The popular Korean adventure variety show “The Great Escape” is returning with a chilling new season, and its latest installment is already generating curiosity with an unsettling first poster.
Titled “The Great Escape: Urban Legends,” the upcoming season will challenge its cast members to escape from mysterious situations inspired by bizarre urban legends.
On October 28, 2026, the production team unveiled the first teaser poster and confirmed that the show will premiere on December 2 at 6 p.m. KST on TVING.
The new season will feature Kim Jong Min, Kim Dong Hyun, SUPER JUNIOR’s Shindong, Yoo Byung Jae, Ko Kyung Pyo and SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan.
Known for its elaborate escape-room challenges, teamwork and unpredictable mysteries, the franchise is taking a darker direction this time.
The new theme places the cast inside unsettling scenarios where they must investigate their surroundings, uncover clues and work together to find a way out.
The announcement has also drawn attention because Kang Ho Dong, who was a central member of the franchise for years, will not be participating in the upcoming season.
First Poster Teases Mysterious Locations and Frightening Challenges
The newly released poster establishes an eerie atmosphere through images of mysterious locations captured by CCTV cameras.
Unidentified silhouettes, a hand emerging from beneath a manhole cover, shattered glass and broken tiles hint at the strange incidents awaiting the cast.
The visuals suggest that the participants will encounter situations that become increasingly unsettling as they investigate each setting.
Rather than simply solving conventional escape-room puzzles, the cast will find themselves caught up in stories inspired by urban legends, requiring them to piece together clues and discover what is happening around them.
The poster also features the tagline,
“I want to get out so damn badly,” reflecting the desperation the cast members may experience as they attempt to escape the mysterious environments.
The six participants bring different strengths to the program.
Kim Jong Min and Shindong return as familiar faces from the original series, while Kim Dong Hyun is known for his physical abilities.
Yoo Byung Jae brings his analytical approach and storytelling skills, and Ko Kyung Pyo adds the perspective of an actor experiencing the challenges alongside the variety-show regulars.
Seungkwan, who joins the cast as the newest member, is expected to contribute his quick wit, sociability and established variety-show experience.
His addition creates a fresh dynamic among the participants as they confront the season’s unusual mysteries.
With its combination of suspense, problem-solving and comedy, the new installment aims to preserve the franchise’s familiar appeal while introducing a more unsettling concept.
Seungkwan Joins the Cast as Kang Ho Dong Steps Aside
“The Great Escape: Urban Legends” continues the legacy of a franchise that first premiered in 2018.
The original program became known for its large-scale escape rooms, elaborate sets and challenges that required cast members to cooperate rather than rely on individual abilities alone.
The series subsequently aired four seasons through 2021 before expanding its universe with additional content, including the TVING original “The Great Escape: The Story.”
In August 2026, CJ ENM confirmed the return of “The Great Escape” with a new season.
The announcement revealed that Kim Jong Min, Kim Dong Hyun, Shindong, Yoo Byung Jae and Ko Kyung Pyo would return, while Seungkwan would join the lineup.
However, Kang Ho Dong, who had been a prominent part of the franchise since its early seasons, will sit out the new installment.
His absence marks a notable change for longtime viewers who associate him with the program’s original cast.
Kang Ho Dong previously expressed his support for the returning members, reflecting positively on his time with the show and encouraging the team to make the new season a success.
The updated lineup will now take on the challenges together, with Seungkwan’s arrival offering an opportunity for new interactions and comedic moments.
The urban-legend theme also promises a different atmosphere from the earlier seasons, combining eerie settings with the cast’s varied reactions and problem-solving approaches.
With its premiere set for December 2, “The Great Escape: Urban Legends” is preparing to bring viewers another round of elaborate mysteries, unexpected twists and escape challenges.
The first poster has offered a glimpse of the unsettling environments ahead, leaving fans eager to discover what awaits the six participants.
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