MNET’S NEW BOY BAND SURVIVAL SHOW IS READY TO STEAL HEARTS WITH “STEAL HEART CLUB”

Steal Heart Club is the next big survival show to look forward to every week, and it’s made for our band enthusiasts! Premiering on Oct. 21, Mnet’s Steal Heart Club is a global project dedicated to forming the next breakout band of this generation.

All participants, each equipped with a diverse set of skills, will battle it out to become a part of the “final headliner band.” The show seeks to highlight the contestants’ raw musical abilities and artistic growth through various performances that resonate with viewers. 

CJ ENM and Kakao Entertainment have confirmed they will team up for this highly anticipated program. CJ ENM will oversee the planning and production of the show, while Kakao Entertainment will take charge of the future band’s album production and management. 

During the program’s press conference, producer Lee Hyung-jin shared how Steal Heart Club was born out of his love for bands. Because of his interest in watching live music, he wanted to create a program under a similar theme. And so came the opportunity. 

Masters of the Stage: Introducing the Band Curator and Directors

No survival show would be complete without the panel of mentors responsible for shaping the contestants’ growth throughout their journey. Steal Heart Club will enlist the help of four music “directors” dedicated to bringing invaluable insights to every episode—CNBLUE’s Jung Yong-hwa, Peppertones’ Lee Jang-won, singer-songwriter Sunwoo Jung-a, and soloist Ha Sung-woon. 

Alongside the talented lineup of directors, actress Mun Ka-young will also step in as the charismatic MC. In a recent interview, she shared her longtime fondness for band music and her palpable excitement to join the show. As the program’s “band curator,” she will guide the contestants through each stage of Steal Heart Club while offering encouragement and emotional support along the way. 

Not your Typical Survival Show: 50 Contestants, 5 Band Positions 

Unlike most survival shows, Steal Heart Club offers a unique format that deviates from the setup we are all familiar with. The program aims to introduce the “band” concept to the public with a more open and fun approach. By including participants with little to no music background, they hope to make band culture more accessible and approachable for aspiring musicians and casual listeners. 

Another standout factor that sets Steal Heart Club apart is its unique format of grouping contestants into defined roles. Composed of 50 ambitious band hopefuls, each of them is assigned to one of five positions—vocals, guitar, drums, bass and keyboard. Mnet announced the official lineup in September through its social media accounts.

All of the participants come from different backgrounds, from indie band members to fresh newcomers. Among them are familiar faces for K-pop fans, including KIK and Pentagon’s Wooseok, OMEGA X’s Yanghyuk, and Catch the Young’s Kihoon and Sani. Some contestants have also braved the survival show stage before, like Boys II Planet’s Lee Yoonchan and Starlight Boys’ Zhao Jiayin. 

Regardless of their personal journeys, all contestants share the same ambition: to earn a spot in the band and take their music to the world stage. 

Mega Band Signal Song: “A Youth of One Day”

On Oct. 2, Steal Heart Club released the program’s official signal song alongside a music video featuring all of the contestants. Expressing the boundless energy and resilience of today’s youth, “A Youth of One Day” faithfully embodies the show’s core themes. The track was met with enthusiastic reactions from fans and curious viewers alike, fueling anticipation for the upcoming premiere.

Band Curator Mun Ka-young also took part in the signal song’s creation by being one of its lyricists. Despite this being her first songwriting opportunity, Ka-young took on the challenge with a pure heart and strived to craft lyrics that bring comfort to many people. 

Steal Heart Club: Release Details and Voting Guide

Steal Heart Club premieres on Oct. 21, with subsequent episodes airing every Tuesday at 10 p.m. KST. The show is streamed live with automatic English subtitles on Mnet TV (YouTube) and the Mnet Plus app worldwide, excluding select regions. Meanwhile, Japanese viewers can watch the show at the same time via ABEMA. 

For viewers who wish to participate in the voting process, it can be done through the Mnet Plus app. Viewers can vote for their favorite contestants only once per day. However, there is also a weekly voting during every live broadcast, which equals 3x the number of votes. 

Be prepared to guard your hearts before they’re stolen! The Steal Heart Club is now open. Which contestants caught your attention first? Tell us your top picks on Instagram or Twitter/X! 

Featured Image Credit: Mnet