(Photo courtesy of SM ENTERTAINMENT)

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] An idol's charm is not limited to the stage. While music and performances may initially capture audiences' attention, fans often develop a deeper connection with a group by discovering the members' personalities and everyday lives through original content. Hearts2Hearts has been showcasing its diverse charms beyond the stage through its original series ‘Dul Set H2H’, introducing fresh concepts and formats with each new episode.

The series features a wide range of concepts, from ‘Bamsae Nolja Taeng’, which captures the members' everyday interactions, to ‘Haris Roman Mythology’, built around a distinctive fictional universe. What sets the series apart is how each new scenario and setting brings out different sides of the members. Among its various projects, ‘ICONIC POWER RACE’ stands out as a prime example of combining variety show entertainment with the members' individual personalities. As of October 22, the two related videos had accumulated approximately 7.7 million combined views.
 

(Photo courtesy of Hearts2Hearts' YouTube channel)

‘ICONIC POWER RACE’ combines the magical girl concept from the music video for Hearts2Hearts' Japanese debut song ‘ICONIC HEART’ with the race format of SBS variety show ‘Running Man’. The members, each equipped with different superpowers, compete in a survival game where they must remove their opponents' name tags, bringing the group's own fictional universe into a familiar variety show format.

The entertainment goes beyond the rules of the game itself. Each member's personality and unique traits are incorporated into their character, allowing their individuality to shine throughout the competition. A-NA's character is particularly noteworthy. Drawing on her nickname "No-soongi", derived from her real name Noh Yuna, the production team gave her four monkey assistants known as the "Soongis". The playful monkey imagery complements A-NA's naturally cheerful and mischievous personality, creating moments of spontaneous humor. Rather than simply using her nickname as a reference, the show transforms it into an actual character element within the game.

The detailed references to ‘Running Man’ are another highlight. When JUUN displays her competitive spirit, the show plays Kim Jongkook's signature "Sparta!" sound effect. Meanwhile, scenes in which A-NA finds herself in danger feature Lee Kwangsoo's iconic elimination theme music. By incorporating not only the format of the original variety show but also sound effects associated with its cast members, the content offers a sense of nostalgia for longtime ‘Running Man’ viewers while making the scenes entertaining for newcomers. This careful integration of the members' personalities with familiar variety show elements adds to the overall quality of the production.

Original content like this provides a natural platform for showcasing the members' personalities while continuously revealing new sides of the group. While stage performances focus primarily on a song's concept and choreography, variety content allows fans to observe the members' genuine reactions, speech patterns, and interactions with one another. By introducing different formats each time, even longtime fans can discover something new about members they already know well.

Other examples of idol-produced original content include RESCENE's WONI's ‘Anwonjalbu’, SEVENTEEN's ‘GOING SEVENTEEN’, and Wanna One's ‘Wanna One GO’. Despite their different concepts and formats, these series share a common purpose: highlighting aspects of the members' personalities that are difficult to convey through musical activities alone.

 

(Photo courtesy of Hearts2Hearts' YouTube channel)

So what makes original content so valuable to idol groups? For existing fans, it offers the pleasure of discovering their favorite members' everyday personalities and candid sides, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the artists they support. For viewers unfamiliar with a group, meanwhile, it provides an opportunity to discover the members' individual charms and chemistry without necessarily encountering their music or performances first. A positive impression formed from a single video can lead to curiosity about other content and, eventually, an interest in exploring the group's music and stage performances.

The potential of original content takes many forms. A series like RESCENE's ‘Anwonjalbu’ can generate buzz online, raising awareness of the group and drawing attention to its music. Meanwhile, content such as Wanna One's ‘Wanna One GO’ can remain a cherished memory for fans long after its original release. In fact, Wanna One reunited in 2026 and introduced a new reality series, ‘Wanna One GO: BACK TO BASE’, connecting its past content with a new chapter in the group's story. Well-produced original content can therefore become a lasting asset, extending beyond its initial popularity to attract new fans or rekindle the affection of longtime supporters.

Ultimately, original content serves as another stage where idols can expand their appeal beyond musical performances. It deepens the emotional connection of existing fans while offering newcomers their first reason to take an interest in a group. An initial attraction to the music can develop into affection for individual members, which in turn grows into a deeper attachment to the group as a whole.

Through its constantly evolving concepts, Hearts2Hearts' ‘Dul Set H2H’ demonstrates how original content can serve as a powerful platform for showcasing an idol group's diverse charms and connecting with new audiences.

 yeonwoo38@hanteo.com