2nd | |
| 2 | MAYFLY | Han, Changbin, Bang Chan (Stray Kids) Hongjoong (Ateez) Minhyuk (BtoB) |
Colours[22] | 23 | 5,000.000 | 1st | |
| Dance Units | |||||||
| 3 | It's One | Juyeon (The Boyz) Donghyuk (iKon) Taeyang (SF9) |
King and Queen[23] | 11 | 0.000 | 2nd | |
| 4 | MAYFLY | Felix, I.N, Lee Know (Stray Kids) Wooyoung, San, Yunho, Yeosang, Seonghwa (Ateez) Peniel (BtoB) |
Wolf[24] | 22 | 5,000.000 | 1st | |
| Vocal Units | |||||||
| 5 | It's One | Sangyeon, New (The Boyz) June, Jinhwan (iKon) Inseong, Jaeyoon (SF9) |
Spark[25] | 0 | 0.000 | 2nd | |
| 6 | MAYFLY | Seungmin (Stray Kids) Jongho (Ateez) Eunkwang (BtoB) |
Love Poem[26] | 33 | 5,000.000 | 1st | |
Episode 8 & 9[]
| Order | Artist | Performance Name |
Experts' vote |
Self- evaluation points |
YouTube views + Global votes |
Total points |
Ranking | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iKon | Classy Savage[27] | 462.963 | 1041.667 | 2,574.087 | 4,078.717 | 3rd | Featuring Lisa of Blackpink |
| 2 | Stray Kids | God's Ddu-Du Ddu-Du[28] | 2083.333 | 1041.667 | 3,874.229 | 6,999.229 | 1st | - |
| 3 | BtoB | Blue Moon (Cinema Ver)[29] | 578.704 | 1562.500 | 1,173.099 | 3,314.303 | 5th | Special Guest: Miyeon of (G)I-DLE |
| 4 | Ateez | Answer: Ode To Joy[30] | 462.963 | 0.000 | 1,708.500 | 2,171.463 | 6th | Featuring La Poem |
| 5 | SF9 | Move[31] | 1851.852 | 1562.500 | 1,640.668 | 5,055.020 | 2nd | - |
| 6 | The Boyz | Monster (Stormborn)[32] | 810.185 | 1041.667 | 1,529.416 | 3,381.268 | 4th | - |
Episode 10[]
| Order | Artist | Performance Name |
Digitals (40%) | Live Voting (60%) | Total Points | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ateez | "The Real" (멋) | 2,029.845 | 4,071.198 | 6,101.043 | 3rd |
| 2 | Stray Kids | "Wolfgang" | 4,509.424 | 13,298.363 | 17,807.787 | 1st |
| 3 | The Boyz | "Kingdom Come"[33] | 8,345.829 | 6,560.112 | 14,905.941 | 2nd |
| 4 | BtoB | "Finale (Show and Prove)" (피날레 (Show And Prove)) | 2,724.731 | 2,669.953 | 5,394.684 | 4th |
| 5 | iKon | "At Ease" (열중쉬어) | 1,716.103 | 1,953.708 | 3,669.811 | 5th |
| 6 | SF9 | "Believer" (숨) | 674.068 | 1,446.667 | 2,120.735 | 6th |
| Special Performance | ||||||
| King's Voice[34] | "A Boy's Diary" (소년의 일기) | N/A | ||||
Videos[]
No Air (A Song of Ice and Fire) (Kingdom)
O Sole Mio (The Red Wedding) (Kingdom)
No Air (A Song of Ice and Fire) (Kingdom)
A Boy's Diary (소년의 일기) (Kingdom)
Controversy[]
On March 29, 2021 controversy arose following the reports from industry representatives of an issue in the midst of recording performances during round one. Each group were notified the maximum budget for stage decoration would be ₩5 million won (approximately $4,416) per team. However, during the recording, agencies from group's who comparatively did not have an extravagant set and props that appeared to be far over the budget reportedly confronted the production team on the matter and questioned if it was due to CJ ENM investing in the other group's agency. According to the report, the production team countered by stating it was because the group's props were from their concert, but as the other groups have also had concerts with props that could've been used, their agencies continued to speak out.
In response, during the press conference held on April 1, CP Park Chan-wook stated: "I apologize that an issue was raised ahead of the show's premiere. But we did not have to halt the recording due to someone's complaint. There was also no favouritism towards a certain team. I hope that the six teams and their agencies were not harmed by this issue. For round two, we had discussions with each agency about the parts that were lacking in round one. We have all negotiated and agreed on a way to bring out each team's creatives well. Starting round three, with the conditions that all six teams have agreed on, we will make sure that there are no more issues like these."[35]
References[]
- ↑ https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=117&aid=0003473226
- ↑ https://twitter.com/MnetKR/status/1371627605644877826
- ↑ https://www.soompi.com/article/1459817wpp/watch-kingdom-contestants-show-what-theyre-bringing-to-the-competition-in-dance-performance-film
- ↑ Yunho voluntarily stepped down as MC of Kingdom due to police investigations on him violating social distancing regulations. He will still appear on the show until Episode 3.
- ↑ Member Younghoon didn't participate in the third round due to his surgery.
- ↑ Member Hyunjin will be absent after the introduction Stage due to his school bullying controversy that led to his hiatus.
- ↑ Member Mingi was absent for the entire show due to his health issues that led to his hiatus, but participated in the recording for the group's finale song "The Real".
- ↑ Only the members that have promoted as BtoB 4U will participate due to the remaining members still undergoing military service.
- ↑ Member Changsub was absent for the second round as he was feeling unwell.
- ↑ Member Rowoon didn't participate in the 100-second performances, and was absent for the first and third rounds due to his waist injury.
- ↑ Based on their song "Wave".
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Member Rowoon did not perform with the group due to his waist injury.
- ↑ Based on their song "Good Guy".
- ↑ Based on "Game of thrones".
- ↑ Including sample of "Hip Hop Gentlemen" by YG Family (1TYM, Jinusean, Masta Wu & G-Dragon)
- ↑ Based on a novel with the same title.
- ↑ 自神 (스스로 '자', 귀신 '신') in Korean and based on their song "God's Menu" and "Side Effects".
- ↑ Based on "The Pirates Of The Caribbean" & their song "Wonderland".
- ↑ Based on their song "Now or Never".
- ↑ Based on movie with the same name.
- ↑ Based on a Spanish drama series Money Heist.
- ↑ 물감놀이) (Mulgamnori) in Korean.
- ↑ 王과 妃(왕과 비) in Korean.
- ↑ Originally by EXO
- ↑ Originally by Taeyeon (Girls Generation)
- ↑ Originally by IU
- ↑ Remake of Blackpink's "Pretty Savage".
- ↑ 신뚜두뚜두 in Korean, based on their songs "God's Menu" and Blackpink's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du"; inspired by the movie Deadpool and contains also a reference to Ant-Man (film).
- ↑ inspired by the movie La La Land & Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.
- ↑ Included sample of Ode an die Freude by Ludwig Van Beethoven, sung by La Poem.
- ↑ Originally by Taemin (SHINee)
- ↑ Originally by EXO
- ↑ Members Younghoon and Ju Haknyeon were present for the performance, but did not perform the choreography due to their respective health issues.
- ↑ Consists of Eunkwang (BtoB), Donghyuk (iKon), Inseong (SF9), Hyunjae (The Boyz), Seungmin (Stray Kids) and Jongho (Ateez)
- ↑ https://www.soompi.com/article/1461659wpp/mnets-kingdom-responds-to-reports-of-fairness-issues-regarding-stage-decoration-budget