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Steel Troops

Steel Troops
Promotional poster for Season 2
Also known asThe Iron Squad
GenreReality television, military
StarringKim Sung-joo
Kim Hee-chul
Kim Dong-hyun
Choi Young-jae
Chuu (Season 1, 3)
Yoon Doo-joon (Season 3)
Jang Dong-min (Season 1-2)
An Yu-jin (Season 2)
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes28 + 6 specials
Production
Running time100 minutes
Original release
NetworkChannel A, ENA (formerly skyTV)
ReleaseMarch 23, 2021 (2021-03-23) –
present (present)

Steel Troops (Korean: 강철부대; RR: Kangcheolbudae) is a South Korean reality show broadcast on Channel A and ENA (formerly 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.

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 six 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 two new units not featured in Season 1, including one from the Republic of Korea Air Force, for a total of 32 participants hailing from eight units.

Season 3 premiered on September 19, 2023 and airs every Tuesday at 22:30 (KST). Another two new units were introduced, including the first non-Korean team, composed of former retired US special forces members, alongside new participants from the top four units of Season 2.

Hosts

Panelist Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 W
Kim Sung-joo[4] All episodes All episodes All episodes
Jang Dong-min[4] Ep. 1–8 Does not appear
Kim Hee-chul[4] Absent in ep. 9 All episodes
Kim Dong-hyun[4] Absent in ep. 5–6
Choi Young-jae (Master)[4] All episodes
Chuu[4] Absent in ep. 13–14 Does not appear
An Yu-jin Does not appear Absent in ep. 10–12 Does not appear
Yoon Doo-joon Does not appear Does not appear All episodes
Guest Panelists
Park Goon [ko] Ep. 13[5] Ep. 6, 10–16[a] Does not appear
Yujeong (Brave Girls) Ep. 14[6] Does not appear Does not appear
Oh Jong-hyuk Does not appear Ep. 5, 9 Does not appear
Yuk Jun-Seo Does not appear Ep. 9–12 Does not appear

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.

Part of a Season 2 promotional poster featuring team emblems used on the show

Season 1

Unit Name Military Branch Members[7][8] Reservist Rank
Special Warfare Command

(육군특수전사령부)

ROK Army Park Jun-woo (Park Goon [ko]) 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

(해병대특수수색대)

ROK Marine Corps Oh Jong-hyuk Byeongjang (Sergeant)
Ahn Philip Hasa (Staff sergeant)
Jeong Hoon Jungwi (Lieutenant)
Ahn Tae-hwan [ko] 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[b]
Park Soo-min[c]
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[d] Jungwi (Lieutenant)
Oh Sang-young Jungsa (Sergeant first class)
Choi Yong-jun[d]
Jeong Tae-pung Byeongjang (Sergeant)
Seong Tae-hyun[e] Jungsa (Sergeant first class)
Marine Corps Special Recon

(해병대특수수색대)

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)[f]

(군사경찰특임대)

ROK Navy Song Bo-geun Byeongjang (Sergeant)
ROK Army Choi Seong-hyeon
Ji Won-jae[g]
ROK Air Force Kim Tae-ho
ROK Army Kang Jun[g]
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[h]
Lee Min-gon
Han Jae-sung
Lee Dong-gyu

Season 3

Unit Name Military Branch Members Reservist Rank
Special Warfare Command

(육군특수전사령부)

ROK Army Bae Yi-jeong Daewi (Captain)
Park Mun-ho Jungsa (Sergeant first class)
Jeong Seung-hun
Kim Dae-seong
707th Special Mission Group

(제707특수임무단)

ROK Army Hong Beom-seok Sangsa (Master sergeant)
Oh Yo-han Daewi (Captain)
Park Chan-gyu Jungsa (Sergeant first class)
Lee Yu-seok
UDT

(해군특수전전단)

ROK Navy Kim Gyeong-baek Sangsa (Master sergeant)
Lee Jeong-jun Daewi (Captain)
Jeong Jong-hyun[i] Jungsa (Sergeant first class)
Lee Han-jun Hasa (Staff sergeant)
HID (Headquarters of Intelligence Detachment)

(육군첩보부대)

ROK Army

(ROK Defence Intelligence Command)

Kang Min-ho Undisclosed[h]
Go Ya-yung
Park Ji-yun
Lee Dong-gyu[j]
UDU (Underwater Demolition Unit)

(해군첩보부대)

ROK Navy

(ROK Defence Intelligence Command)

Kim Su-won Undisclosed[h]
Kim Hyeon-yeong
Go In-ho
Lee Byeong-ju
USSF (United States Special Forces) US Navy SEAL Kaj Larsen (Age: 46) Lieutenant Commander (Ret.)
Ian Schinelli (Age: 37) Petty Officer First Class (Ret.)
Jeff Gum (Age: 39) Petty Officer First Class (Ret.)
US Green Beret and Marine Force Recon (not mentioned) Wil Ravelo (Age: 46) Sergeant First Class (Ret.)

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.

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 a "Benefit Mission" 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[k] 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[l]
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 Round 1: Highland Race 2nd 1st 4th 5th 3rd
Round 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 Round 1: Capture the Leader Won
(vs SSU) 		Lost[m]
(vs UDT) 		Won
(vs 707) 		Lost
(vs SWC)
Round 2: Tire Tug-of-war Lost Won
Nightfall Joint Operation
(SWC & 707 vs UDT & SSU) 		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[b] Won
Final Benefit Mission: Marine Infiltration Won Lost
Operation Isabu Won Runner-up

Season 2

The second season largely continued with the format of main missions and Death Matches until the round of 4, with the exception of the first stage which was a direct elimination round. Other notable changes include:

  • Upgraded benefits, such as an increased quantity (strongest member contest) or automatic advancement to the next stage (second Benefit Mission)
  • Use of live firing in shooting contests, instead of airsoft guns as used in Season 1
  • Joint elimination, as in the third stage
  • Possibility of mission failure, as in the second and final stages
Stage Mission SWC MCSR 707 UDT SDT SSU SART HID
Strongest member contest[n] 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,[o] 6th 4th 5th
First elimination Winter Highland Race[p] 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 Benefit Mission Round 1: Precision Shooting 2nd (27) 6th (22) 7th (19)[q] 2nd (27) 5th (24) 4th (26) 1st (28)
Round 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) 		Advanced
Death Match: 50 kg Signal Gear Transport 2nd Eliminated[g] 1st
Third elimination[r] Benefit Mission: Rucksack Foot Volleyball Won Advanced Lost Lost Advanced Won
Won Lost Lost Won
Maritime Joint Operation 2nd[e]
(with HID) 		3rd
(with SART) 		1st
(with UDT) 		1st
(with 707) 		3rd
(with MCSR) 		2nd
(with SWC)
Death Match: Alliance Tire Flip Won Eliminated Eliminated Won
Round of 4 Benefit Mission Round 1: Capture the Flag Won
(vs 707) 		Lost
(vs SWC) 		Lost
(vs HID) 		Won
(vs UDT)
Round 2: Capture the Leader Lost
(vs HID) 		Won
(vs SWC)
Recapture the Plane (SWC vs 707) Won Eliminated
Garorim Bay Supplies (UDT vs HID) Won Eliminated
Final Benefit Mission: Shooting Roundup[s]
  • Round 1: Precision Shooting
  • Round 2: Mobile Shooting
  • Round 3: Infiltration Sniper
 Lost

(1:2)

Won

(2:1)

Operation Nuri Won Runner-up

Season 3

As of the second elimination stage, the competition format remains unchanged. This season opened with a notably higher calibre team introductions segment, where the customary pull-up friendly contest in a filming studio was upgraded to live firing at sea on a Korean Coast Guard vessel. Other show firsts included:

  • Access to military bases for events involving live firing
  • Use of MILES gear by opposition forces
  • Participants joining the opposition forces against their competitors, as in the second stage
Stage Mission SWC 707 UDT HID UDU USSF
Strongest member contest[t] Round 1: Trench Combat 2 advanced 0 advanced 4 advanced 4 advanced 2 advanced 0 advanced
Round 2: Assault Course 0 advanced 2 advanced[u] 3 advanced 1 advanced
Round 3: Hostage Rescue & Shooting Won[v] Lost Lost
First elimination Marine Explosive Disposal Lost
(vs UDU) 		Won
(vs HID) 		Lost
(vs USSF) 		Lost
(vs 707) 		Won
(vs SWC) 		Won
(vs UDT)
Death Match: 3-ton Truck Push Eliminated 1st 2nd
Second elimination Benefit Mission 1 Round 1: Multi-Firearm Shooting 3rd 4th 1st 1st 5th
Round 2: Infiltration Sniper 3rd 1st 2nd
Benefit Mission 2: Tire Tug-of-war 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st
Counter-terrorism Joint Operation
(707 & USSF vs UDT & UDU) 		Won Lost Advanced Lost Won
Death Match: Mud Flat Tire Flip Won Eliminated
Round of 4 Mopping-up Operations
(HID vs USSF) 		Won Eliminated
Supply Foot March
(707 vs UDT) 		Won Eliminated
Final

Benefit Mission: Integrated Mobile Shooting[w]

  • Round 1: Pistol Shooting
  • Round 2: Breaching and Rifle Shooting
  • Round 3: Marine Infiltration Sniper
 Won (Quickest time over combined 3 rounds)

1.Lost 2. Win 3. Lost

Lost

1.Win 2. Lost 3. Win

Summit VIP Rescue Operation HID Won

Notes

  1. ^ Park Goon joined as a fixed panelist from episode 10, following Jang Dong-min's departure from the show.
  2. ^ a b Kim Pil-sung joined the 707 team from episode 12, replacing Park Soo-min.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b Seong Tae-hyun joined the show from episode 7, replacing Kim Hwang-jung.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c Due to the unit's classified status, the members' individual ranks were not disclosed.
  9. ^ Returning participant, previously on Season 1's UDT team
  10. ^ Returning participant, previously on Season 2's HID team
  11. ^ Conducted as an individual contest, the final winner was crowned the "strongest member" and his team awarded a benefit in the first main mission.
  12. ^ Jeong Hae-chul of the SSU team was crowned the "strongest member" of Season 1.
  13. ^ The 707 team voluntarily ceded victory to the UDT team before the match.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Lee Ju-yong of the 707 team was crowned the "strongest member" of Season 2.
  16. ^ Each match's winning team automatically advanced, while the losing team with the slowest time was eliminated.
  17. ^ Lee Ju-yong shot a total of 28 points, but his last shot was disqualified as it exceeded the 10-second time limit.
  18. ^ Alliances of two teams each were formed and maintained for all missions in this stage.
  19. ^ This Benefit Mission was split into three rounds, where the first team to secure two victories won the benefit.
  20. ^ As in Season 1, only the top "strongest member" won the benefit for his team.
  21. ^ Lee Han-jun eventually forfeited his place in the next round after suffering a leg injury while finishing the assault course.
  22. ^ Jeong Jong-hyun of the UDT team was crowned the "strongest member" of Season 3.
  23. ^ This Benefit Mission was a time attack split into three rounds, where the team with the shorter recorded time wins.

References

  1. ^ Choi Ji-eun (March 15, 2021). "'강철부대' 부대별 티저 6종 총 공개...오는 23일 첫 공개". Top Daily (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. ^ Hong Se-young (February 26, 2021). "김성주→김희철·이달의 소녀 츄 '강철부대' 공식포스터". Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "'강철부대', 넷플릭스 국내 콘텐츠 1위 기록…'육준서 효과?'". Top Star News (in Korean). April 23, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Kim Kyung-mi (June 13, 2021). "박군, '강철부대' 탈락->스페셜MC 변신". Woman Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Jiwon Oh (June 20, 2021). "'군통령' 브레이브걸스 유정, '강철부대' 스페셜MC 출격". YTN (in Korean). Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Son Jin-ah (March 13, 2021). "'강철부대', 특전사-해병대수색대-707-UDT-SDT-SSU 티저 공개". MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Lee Min-ji (March 11, 2021). "'강철부대' 베일 싸여있던 6부대 참가대원 24인 라인업 공개(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 13, 2022.
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