Those Who Cross the Line


Those Who Cross the Line is a South Korean television entertainment program and televised on MBC.
Season 1 was aired every Friday, starting 30 March and ending on 14 September 2018.
Season 2 was aired every Saturday, starting 16 February and ending on 23 March 2019.
Season 3 was aired every Sunday, starting 18 August 2019 and ending on 13 December 2020.
Season 4 was aired every Sunday, starting 25 April 2021 with a new master and another guest as X. It was changed to Wednesday as of 1 December 2021 and the show ended on 22 December 2021.
WWW Official Site

Overview

Season 1

The program is a 20-episode series program that compares and contrasts different histories, cultures, and arts as if they resemble the two nations facing the border. It is a new concept that takes away from everyday life that can only be felt locally to a unique history. The program was originally a 16 episodes series but got extended due to its popularity.

Season 2

The second season, Those who cross the line - Korean Peninsula, is a 6-episode series program that compares and contrasts on the history of Korean Peninsula and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of March First Movement and Provisional Government. This second season is based on the success of the first season and Seol Min-seok's wishes to visit/cross the Military Demarcation Line as mentioned in the opening premier of the Season 2 when the five cast members met. Before visiting the MDL, the cast will learn about the history of Korean Peninsula, particularly on the topics on "Those who tried to protect their borders" from history teacher, Seol Min-seok and invited guests.

Season 3

The third season, Those who cross the line - Returns, is the continuation with the success of the Season 2 and is to visit the hidden historical sites all over South Korea. The excitement is the journey to find the true story that cannot be learned from history books. Furthermore, it is expected that it will make a meaningful move that draws together the stories of yesterday, today, and tomorrow that we have not known yet. In addition, invited guests will visit each historical site to make the Korean history exploration more enriching and enjoyable.

Season 4

The fourth season, Those who cross the line - Master X, is a comeback with an expanded version that crosses the history as well as various 'line of knowledge'. A new world of knowledge to be with the best masters in Korea! Who is the unknown Master X who will cross the line of knowledge every week, such as History vs Science, History vs Psychology and History vs Art.

Cast

Season 1

NameEpisodeRef/Notes
Kim Gu-raEp. 1 – 20
Ep. 1 – 20
Lee Si-youngEp. 1 – 16Lee exited from the show after episode 16, as the original filming of the program was for 16 episodes, and she is filming for her new show. Due to the popularity, the program got extended as explained in episode 17 by Kim Gu-ra.

Season 2

NameEpisodeRef/Notes
Jun Hyun-mooEp. 1 – 6
Ep. 1 – 6
Moon Geun-youngEp. 1 – 6
Yoo Byung-jaeEp. 1 – 6
Daniel LindemannEp. 1 – 6

Season 3

NameEpisodeRef/Notes
Jun Hyun-mooEp. 1 – 67
Yoo Byung-jaeEp. 1 – 67
Kim Jong-min Ep. 1 – 67
Ep. 1 – 67

Season 4

NameEpisodeRoleRef/Notes
Jun Hyun-mooEp. 1 – 32Host
Yoo Byung-jaeEp. 1 – 32Host
Kim Jong-min Ep. 1 – 32Host
Shim Yong-hwanEp. 1 – 32History Master
Kim Kyung-ilEp. 1 – 32Psychology Master
Ep. 1 – 32Science Master

Episodes

Season 2

Episode #Original Airdate DateLocation/Place visitedHistorical EventsSpecial GuestRef/Notes
116 February 2019Ganghwa Island
  • Ganghwa Peace Observatory
1871 Korean CampaignFrench Campaign against Korea, 1866
1884 Kapsin Coup		—
223 February 2019Ganghwa County
  • Yeunsangun's house of exile
  • Gyodong Island
First Literati Purge of 1498Second Literati Purge of 1504
Jungjong coup in 1506		Kim Young-okKim Young-ok talk about her personal experiences in Korea under Japanese rule, Korean War and
family reunion with her eldest brother whom she has not seen for 50 years
since the start of Korean War.
223 February 2019Jeju Island
Tonghak Peasant Revolution—All the five cast members are together for the first time since the premier opening of the show.
32 March 2019Jeju Island
  • Songaksan (Jeju)
  • Altteureu Airfield
  • Socotra Rock
  • Sanbangsan
  • Jeongbang Waterfall
    		• Beopjeongsa MovementJeju uprising
    Hendrick Hamel in the Joseon Korea    		Go Doo-shim
    49 March 2019Jeju Island
    		Jeju uprising—
    49 March 2019Tokyo, Japan
  • The Classic house at Asakasa Prince
  • Hibiya Park
  • Ichigaya Prison
    		• Triple InterventionFebruary 8 Declaration of Independence
    Sakuradamon Incident (1932)
    Kantō Massacre    		Choi Hee-seo
    516 March 2019Tokyo, Japan
    		Five Eulsa TraitorsSeven Jeongmi Traitors
    8 pro-Japanese Traitors    		—
    516 March 2019Kyoto, Japan
    		Era of Imperialistic Cultural Cleansing—
    516 March 2019South Korea
  • Cheorwon County
    		• ——
    623 March 2019Cheorwon County
  • Igrl-ri
  • Labor Party Headquarter
  • Baengmagoji station
  • Korean Demilitarized Zone
  • *Civilian Control Line
  • **Southern Limit Line
  • *Arrow Head Ridge Guard Post
  • *Military Demarcation Line
    		• Korean War
  • Battle of Inchon
  • Hungnam evacuation
  • Third Battle of Seoul

  • Ratings

    In the ratings below, the highest rating for the show will be in and the lowest rating for the show will be in for each season or year.

    Season 2

    The show will be aired in two parts. Only the higher rating of the episode will be shown.

    Season 3

    The show will be aired in two parts. Only the higher rating of the episode will be shown.
    The show will be aired in two parts. Only the higher rating of the episode will be shown.

    Season 4

    The show will be aired in two parts. Only the higher rating of the episode will be shown.

    Controversy

    Season 1

    Jordanian Image Mistake

    On 11 June 2018, the production crew of MBC "선을 넘는 녀석들" wrote in the official Instagram that some Jordanian-Israel-Palestine editions broadcast on Friday, 8 June, have pointed out that "the part that used the image of Muhammad as a prophet of Islam and the part that used the rock dome together with the flag of a certain country". The production crew has issued an official apology, in both Korean and English version, for telling people of particular religions and views.

    Season 3

    Seol Min-seok's plagiarism of his master's thesis

    On 30 December 2020, there was a report that Seol Min-seok's thesis on 'A Study on the Ideological Controversy Appearing in Textbooks of Modern and Contemporary Korean History' for which he received his master's degree at the Yonsei University Graduate School of Education in 2010 was 52% plagiarised. Seol admit that in his research in writing the thesis, he neglected citations and footnotes in the process of referencing other papers. Due to the plagiarism allegation, Seol resigned from all the programs he was cast in and MBC decided to end season 3 of the program to reorganise.