Chinese show with K-pop guests tops local viewership

South Korean boy band WINNER demonstrated its high potential to do well overseas by drawing the top viewership on a Chinese entertainment show, the K-pop group's management agency said Thursday.

In the latest episode of the Chinese variety show "Happy Camp," also known by its local title "Kuaile Dabenying," the five-member act flaunted its skills, YG Entertainment said.

Kang Seung-yoon, Song Min-ho, Kim Jin-woo, Lee Seung-hoon and Nam Tae-hyun amused the Chinese audience despite a language barrier, relying on comic gestures, beatboxing and Chinese buzzwords.

The TV show broadcast on Hunan Television, China's second most-watched television channel, dwarfed its rivals in the same time slot.

Following the show, WINNER was one of the real-time popular search words on Weibo, a leading Chinese social media platform, and the number of the idol band's Weibo followers shot up to 500,000 from 460,000.

Since its launch on July 7, 1997, "Happy Camp" has increased its viewership to tens of millions. The almost two decades-old program is hosted by five emcees: He Jiong, Xie Na, Li Weijia, Wu Xin and Du Haitao.

After returning home, WINNER is slated to appear on "Bandal Friend," a new entertainment show on South Korean general cable TV network JTBC, on April 23. (Yonhap)