Mnet Introduces Their Newest Survival Show, “Queendom Puzzle,” And K-Pop Fans Have Strong Feelings

Mnet has announced a new survival show, Queendom Puzzle, slated to air in June.

 

Mnet’s survival show Queendom, and similarly the boy group focused Kingdom, featured six artists competing against each other in a series of performances that highlighted their incredible skills.

As Queendom 2 aired in 2022, K-Pop fans expected Mnet to announce that the next season of Kingdom would be airing soon. So fans were confused by the announcement of the new survival show.

queendom puzzle sounds cool n all but i rly just want kingdom 3 help

— c!o 🫧 | in korea (@cjlrine_) April 10, 2023

queendom puzzle? the way they stopped doing kingdom lmaoooo https://t.co/C0Y4dHDOGy

— ren IS SEEING TWICE (@zb1RlCKYz) January 26, 2023

Unlike Queendom, which focused on mainly groups, along with one soloist in both seasons, Queendom Puzzle seems to feature individual artists from girl groups competing to form a special unit group.

From twenty eight to seven. Means they would have 28 contestant competing to make them seven member group. So it would be like be ambitious type of show? This is seems interesting if only there wouldn’t be some fan-war or mnet drama

— marin (@_okmarin) April 10, 2023

According to Reddit posts from December and January, Queendom Puzzle is a show to create a Super Group like SM’s GOT the beat.
Sounds like the idols competing are mainly popular groups and I’m guessing the solo IZ*ONE members like Eunbi and Yena

— 이영재 🐯 (@Youngjae_Lee295) April 10, 2023

The show’s premise is somewhat similar to Kakao Entertainment‘s recent survival show, GIRL’S RE:VERSE, where currently active girl group idols competed via virtual avatars to debut in a new virtual girl group.

Mnet’s first teaser for the show included songs from popular artists like BLACKPINK,(G)I-DLE, Girls’ Generation, IZ*ONE, LE SSERAFIM, OH MY GIRL, Red Velvet, STAYC, and WJSN (also known as Cosmic Girls).

[#퀸덤퍼즐] QUEENDOM PUZZLE | 2023.05 FIRST LINE-UP OPEN

걸그룹 최강의 조합을 완성하라! Mnet 〈퀸덤 퍼즐〉
2023 COMING SOON #퀸덤퍼즐 #QUEENDOMPUZZLE #퀸덤 #걸그룹 #GIRLGROUP #Mnet #엠넷 pic.twitter.com/knk5QxHFJQ

— Mnet (@MnetKR) April 10, 2023

And the music used in the first teaser surprised netizens, many of whom are wondering if that means some of these groups will be included in the show.

Hmmm is the BGM just some examples or it’s a hint that girls from these groups are likely to participate??
I’ll wait until the lineup is announced… https://t.co/gfF2fU5n7d

— Athena M (@AthenaM73611128) April 10, 2023

PLSS COULD THAY HAVE PICKED A DIFFER GROUP OTHER. THAN STAYC?!! https://t.co/Hmd4lgSOcH

— denny 🍋 (@cosmicseeun) April 10, 2023

LEAVE RED VELVET ALONE https://t.co/74F9arvaBv

— Bree 🏳️‍🌈 girlbossed too close to the sun (@nctrashy) April 10, 2023

guys why are they playing tomboy https://t.co/HOIkoaoG4B pic.twitter.com/SdLHJLzyEi

— ella (@stereosoojin) April 10, 2023

Although other netizens pointed out that it seems very unlikely that artists like BLACKPINK or Red Velvet would be competing, meaning the songs were simply likely chosen for being popular K-Pop hits.

you people need to calm down the songs are not indicators of the participants, why would bp, gg or rv be here?
the first 2 are the biggest ggs, then songs from groups that were part of the other 2 seasons of queendom, some that are currently popular and ends with a legendary gg https://t.co/nsAW4ZdjPs

— bonnie🍒 (@jenwelry) April 10, 2023

RV and BP are literally on tour and they would literally be preparing for a cb… Be ffr😭

The background music is definitely for hype and god bless whoever has to sing BP or RV songs https://t.co/RhyepSHpi0

— (~‾▿‾)~KACHING||BORN PINK🌹 (@ema_034) April 10, 2023

After the announcement of the new show, some fans felt it would be a good chance for some of their favorite artists to get promoted…

i saw a few speculate that LABOUM might join, since this is for more underrated groups and they had a near-Brave Girls moment..

but idk if i want the girls to go through evil editing?? and another solo survival show? members already did 6 of those so far 🥲 pic.twitter.com/VRFw3LZYXM

— LABOUM r NOT d worded!!! ⁽⁺⁺⁾⁷ (@lattereactions) April 10, 2023

Woah… like I would be really hoping to see a CLC member on there but at this point they’re already talking about reunion so I guess that wouldn’t match up with the timeline

— Eyal Oged (@eyaloged3) April 10, 2023

PLS REBIRTH EVERGLOW

— wei (@yujinzglitter) April 10, 2023

But many don’t want their favorites to join the show, especially given Mnet’s typical “evil editing” or the likely fanwars that would start from voting for contestants.

i dont want this pls take it back https://t.co/3WkiY8oby2

— bay ✧˖ ° • #saveloona – ARTMS (@magicaIisa) April 10, 2023

No group is stupid enough to join the curse was cursing pic.twitter.com/aUq0BGKwDl https://t.co/ZWBgtSogqH

— Jus+!n (@inloonathejail) April 10, 2023

don't touch my loona girls i'm so serious rn https://t.co/63ICZOuzPf

— 🦈 (@dotaer4e) April 10, 2023

I can already smell the fanwars and it's not even started yet https://t.co/ustRzT6MKM

— mari 🗝️ #menow (@gyultastic) April 10, 2023

And ultimately, many netizens believe the concept is a “terrible idea,” since they don’t want their favorite groups to temporarily lose a member.

i don’t think ANY fan of active groups want their faves to lose a member for this show. why would anyone want a single member to be part of another group? like it’s such a stupid show idea.

like they could’ve use this to get idols from disbanded groups or those on hiatus etc etc https://t.co/VECXjY96oO

— ☆ Rudч ☆🌿 (@__orbitchuu) April 10, 2023

Seems like no fans of the active groups wanting their faves to join this, since it’s gonna be separated 1 or 2 member from the groups. And that’s a terrible idea.

— SΤΔΠ DRΞΔΜCΔΤCHΞR 👁✌👁 (@Stndrmctchr) April 10, 2023

Stay tuned for more updates on the show.