Renowned musician, creative artist, and tech entrepreneur will.i.am will make a special appearance on South Korea’s top music channel Mnet program, “The K-Star Next Door,” in mid-January. ZEROBASEONE members SUNG HAN BIN and SEOK MATTHEW will join him on the show and serve as special co-hosts for the episode.
According to a teaser released earlier this week, the long-running Mnet program will kick off 2025 with a special edition titled “The World-Star Next Door.” The episode will be aired on the show’s Youtube channel on January 14 at 6PM (KST), and on Mnet channel on January 17 at 8PM (KST).
This appearance marks will.i.am’s first return to South Korean television in over a decade. The global superstar will share the creative journey behind writing the Black Eyed Peas’ chart-topping hit “Boom Boom Pow” and perform alongside ZEROBASEONE members. He will also immerse himself in Korean pop culture by exploring viral Korean memes and trends.
This isn’t will.i.am’s first collaboration with South Korean artists. In 2011, he performed the Black Eyed Peas’ hit “Where Is the Love?” with K-pop girl group 2NE1’s leader CL during the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Singapore.
In addition to his music career, will.i.am is a creative artist, a tech entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of FYI (Focus Your Idea), an AI-powered Web 3.0 messenger platform. His achievements span creative and humanitarian work, earning him prestigious accolades such as nine Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a CLIO Award, and a TIME 100 Impact Award. Notably, he is one of the few artists to have performed at two Super Bowl Halftime Shows (2011 in Dallas and 2024 in Las Vegas).
As part of the upcoming episode, will.i.am will also showcase his freestyle rap skills using the AI-powered FYI platform, blending his passion for music and technology in a groundbreaking performance.
First launched in 2022, “The K-Star Next Door” is a popular talk show hosted by YouTuber Jonathan. Known for its lighthearted and candid interviews with many artists, the show has featured countless notable stars, including BTS’s Jin. The program is set to return for its fifth season this spring.