Steel Troops
Steel Troops (Korean: 강철부대; RR: Kangcheolbudae) is a South Korean reality show broadcast on Channel A and skyTV. Dubbed a "military survival program," the show features male South Korean reservists who served in various special forces units across different branches of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Participants go head to head in teams of four, representing their respective unit to fight for the title of the best special forces unit in Korea.
| Steel Troops | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster for Season 2 | |
| Also known as | The Iron Squad |
| Genre | Reality television, military |
| Starring | Kim Sung-joo Jang Dong-min Kim Hee-chul Kim Dong-hyun Choi Young-jae Chuu (Season 1) An Yu-jin (Season 2) |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes |
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| Production | |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Channel A, skyTV |
| Original release |
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A series of missions, designed by military experts, test the participants' physical stamina, mental strength, and cooperation to determine the last team standing.[1][2] Episodes also include concurrent commentary from a panel of hosts, including the "Master" who runs the competition events.
Season 1 aired every Tuesday at 22:30 (KST) from March 23, 2021 to July 20, 2021. This season featured 24 participants from 6 units across the Republic of Korea Army and Republic of Korea Navy. It was also released on Netflix under the title The Iron Squad and gained a high viewership ranking on release.[3]
Season 2 aired every Tuesday at 21:20 (KST) from February 22, 2022 to June 7, 2022. The new season introduces 2 new units not featured in Season 1, including one from the Republic of Korea Air Force, for a total of 32 participants hailing from 8 units.
Hosts
Main Panelists
- Kim Sung-joo[4]
- Jang Dong-min[4]
- Kim Hee-chul[4]
- Kim Dong-hyun[4]
- Choi Young-jae (Master)[4]
- Chuu (Season 1)[4]
- An Yu-jin (Season 2)
Guest Panelists
- Park Goon (Season 1, Ep. 13;[5] Season 2, Ep. 6, 10-14)
- Yujeong (Brave Girls) (Season 1, Ep. 14)[6]
- Oh Jong-hyuk (Season 2, Ep. 5, 9)
- Yuk Jun-Seo (Season 2, Ep. 9-12)
Participants
Each team consists of four reservists representing their respective special forces unit, with a team leader (indicated in bold) selected by the team members.
Season 1
| Unit Name | Military Branch | Members[7][8] | Reservist Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Warfare Command (육군특수전사령부) | ROK Army | Park Jun-woo (Park Goon) | Sangsa (Master sergeant) |
| Jeong Tae-gyun (Marvel.J) | Jungwi (Lieutenant) | ||
| Kim Hyun-dong | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Park Do-hyeon | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| Marine Corps Special Recon (해병대수색대) | ROK Marine Corps | Oh Jong-hyuk | Byeongjang (Sergeant) |
| Ahn Philip | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Jeong Hoon | Jungwi (Lieutenant) | ||
| Ahn Tae-hwan | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| 707th Special Mission Group (제707특수임무단) | ROK Army | Lee Jin-bong | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) |
| Im Woo-young | |||
| Yeom Seung-chul | |||
| Kim Pil-sung[a] | |||
| Park Soo-min[b] | |||
| UDT (해군특수전전단) | ROK Navy | Kim Bum-Seok (Kim Min-jun) | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) |
| Yuk Jun-seo | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Jeong Jong-hyun | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| Kim Sang-wook | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| SDT (Special Duty Team) (군사경찰특임대) | ROK Army | Kim Min-su | Byeongjang (Sergeant) |
| Lee Jeong-min | |||
| Kang Jun | |||
| Kang Won-jae | |||
| SSU (Sea Salvage & Rescue Unit) (해난구조전대) | ROK Navy | Jeong Seong-hoon | Hasa (Staff sergeant) |
| Jeong Hae-chul | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| Kim Min-su | |||
| Hwang Chung-won |
Season 2
| Unit Name | Military Branch | Members | Reservist Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Warfare Command (육군특수전사령부) | ROK Army | Kim Hwang-jung[c] | Jungwi (Lieutenant) |
| Oh Sang-young | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| Choi Yong-jun[c] | |||
| Jeong Tae-pung | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| Seong Tae-hyun[d] | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| Marine Corps Special Recon (해병대수색대) | ROK Marine Corps | Jeong Ho-geun | Jungwi (Lieutenant) |
| Park Gil-yeon | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Lee Dae-young | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| Gu Dong-yeol | |||
| 707th Special Mission Group (제707특수임무단) | ROK Army | Lee Ju-yong | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) |
| Hong Myeong-hwa | |||
| Gu Seong-hwi | |||
| Lee Jeong-won | |||
| UDT (해군특수전전단) | ROK Navy | Yoon Jong-jin | Hasa (Staff sergeant) |
| Gwon Ho-je | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| Gu Min-cheol | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Kim Myeong-jae | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| SDT (Special Duty Team)[e] (군사경찰특임대) | ROK Navy | Song Bo-geun | Byeongjang (Sergeant) |
| ROK Army | Choi Seong-hyeon | ||
| Ji Won-jae[f] | |||
| ROK Air Force | Kim Tae-ho | ||
| ROK Army | Kang Jun[f] | ||
| SSU (Sea Salvage & Rescue Unit) (해난구조전대) | ROK Navy | Kim Dong-rok | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) |
| Heo Nam-gil | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Kim Jeong-woo | |||
| Kim Geon | Byeongjang (Sergeant) | ||
| SART (Special Air Rescue Team) (특수탐색구조대대) | ROK Air Force | Jeon Hyeong-jin | Hasa (Staff sergeant) |
| Kang Cheong-myung | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| Jo Seong-ho | Hasa (Staff sergeant) | ||
| Lee Yu-jeong | Jungsa (Sergeant first class) | ||
| HID (Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment) (국군정보사령부특임대) | ROK Army (ROK Defence Intelligence Command) | Kim Seung-min | Undisclosed[g] |
| Lee Min-gon | |||
| Han Jae-sung | |||
| Lee Dong-gyu |
List of episodes
In the ratings below, the highest rating for the season will be in red and the lowest rating for the season will be in blue.
| Season 1
| Season 2
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Mission results
Season 1
The first three elimination stages followed a double-elimination tournament style, with a main mission (indicated in bold) determining the participants of the "Death Match" elimination round. Following the revival round, the competition switched to a single-elimination style without a Death Match. Each stage also featured "Benefit Mission(s)," where the winner would be given an advantage in the main mission that followed. In the case of the second elimination stage, the lowest-ranking team was also sent directly to Death Match, bypassing the main mission.
| Stage | Mission | SWC | MCSR | 707 | UDT | SDT | SSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest member contest[h] | Round 1: Trench Combat | 2 advanced | 3 advanced | 1 advanced | 2 advanced | 2 advanced | 2 advanced |
| Round 2: Assault Course | 2 advanced | 0 advanced | 0 advanced | 1 advanced | 1 advanced | 1 advanced | |
| Round 3: Winter Sea Rescue | 3rd, 4th | 2nd | 5th | 1st[i] | |||
| First elimination | IBS Rescue | Lost (vs 707) | Lost (vs UDT) | Won (vs SWC) | Won (vs MCSR) | Lost (vs SSU) | Won (vs SDT) |
| Death Match: Tire Flip | 1st | Eliminated | 2nd | ||||
| Second elimination | Benefit Mission 1: Highland Race | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 5th | 3rd | |
| Benefit Mission 2: Range Shooting | Lost | Won | |||||
| Counter-terrorism Rescue | Won (vs SDT) | Won (vs SSU) | Lost (vs SWC) | Lost (vs 707) | |||
| Death Match: 10 km Mountain March | 1st | Eliminated | 2nd | ||||
| Third elimination | Benefit Mission 1: Trench Combat | Won (vs SSU) | Lost[j] (vs UDT) | Won (vs 707) | Lost (vs SWC) | ||
| Benefit Mission 2: Tire Tug-of-war | Lost | Won | |||||
| Nightfall Joint Operation[k] | Won | Won | Lost | Lost | |||
| Death Match: Tire Scramble | Won | Eliminated | |||||
| Revival Round: Breaching Garorim Bay | 2nd | 3rd | Revived | ||||
| Round of 4 | Benefit Mission: Target Shooting | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | |||
| Recapture the Ship (SWC vs UDT) | Eliminated | Won | |||||
| Frontline Supplies (707 vs SSU) | Eliminated[a] | Won | |||||
| Final | Benefit Mission: Marine Infiltration | Won | Lost | ||||
| Operation Isabu | Won | Runner-up | |||||
Season 2
The second season continues with the format of main missions and Death Matches, with the exception of the first elimination stage which was a direction elimination round. The advantages provided in Benefit Missions have also been upgraded in quantity and quality. For example, in the case of the second elimination stage, the top-ranking team bypasses the main mission and automatically advances to the next stage.
| Stage | Mission | SWC | MCSR | 707 | UDT | SDT | SSU | SART | HID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest member contest[l] | Round 1: Trench Combat | 2 advanced | 2 advanced | 2 advanced | 2 advanced | 2 advanced | 1 advanced | 0 advanced | 1 advanced |
| Round 2: Assault Course | 1 advanced | 1 advanced | 2 advanced | 0 advanced | 1 advanced | 1 advanced | 0 advanced | ||
| Round 3: 100 kg Log Pull | 3rd | 2nd | 1st,[m] 6th | 4th | 5th | ||||
| First elimination | Winter Highland Race[n] | Won (vs SDT) | Won (vs SSU) | Won (vs HID) | Lost (vs SART) | Lost (vs SWC) | Lost (vs MCSR) | Won (vs UDT) | Lost (vs 707) |
| Survived | Survived | Eliminated | Survived | ||||||
| Second elimination[o] | Benefit Mission 1: Precision Shooting | 2nd (27) | 6th (22) | 7th (19)[p] | 2nd (27) | 5th (24) | 4th (26) | 1st (28) | |
| Benefit Mission 2: Infiltration Sniper | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | ||||||
| Counter-terrorism Hostage Rescue | Won (vs 707) | Won (vs SART) | Lost (vs SWC) | Won (vs SDT) | Lost (vs UDT) | Lost (vs MCSR) | |||
| Death Match: 50 kg Signal Gear Transport | 2nd | Eliminated[f] | 1st | ||||||
| Third elimination | Benefit Mission: Rucksack Foot Volleyball | Won | Advanced | Lost | Lost | Advanced | Won | ||
| Won | Lost | Lost | Won | ||||||
| Maritime Joint Operation | 2nd[d] (with HID) | 3rd (with SART) | 1st (with UDT) | 1st (with 707) | 3rd (with MCSR) | 2nd (with SWC) | |||
| Death Match: Joint Operation Tire Flip | 2nd (with HID) | Eliminated (with SART) | Eliminated (with MCSR) | 1st (with SWC) |
Notes
- ^ a b Kim Pil-sung joined the 707 team from episode 12, replacing Park Soo-min.
- ^ Park Soo-min stepped down from the show following a personal scandal. His appearances in pre-taped footage were edited out entirely from episodes 4 to 11.
- ^ a b Kim Hwang-jung stepped down from the show in episode 7 due to personal injury. He was succeeded by Choi Yong-jun as the team leader.
- ^ a b Seong Tae-hyun joined the show from episode 7, replacing Kim Hwang-jung.
- ^ As a military police unit, SDTs exist in each branch of the ROK Armed Forces. Season 2 includes representatives across all branches, unlike Season 1.
- ^ a b c Ji Won-jae stepped down in episode 6 after sustaining a leg injury during a mission. He was replaced by Kang Jun from Season 1.
- ^ Due to their unit's classified status, the HID team did not disclose their individual ranks.
- ^ Conducted as an individual contest, the final winner was crowned the "strongest member" and his team awarded a benefit in the first main mission.
- ^ Jeong Hae-chul of the SSU team was crowned the "strongest member" of Season 1.
- ^ The 707 team voluntarily ceded victory to the UDT team before the match.
- ^ This mission was two-on-two, with the SWC and 707 teams joining forces against the UDT and SSU teams.
- ^ This individual contest in Season 2 provided 3 different benefits to the top 3, as opposed to a single benefit for the top 1 in Season 1.
- ^ Lee Ju-yong of the 707 team was crowned the "strongest member" of Season 2.
- ^ Each match's winning team automatically advanced, while the losing team with the slowest time was eliminated.
- ^ Both rounds of the Benefit Mission in this stage feature live firing, as opposed to airsoft guns in Season 1's shooting missions.
- ^ Lee Ju-yong shot a total of 28 points, but his last shot was disqualified as it exceeded the 10-second time limit.
References
- ^ Choi Ji-eun (March 15, 2021). "'강철부대' 부대별 티저 6종 총 공개...오는 23일 첫 공개". Top Daily (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Hong Se-young (February 26, 2021). "김성주→김희철·이달의 소녀 츄 '강철부대' 공식포스터". Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "'강철부대', 넷플릭스 국내 콘텐츠 1위 기록…'육준서 효과?'". Top Star News (in Korean). April 23, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Kang Seo-jung (February 18, 2021). "김성주, '강철부대' MC 출격..장동민·김희철·김동현·최영재·츄 합류[공식]". Osen (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Kim Kyung-mi (June 13, 2021). "박군, '강철부대' 탈락->스페셜MC 변신". Woman Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Jiwon Oh (June 20, 2021). "'군통령' 브레이브걸스 유정, '강철부대' 스페셜MC 출격". YTN (in Korean). Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Son Jin-ah (March 13, 2021). "'강철부대', 특전사-해병대수색대-707-UDT-SDT-SSU 티저 공개". MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Lee Min-ji (March 11, 2021). "'겅찰부대' 베일 싸여있던 6부대 참가대원 24인 라인업 공개(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 13, 2022.
External links
- Season 1 website
- Season 2 website