'Show Me the Money 12' has revealed five numbers symbolizing the changes in season 12 as it prepares to return after about three years.
Since its first broadcast in 2012, 'Show Me the Money,' which led the popularization of hip-hop, signals a further expanded scale this season through changes such as the most applicants in its history, the most episodes, and the expansion to OTT platforms.
A record-high total of about 36,000 applicants poured into domestic and international preliminaries in Seoul·Gwangju·Busan·Jeju and elsewhere. The production team summarized the differentiating points of 'Show Me the Money 12' in numbers.
# 3 major twists… the first is a parallel world in partnership with TVING
This season pursues a major narrative change through three twist elements. The first twist is the 'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations' world unfolding on TVING. Presented through a surprise collaboration with Korea's largest OTT platform TVING, this 'Show Me the Money 12' will exclusively release the hidden league 'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations' on TVING two days after the main broadcast.
Born as a TVING original, the 'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations' world adopts a parallel-world structure that creates a narrative distinct from the main show's missions, and it will unfold with relentless tension. In addition, three twist devices, including 'song camp' and 'festival,' will be placed to portray the participants' narratives more fiercely.
# 11 gates to the final… harsher missions
The mission structure, the essence of survival, has also become more elaborate. Iconic series missions such as gym preliminaries, the crucible mission, and diss battles are preserved, while unpredictable new missions have been added to heighten tension. There are a total of 11 gates to pass before standing on the final stage, presented in a tightly structured format that tests participants' limits.
# season 12 expanded to 12 episodes… deeper narrative
The programming scale has also been increased. Breaking the previous 10-episode format, the series will be produced as 12 episodes for the first time. With the increased runtime, the plan is to more three-dimensionally illuminate participants' growth and conflicts to boost viewer immersion.
# rap in 24 languages… a global battle across borders
Thanks to global preliminaries, the spectrum of participants has widened. In the application process, raps were submitted in a total of 24 languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, as well as German, Russian and Hindi. With the participation of skilled overseas rappers such as RedEye and Mili, a feast of rap that transcends borders and languages will unfold.
# 336 verses poured out up to team formation… focus on the essence
Alongside the show's expansion, weight was also given to the intrinsic value of 'rap.' Excluding the roughly 36,000 rap verses performed a cappella in the gym mission, the number of verses poured out from the crucible mission through the team formation stage alone reaches a total of 336. Under a four-producer system, the show is determined to present the essence of hip-hop, decided purely by skill, without restraint.
'Show Me the Money 12,' which will powerfully open the 2026 season, will premiere on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 9:20 p.m. on Mnet and TVING.<
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