Queendom (TV series)

Queendom is a South Korean reality competition series created by Mnet.
The first season aired from August 29 to October 31, 2019, every Thursday at 21:20. For the season, Mamamoo finished in first place.
The second season, dubbed as Queendom 2, aired March 31 to June 2, 2022, every Thursday at 21:20. For the season, WJSN finished in first place.

Overview

The program is a comeback battle between 6 trending girl group acts, in order to "determine the real number one" when all 6 release their singles at the same time. The winning act will have a comeback show only for them, showing the new song and their other hit songs, arranged however they want it. The comeback show is broadcast on Mnet and M2.
The first and second seasons lasted for 11 weeks, both featuring 3 preliminary performances and 1 live comeback stage from each act. The Comeback Singles, which are newly produced songs of the six acts, are released a few days prior to the final episode. The digital points accumulated for the Comeback Singles and live votes for the comeback stages on the final episode, together with the accumulated points from the 3 preliminary rounds, were combined to determine the final winner.
The first season's winner was Mamamoo; their comeback show happened on November 3, 2020 as the group made their comeback with their tenth mini album Travel. The comeback show for the second season's winner WJSN took place on July 5, 2022 with their first special single album Sequence.

Cast

Hosts

Lee Da-hee – "Queen" MC
Jang Sung-kyu – "Dom" MC

Contestants

Hosts

Taeyeon – "Grandmaster" MC
Lee Yong-jin – "Queen" Manager

Contestants

Episodes

For the first season, the overall rankings are calculated out of a maximum of 100,000 points for each act, and distributed based on:

3 preliminary performances
* 1st preliminary performance – 10,000 points
* 2nd preliminary performance – 10,000 points
* 3rd preliminary performance – 15,000 points
Digital points of the Comeback Singles performance
* Calculated from the time of release till 23:59 on October 28, 2019.
Text message votes of the Finale Live Comeback Stages – 50,000 points

For the preliminary performances, if one act gets a 6th place twice in a row, they will be eliminated from the show. This is also named the "Dishonored Step Down".

1st Preliminary Performances – Representative Hit Song Battle (Episode 1–2)

In the first preliminary performances, the six teams each perform one of their hit songs that is rearranged and different from their usual stages of the song. Before the performance, the six teams have ten minutes to arrange their cue sheet, which they must complete within the timing, otherwise, they will be deducted 1,000 points. They are also allowed to forcefully rearrange the orders.
For the first preliminary performances, the points are calculated out of a maximum of 10,000 points for each contestant, and distributed based on:

Self-Assessment – 1,000 points
Special Judges – 2,000 points
On-Site Audience – 7,000 points

For the Self-Assessment, each contestant has to vote for a team that they believe to have performed better than them and a team that they believe to have performed worse than them. If a team believes that none of the other contestants performed better than them, then they may choose not to give an Up vote.
The Audience Judge Squad and the Special Judge Squad are to vote for their top two teams after watching all six performances. The team that receives the most votes for the Special Judge Award will have all 2,000 points secured to themselves. Meanwhile, the team that receives the highest number of votes from the on-site audience will receive 7,000 points, and the remaining teams shall receive the number of points in proportion to their number of votes from the Top 1 team.

2nd Preliminary Round: Cover Song Battle (Episode 3–4)

In the second preliminary performances, the six acts each performs a song from a fellow Queendom act, that is rearranged into a different style. Before the performance, the act that ranked first in the first preliminary performances get the priority to choose an act of their choice and cover of one of their songs in this round, the chosen act will also cover one of the songs from the chooser act. The same process is applied to the acts ranked second to sixth in the first preliminary performances, with the remaining two acts regardless of ranking that are not chosen becoming a pair to cover each other's songs. The act that ranked first in the first preliminary performances also get to arrange their cue sheet for this round. Each act must also perform a Queendom Quest, which are picked randomly, act that successfully completed the Queendom Quest, get one of the following benefits that are picked randomly:

Watch other acts rehearsal for a day
Free Pass for Special Effects
Exchange Pass for one-time cue sheet position
Free Pass for 2nd Preliminary Performances song selection
Production Crew Chance

For the second preliminary round, the same points breakdown from the first round shall apply, wherein a maximum of 10,000 points can be earned, and the points are distributed based on:

Self-Assessment – 1,000 points
Special Judges – 2,000 points
On-site Audience – 7,000 points

3rd Preliminary Performances (Part 1) – Unit Round (Episode 7)

In part one of the third preliminary performances, the six acts each send a main vocalist and main dancer, to form a Vocal Unit and a Performance Unit. The vocal units will compete to gain points as a unit, while the performance unit will perform together but will compete for their respective groups' points. Before the performance, besides each act sending a main vocalist and a main dancer to the Queendom Workshop to practise for this round, the rest of the contestants would join the Queendom Workshop as supporters. During the Queendom Workshop, each of the Vocal Units would undergo intermediate check, there after all of the contestants will each vote a Vocal Unit they think would be ranked first in the actual performance. In addition, during the Queendom Workshop, a Queendom Quest between the six acts will be played, with the winning act of the Queendom Quest getting to choose the Special Judge Squad for part two of the third preliminary performances.
For part one of the third preliminary performances, the points breakdown are calculated out of maximum of 5,000 points for each act, and distributed based on:

Vocal Unit
* 1st place – 2,500 points given to the unit's members' respective groups
* 2nd place – 1,500 points given to the unit's members' respective groups
* 3rd place – 500 points given to the unit's members' respective groups
Performance Unit
* 1st place – 2,500 points given to her group
* Remaining members – Points calculated in proportion to the 1st place

The votes breakdown are calculated by the Audience Judge Squad who will each vote for their favorite Vocal Unit and favorite member of the Performance Unit.

3rd Preliminary Performances (Part 2) – Fan-dora's Box (Episode 8–9)

In part two of the third preliminary performances, the six teams will each perform a song suggested by the audience. For the second part of the third preliminary round, the points are calculated out of a maximum of 10,000 points for each contestant, and distributed based on:

Assessment from the other Queendom acts – 1,000 points
Special Judge Squad – 2,000 points
Audience Judge Squad – 7,000 points

with the Audience Judge Squad and the Special Judge Squad allowed to vote for two acts. The act that receives the most votes for the Special Judge Award will have all 2,000 points secured to themselves. For the assessment from the other Queendom acts, every act has to vote for an act that they believed to have performed better than them and also to have performed worse than them. A hidden rule is that an act also can choose not to vote for an act that is better than them.

Finale Live Comeback Stages (Episode 10)

In the finale live comeback stages, the six acts each perform a newly produced song live. Before the performance, the act that ranked first in the third preliminary round gets to arrange their cue sheet for the finale.
For the finale performances, the points are calculated out of a maximum of 50,000 points for each act, and distributed based on votes from the general public through text message, there are not any live audience voting. The team with the most votes gets 50,000 points, with the points for the remaining acts calculated in proportion of the number of votes received to the number of votes received by the 1st placed act.

#	Team	Song	Digital Ranking
1	AOA	"Sorry"	4th
2	Lovelyz	"Moonlight"	5th
3	Park Bom	"Wanna Go Back"	6th
4	Oh My Girl	"Guerilla"	2nd
5	I-dle	"Lion"	3rd
6	Mamamoo	"Destiny"	1st

Points Summary

There were no points breakdown announced for Finale Live Comeback Stage.
The points for the preliminary performances have been adjusted such that the 1st place act for each preliminary round gets the full points, and the points of the remaining acts would be calculated in proportion to the score of the 1st place act of each round.

For the second season, the overall rankings are calculated based on:

3 preliminary performance rounds
* 1st preliminary performance round – 10,000 points
* 2nd preliminary performance round – 10,000 points
* 3rd preliminary performance round – 20,000 points
Cumulative views and like counts of performance videos – 5,000 points
Fan's Choice votes – 5,000 points
Digital points of the Comeback Singles calculated from the time of release until 23:59 KST on May 30, 2022 – 20,000 points
Text message votes of the Finale Live Comeback Stages – 30,000 points

During the preliminary performances, if an act ranks 6th place twice in a row, they will be eliminated from the show.

1st Preliminary Round: Representative Hit Song Battle (Episodes 1–2)

In the first preliminary round, the six teams will each perform one of their songs. They may choose how many songs to perform, and are also allowed to perform songs from their previous acts.
For the first preliminary performances, the points breakdown is calculated out of a maximum of 10,000 points for each act, and distributed based on:

Self-Assessment – 1,000 points
Global Audience Vote – 3,000 points
Live Audience Votes – 6,000 points

For the Self-Assessment, every contestant has to vote for a team that they believe to have performed better than them and also to have performed worse than them. A team may choose not to cast an Up vote if they believe that no team performed better than them. The Global Audience and Live Audience shall vote for their top two teams after watching all six performances. For each category, the 1st placed team gets the maximum number of points, while the remaining teams get the points based on the proportions of the votes obtained to the points obtained of the 1st placed team.

2nd Preliminary Round: Cover Song Battle (Episode 3–4)

In the second preliminary performances, the six acts each performs a song from a fellow Queendom act that is rearranged into a different style.
For the second preliminary performances, the points breakdown is calculated out of a maximum of 10,000 points for each act, and distributed based on:

Self-Assessment – 1,000 points
Global audience votes – 3,000 points
Live audience votes – 6,000 points

For the Self-Assessment, every act has to vote for an act that they believed to have performed better than them and also to have performed worse than them. A hidden rule is that an act also can choose not to vote for an act that is better than them. The 1st placed act gets the full 10,000 points, with each of the remaining acts getting points based on the proportions of the points obtained compared to the points obtained for the 1st placed act.

3rd Preliminary Performances (Part 1) – Position Unit Battle (Episode 6–7)

In part one of the third preliminary performances, the six acts are split into Vocal and Dance Units; each of the units work together to create a performance specific to the unit's type.
The maximum points an act can obtain is 5,000 points; 2,500 points maximum vocal and dance units each which are distributed based on:

1st place – 2,500 points given to the unit's members' respective groups
2nd place – 1,500 points given to the unit's members' respective groups
3rd place – 500 points given to the unit's members' respective groups

3rd Preliminary Round (Part 2) – FANtastic Queendom (Episodes 8–9)

In Part 2 of the third preliminary round, the six acts will each perform a song suggested by their fans.
The maximum amount of points a team can obtain is 15,000 points, which are distributed based on:

Self-Assessment – 1,000 points
Global audience votes – 5,000 points
Live audience votes – 9,000 points

For the Self-Assessment, every act has to vote for an act that they believed to have performed better than them and also to have performed worse than them. A hidden rule is that an act also can choose not to vote for an act that is better than them. The 1st placed act gets the full 15,000 points, with each of the remaining acts getting points based on the proportions of the points obtained compared to the points obtained for the 1st placed act.

Finale Live Comeback Stages (Episode 10)

In the finale live comeback stages, the six acts each perform a newly produced song live. The maximum points an act can obtain is 20,000 points.

Discography

Part 1-1

Notes

"Interlude: Who is the Queen" is stylized in all caps.
"Time For the Glory" is a combination of GFriend's "Time for the Moon Night" and "Rough".

Part 1-2

Notes

"Wa Da Da" is stylized in all caps.

Part 2-1

Notes

All tracks are stylized in all caps.
All tracks are cover versions with "Navillera" originally sung by GFriend, "Shake It" originally sung by Sistar, and "MVSK" originally sung by Kep1er.

Part 2-2

Notes

"Unnatural" is stylized in all caps.
"Pool Party " is a remix of Brave Girls's "Pool Party" and "Rollin'.
All tracks are cover versions with "Unnatural" originally sung by WJSN, "Pool Party" originally sung by Brave Girls, and "So What" originally sung by Loona.

Position Unit Battle Part 1-1

Notes

"Don't Go" is a cover version originally sung by Exo.

Position Unit Battle Part 1-2

Notes

"Ka-Boom!" is stylized in all caps.

Fantastic Queendom Part 1-1

Notes

"Bop Bop!" is stylized in all caps.

Fantastic Queendom Part 1-2

Notes

"See Sea, Bae" is a combination of Hyolyn's "See Sea" and "Bae".

Final

Notes

"Aura", "The Girls", and "Pose" are stylized in all caps.

Ratings

In the ratings below, the highest and lowest rating for season 1 is shown in and respectively.

	Original broadcast date	AGB Nielsen Ratings Nationwide
1	August 29, 2019
2	September 5, 2019
3	September 12, 2019
4	September 19, 2019	0.832%
5	September 26, 2019	0.962%
6	October 3, 2019	0.789%
7	October 10, 2019	0.856%
8	October 17, 2019	0.667%
9	October 24, 2019	0.6%
10	October 31, 2019	0.992%

In the ratings below, the highest and lowest rating for season 2 is shown in ' and ' respectively.

	Original broadcast date	Average audience share
	Original broadcast date	Nielsen Korea
11	March 31, 2022	0.803%
12	April 7, 2022	0.791%
13	April 14, 2022
14	April 21, 2022	0.561%
15	April 28, 2022	0.644%
16	May 5, 2022	0.594%
17	May 12, 2022	0.594%
18	May 19, 2022	0.523%
19	May 26, 2022
20	June 2, 2022	0.616%

Spin-offs

On March 5, 2020, Mnet confirmed that Road to Kingdom would begin filming in the middle of March, with the lineup to be confirmed. It was confirmed to be aired beginning at the end of April, with the show being hosted again by Lee Da-hee and Jang Sung-kyu. On March 20, Mnet confirmed the show's lineup would consist of Pentagon, ONF, Golden Child, The Boyz, Verivery, Oneus and TOO. The show began airing from April 30 and ended on June 18.
Kingdom: Legendary War, aired from April 1, 2021, and ended on June 3, 2021.
On January 26, 2023, Mnet announced a spin-off of the series titled Queendom Puzzle, scheduled to premiere in the first half of 2023. It premiered on June 13 and ended on August 15. Queendom Puzzle features 26 girl group members who are in active or inactive Kpop groups competing to be in the final lineup for a new project girl group.
On June 26, 2024, Mnet confirmed that Season 2 of Road to Kingdom, later titled Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace, will be launched in the second half of 2024, and that the Road to Kingdom series would be re-branded as a standalone program, rather than a prequel to Kingdom.