Emotional and Joyful '13th Month of Christmas' Episode Airs on 'What Do You Do When You Play?'

The latest episode of MBC's entertainment program, What Do You Do When You Play? (놀면 뭐하니?), aired on January 11, 2025, featuring the special segment '13th Month of Christmas.' The episode showcased hosts Yoo Jae-suk, Ha Ha, Joo Woo-jae, Park Jin-joo, Lee Yi-kyung, and Mi-joo as they gathered eight winter songmates for a winter song remake project.

According to Nielsen Korea, the episode recorded a viewership rating of 4.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area. The key demographic rating for viewers aged 20-49 was 2.9%, making it the top-rated Saturday entertainment program during its time slot. The peak moment of the episode, which reached a high of 6.3%, featured actor Song Gun-hee, who surprised everyone with his singing as a hidden member of the winter songmates. Song Gun-hee, who gained popularity through the drama 'Seonjae Upgo Twirl,' showcased his impressive vocal talent, reminiscent of a first love.

The first winter songmates introduced were John Park and Ailee. Joo Woo-jae expressed his excitement about meeting John Park just two days prior, sharing that he learned to sing at a coin karaoke with his friend Byun Woo-seok. Ailee, who is set to marry her fiancé Choi Si-hoon in April, shared that he affectionately calls her 'Princess Ye-jin' and recounted their love story that began at a g.o.d concert. John Park looked on happily, reminiscing about their good times. Yoo Jae-suk was surprised to learn that John Park is married with a daughter, asking if he had a small wedding, to which John Park humorously replied that it was a medium-sized wedding.

Next, NMIXX's Haewon and ZB1's Seungheon joined the show. Seungheon, known as 'Korean Grande' on social media, revealed his introverted side, stating, "I only go wild when I'm alone." Requests for Haewon to showcase her vocal prowess flooded in, and she did not disappoint, impressing everyone with her powerful voice.

The soulful duo of Kim Jo-han and KCM also made an appearance. Lee Yi-kyung attempted to jog Kim Jo-han's memory by recalling a time they shared pizza, but his efforts fell flat, leading to playful teasing from the other members about Yi-kyung's unrequited love life. Ailee chimed in, noting that Kim Jo-han had greeted her as if they were meeting for the first time, which Yi-kyung found unfair.

As the atmosphere of the '13th Month of Christmas' party grew, the group began recommending winter songs to sing together. Haewon humorously reacted to a video of their agency's CEO Park Jin-young performing 'Summer Jingle Bells.' Ailee and Haewon delivered a heartfelt rendition of 'I Will Go to You Like the First Snow,' moving Mi-joo to tears. Ailee also showcased her impressive high notes with Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You,' while Yoo Jae-suk suggested Lee Jung-seok's 'First Snow Is Coming,' reminiscent of Davichi's style, to elevate the festive mood. John Park performed Michael Bublé's 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,' creating a jazz bar vibe that had Yoo Jae-suk cheering, "Michael Park-ble!"

The episode concluded with the surprise appearances of actor Song Gun-hee and national fencing representative Oh Sang-wook as hidden members. Song Gun-hee, known for his romantic voice, revealed his background as a trainee, surprising Yoo Jae-suk and Ha Ha. When Yoo Jae-suk inquired about his agency, Ha Ha jokingly suggested that Yoo Jae-suk should produce him.

Oh Sang-wook captivated the audience with his smooth voice and tall stature. Yoo Jae-suk welcomed him to the entertainment industry, while Oh Sang-wook expressed his desire to balance his sports career with entertainment activities this year, as there are no Olympics or Asian Games scheduled. Yoo Jae-suk and Ha Ha humorously self-deprecated, commenting on how both Oh Sang-wook and Song Gun-hee looked like real celebrities.

The preview for the next episode teased the full assembly of winter songmates and a voting segment for their upcoming song. Additionally, Park Jin-joo, Mi-joo, Ailee, and Haewon formed a unit called 'Winter Dream Girls,' hinting at the release of their first remake track next week. What Do You Do When You Play? airs every Saturday at 6:25 PM.