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Ready for K-pop Idolympics?

February 5, 2016

MBC’s “Idol Star Athletics Championships” will air on Feb. 9 and 10.

Ready for K-pop Idol-ympics?

Your favorite K-pop stars will be testing their athleticism as they compete in the “Idol Star Athletics Championships,” to be aired on Lunar New Year weekend.

The 12th championship has actually already taken place back on Jan. 18-19 in Goyang Gymnasium, Gyeonggi Province, but you’ll have to watch the MBC-TV event on Feb. 9 and 10 on to find out who came out on top.

One news that you may already have heard is that boy band EXO member Xiumin was injured after colliding with MMA fighter Kim Dong-hyun during a futsal match.

Fortunately, his management company YG Entertainment said doctors found no structural damage in his right knee.

From top, Bora, Minho (left), Dongjun and Kaeun (Courtesy of Instagram, MBC)

By The Korea Times Seoul staff

The event is held twice a year — on the Korean Thanksgiving, or Chuseok, and the Lunar New Year.

Past championships have shed light on the stars’ athletic ability.

Bora of Sistar showed she can run and hit the target by winning the women’s sprint events in the first and second championships and advancing to the women’s final in archery in the 10th. Bora’s performance gave her band’s reputation a boost, and according to Herald Pop, created a saying among K-pop girl singers: “Do it like Bora.”

Kaeun, a former member of girl band Dal Shabet, has won the women’s sprint events at three championships. Dongjun from boy band ZE:A flashed his speed in men’s sprint events.

Minho from boy band SHINee was the star of the second championship, winning the men’s high jump, 50-meter swim and 50-meter hurdle.