Road to Kingdom: Who Will Take the Throne?

Following the success of its previous competition show Queendom, Mnet is in the works of broadcasting a new idol reality survival show. Road to Kingdom, a spin-off of Queendom, features seven boy groups who will compete to take the throne. A series of rounds will take place to showcase each group’s unique color and musical versatility, and fans can expect to witness dynamic stages that highlight each team’s strengths in addition to the behind-the-scenes process of improving and developing their distinctive styles.

Prior to the show’s premiere date, the production team organized an online voting poll that ran from March 30 to April 5. While the results from this poll will not be reflected in the contestants’ actual competition score, the votes will be an indicator of fans’ preference with respect to the participating boybands before the start of the actual competition.

Cast Overview

The hosts of this new show may ring a bell as Mnet decided to bring back the emcee pair from Queendom. Actress Lee Dahee and Jang Sungkyu, former news anchor who is currently promoting as an active entertainer, make their ways to guide viewers through the contestants’ journey in the program. Appearing in the teaser video, Lee Dahee radiates elegance, taking away viewers’ breaths with her stunning beauty and further enhancing the intense air surrounding the contestants.

Seven skilled boy bands of various characters are participating in Road to Kingdom. Mnet released individual spoilers from the groups’ first performances; with the sneak peaks clips reaching over 100,000 views each, it’s safe to say that the anticipation for the program is steadily increasing.

Take a look at all of the stages that feature diverse performances by the artists:

TOO, which stands for Ten Oriented Orchestra, is a newly-debuted 10-member boy band that released their first mini-album REASON FOR BEING : 仁, on April 1. The group consists of 10 members who have been chosen by ranking in the Top 10 on the survival audition program TO BE WORLD KLASS. Although fairly new to the music scene, the boyband has a supportive fanbase due to their prior appearance on the survival show, indicating their global popularity. Be sure to check out the rookie group’s powerful and energetic performance!

Starting off brightly with one of their most loved tracks called “Shine,” PENTAGON staged a chilling performance, fully captivating fans with an intense mask act in the span of roughly 45 seconds. With former member E’Dawn’s departure from the group, the boyband continued to prove their unique sense of artistry after reassembling themselves into an eight-member band. The all-around veteran group’s peculiar and distinctive style is something to definitely look out for as the show progresses on. 

ONEUS showcased their title track “Twilight” from their second mini-album RAISE US. Implementing the theme song from “The Phantom of the Opera” in the intro of its performance, the group danced with graceful passion. All six members of the boyband are known to be talented singers, dancers, songwriters, and producers alike; furthermore, with the boyband priding itself on the energy that the group emits as a team, it’s exciting to see how the group’s strong bond will reveal itself before, during, and after the stages.

Fully displaying the group’s signature “ON” and “OFF” aspects through refreshing vocals and sharp yet elaborate dance moves, ONF recreated their songs “We Must Love” and “Why” in the performance preview. Despite member Laun’s permanent absence in ONF with his leave, the six-member boyband is continuing to explore ways to seamlessly interchange between the “ON” and “OFF” units (which was the role Laun, the “&,” originally played). The team’s potential has already been proven through their appearance on survival program Mix Nine, and how the group will continue to grow throughout this show is another focus point to look out for.

VERIVERY took on a police concept for their stage in the performance preview, pulling off the  hard-hitting dark theme that contrasts with their debut concept that screamed exuberant vitality. Participating in their albums in terms of music producing, lyric writing, music video filming, and even album designing, the seven-member group is known for their well-roundedness and creativity as artists. This fact sets high expectations for how the rookie boyband will take advantage of the versatility of the members and showcase different stages of diverse personalities.

Flawless synchronization best describes the cultural stage that The Boyz staged. Dressed in a modernized stage outfit that replicates the traditional hanbok, the 11 members danced with sword props as they brought the audience back in time. Even after former member Hwall’s departure from the team, THE BOYZ is still pursuing their own path, exploring a variety of musical genres to further develop their artistic creativity. With their amazing 45 second performance, the highly-skilled boyband is currently ranked first place on the voting poll.

Last but not least, Golden Child introduced themselves to viewers with a dark, mature concept as the black outfits embellished with metal such as harnesses emphasize the intense atmosphere. As a group that had first released multiple lighthearted, cheery title tracks, the boyband’s recent comebacks after former member Jaeseok’s leave made an impactful change. Diving into a wide musical spectrum, the 10-member boy group is off to explore and further perfect their skills through Road to Kingdom.

I can’t wait to see the different performances that will uncover the hidden talent of every contestant. Although the teaser video for Road to Kingdom subtly hints at the tense atmosphere between the competitors, I’m looking forward to the bonds that the idols will form with each other throughout the show. Tune in to watch the Road to Kingdom’s premiere on April 30!