MMTG (web series)

MMTG
GenreWeb series / Variety show
Presented byJaejae
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
Production
Production companySBS Mobidic
Original release
NetworkYouTube
ReleaseFebruary 15, 2018 (2018-02-15) –
present
JaeJae speaking during a 2019 Marie Claire Korea interview
JaeJae during a Marie Claire Korea interview (2019)

MMTG (Korean: 문명특급; RR: Munmyeongteukgeup) is a South Korean web variety series produced by SBS Mobidic and hosted by Jaejae. The program, aired since 2018, features interviews with K-pop idols, actors, and public figures, along with themed segments such as "Civilization Express Rediscovery", which revisits past pop culture content. Since its launch, the show has contributed to the resurgence of several songs and trends within Korean popular culture.

Format

MMTG features a flexible interview-based format, with MC Jaejae conducting conversations with figures from various sectors of Korean popular culture, including K-pop idols, actors, and cultural creatives.[1] Recurring segments include "Civilization Express Rediscovery", in which Jaejae and her guests revisit older pop culture works or hit songs.[2] MMTG has also conducted English-language interviews with western celebrities such as the casts of Wicked,[3] Deadpool & Wolverine,[4] and The Devil Wears Prada 2.[5]

History

The program originally began as Civilization Express (문명특급) under SBS’s digital news lab division.[6] In early 2024, the show rebranded to MMTG.[2] One example of a major project under this new format was the "2009 Classic Song Championship" (2009 명곡 챔피언십), which invited K-pop fans from over 24 countries to vote on the best songs of 2009.[2] The "2009 Championship" was later aired on SBS TV, indicating the show's growing influence.[1] Another notable project was a series of episodes documenting the formation of the mixed-gender group JaeJae × Gabi × Seungheon (also known as Jaessbee) and their journey of making music together.[7]

Impact

MMTG has played a significant role in bringing renewed attention to older K-pop hits, helping revive songs and creating new cultural conversations around them.[8] In 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea,[9] MMTG hosted virtual concerts featuring performances by second-generation soloists and groups that had previously been inactive or disbanded for years, including U-KISS, T-ara, SS501, Nine Muses, After School, and 2PM.[10][11] The "2009 Classic Song Championship" is another notable episode for drawing a global audience to celebrate the second generation of K-pop.[2]

The show has also proven its cultural reach by blending digital and traditional media: its YouTube-first content has been adapted to television on SBS, bridging new media and legacy broadcast spaces.[1] Through the "JaeJae × Gabi × Seungheon" project, MMTG has engaged in real-world music production, turning its talk-show platform into a content-driven music incubator.[7]

Notable episodes

  • 2020 Hidden Gems Concert – A Chuseok special featuring performances of "Bbi Ri Bba Bba" (삐리빠빠) by Narsha, "Don't Spray Perfume" by Teen Top, "Man Man Ha Ni" by U-KISS's Soohyun and Kevin, U-KISS's "Loud" by Teen Top, Soohyun, and Kevin (known as TeenKiss), "Roly-Poly" and "Sexy Love" by T-ara, and "U R Man" by SS501.[10]
  • 2021 "Songs that Deserve a Comeback" Concert – An episode featuring performances of "Dolls" by Nine Muses, "View" by Shinee, Gain's "Carnival" and VIXX's "Chained Up" by Jaejae, "Closer" by Oh My Girl, "Bang!" and "Diva" by After School, and "My House" by 2PM.[11] Following the concert, several of the songs performed reclimbed various domestic music charts.
  • 2009 Classic Song Championship – A 2024 Seollal special in which K-pop fans from 24 countries and K-pop idols vote for the top K-pop songs from 2009.[2]
  • Jaessbee (JaeJae × Gabi × Seungheon) Project – A series of episodes in which Jaejae collaborates with dancer Gabi and YouTuber Baek Seungheon to form a co-ed musical group called Jaessbee.[7][12] The group debuted on November 11, 2024 with the single "Every Moment With You" (너와의 모든 지금),[13] which charted for 35 weeks and peaked at number seven on the Circle Digital Chart.[14] In the years following, the group has reunited through MMTG to release new music and perform at music shows and concerts such as Waterbomb.[15]
  • A/S Fan Signing Event – In February 2026, Jaejae held a joint fan signing event with singer Jang Hyun-seung as the culmination of the "Idol Exorcist" series. A total of 100 people attended the event.[16][17]

Reception

Media outlets have praised MMTG for its unique blend of nostalgia, global engagement, and meaningful interviews.[2] The show’s "2009 Classic Song Championship" in particular received attention for its scale and emotional resonance among international K-pop fans.[1] Additionally, the "Jaessbee" project was noted in the press for being ambitious despite relatively low production budgets, a testament to the community-driven nature of MMTG.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 강선애 (2024-02-01). "재재X수영 MMTG '2009 명곡 챔피언십', 유튜브→전격 TV 편성". Daum. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 조민정 (2024-02-01). "문명특급 재재X수영, 24개국 글로벌 팬들과 '2009년도 히트곡' 부흥". Sports Chosun. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  3. ↑ 텐아시아 (2024-11-15). "아리아나 그란데 "한국 김, 5분 만에 해치울 수 있어"…재재 선물에 감탄". TenAsia. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  4. ↑ 온라인기자, 서형우 (2024-07-19). "'데드풀' 라이언 레이놀즈 '복면가왕' 출연 "서양인 티 안내려 노력" (문명특급)". 스포츠경향 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  5. ↑ "메릴 스트립 "'악마는 프라다' 얼마나 인기 있는 줄 몰랐다"". 뉴스1 (in Korean). 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  6. ↑ 정희연 (2024-01-23). "'문명특급'→'MMTG'으로 재단장…'살아봤으면 해' 첫 출연자는 투어스". Donga.com. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  7. 1 2 3 4 이승훈 (2024-08-03). "재재·가비·승헌쓰, 혼성 그룹 전격 데뷔.. "제작비 300만원"". StarNews. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  8. ↑ 김, 유경 (2020-12-10). "20-30대, 유튜브 오분순삭·문명특급·숨듣명 등서 과거 예능프로·노래 심취" [People in their 20s and 30s are engrossed in past variety shows and songs on YouTube channels such as *O-Minute Snippets*, *Civilization Express*, and *Hidden Gems*.]. CIVICNEWS. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  9. ↑ 민, 경원 (2020-09-28). "추석 TV까지 꿰찬 문명특급 "90년대생이 만든 복고는 다르다"" [Civilization Express Takes Over Chuseok TV: “Retro Created by the 90s Generation Is Different”]. 중앙일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  10. 1 2 Seoul, SBS 뉴스 (2020-10-03). "[스브스夜] '숨듣명 콘서트' SS501 'U R MAN'→티아라 'Sexy Love'…"더 이상 숨어서 듣지 마"" [[SBS Night] 'Hidden Gems Concert' SS501 'UR MAN' → T-ara 'Sexy Love'… "Don't listen in secret anymore"]. SBS NEWS (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  11. 1 2 "문명특급 컴눈명 스페셜, 2030 추억 소환 '화제성 올킬'" [Civilization Express Keomnunmyeong Special, Evoking Nostalgia for 20-30s, 'Dominates Hot Topics']. 스포츠Q. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  12. ↑ 이진주 (2024-12-06). "'재쓰비' 재재X승헌쓰X가비, "예를 갖춰야 한다" 끝인사!?". bntnews.co.kr. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  13. ↑ 이, 승현 (December 16, 2024). "재쓰비의 '너와의 모든 지금'이 사랑받는 이유" [The reason why Jaessbee's 'Every Moment with You' is loved]. 소비자평가. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Search - Digital ("너와의 모든 지금" search)". Circle Chart.
  15. ↑ 김, 채연 (April 24, 2025). "재재x가비x승헌쓰 '재쓰비', 올 여름 컴백.."2집 썸머송 발매 예정" ('MMTG')" [Jaejae x Gabi x Seungheon's 'Jaessbee', comeback this summer.. "2nd album summer song release scheduled" ('MMTG')]. 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ 오, 승현 (February 17, 2026). "장현승, 태도 논란 정면 돌파…팬 차별·무성의 답변 폭로에 '당황' (문명특급)[종합]" [Jang Hyun-seung Faces Attitude Controversy Head-on… 'Flustered' by Exposures of Fan Discrimination and Insincere Responses (Civilization Express) [Roundup]]. 엑스포츠뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ 이, 진송 (February 28, 2026). "인간은 실수하는 존재…용서와 관용은 그 주체에게도 '치유'를 준다" [Humans are beings who make mistakes… Forgiveness and tolerance bring 'healing' even to the person making the mistake.]. 경향신문 (in Korean). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
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