Coupang Play variety show 'Elite League' season 3 concluded with Seoul National University Medical's final victory. The overwhelming brain battles staged by Korea's top geniuses demonstrated the essence of a 'brainical survival' that kept viewers on edge at every moment and once again confirmed the reputation of Elite League.
Coupang Play variety show 'Elite League' season 3 is a high-purity brainical survival that pits Korea's top medical and STEM universities against each other for the title of the nation's top brain geniuses.
This season, under the new structure of a 'medical vs. STEM' faculty war, combined unprecedentedly difficult games with brain play to create a highly complete narrative that captivated not only existing fans but many new viewers. Elite League, which has solidified its position as Korea's representative brainical survival, left several viewing highlights in season 3.
# Medical vs. STEM, a tense faculty war led by the twin powerhouses of science The season 3 offered heightened tension by taking the bold step of directly pitting medical and STEM fields against each other. By splitting the season 1 and 2 champion Seoul National University into medical and STEM teams and staging internal battles, the show continuously stimulated viewers' dopamine. Sungkyunkwan University joined Seoul National University, Yonsei University, KAIST and POSTECH, intensifying the pride battle between faculties. Led by Kang Ji-hoo, who ranked first in the pretest, Sungkyunkwan University's brilliant performance, showcasing teammates' outstanding skills and strong teamwork in every game, injected fresh energy into this season.
Seoul National University Medical's 'internal brain war' with the STEM side stimulated fierce competitiveness and complex psychology, creating unforgettable classic scenes. Even after a clean win against the STEM team in the semifinal death match, Seoul National University Medical team's mixed emotions at not being able to fully savor the joy of victory evoked human empathy.
# Everyone was the second Jeong Hyun-bin or Kim Gyu-min in Elite League season 3 Unlike past seasons that highlighted 'ace-centered' play, this season captured the performances of hyper-class geniuses, with every contestant being called 'the second Jeong Hyun-bin or Kim Gyu-min,' winning viewers' hearts. Participants with top-tier credentials, including Seoul Science High School valedictorian and perfect CSAT scorer Seoul National University Medical's Lee Seung-hyun, appeared in large numbers, and the harder the games got, the more they seemed to enjoy them with otherworldly tension and sparkling eyes, constantly delivering harmless dopamine to viewers.
In particular, the extreme difficulty of games that require an increasing variety of skills as the seasons progressed—calculation, memorization, spatial perception, reasoning, strategy and psychology—inspired contestants' competitive spirit and produced unpredictable classic scenes in every episode. Upgraded versions of Elite League's signature games such as 'Exit Strategy 3' and 'Signal Investigation 3,' and new games like 'Mining and Investment,' 'The average dilemma,' 'Rainbow Chess' and 'Formula death note' were composed at top-tier difficulty that even impressed longtime fans and raised immersion.
# The newly introduced redemption round, a moving growth narrative born of 'real skill' Season 3 introduced a redemption round for the first time, completing a dramatic narrative in which eliminated contestants could once again prove their 'genuine skill.' KAIST's Kim Jae-han and POSTECH's Je Seung-gyu exploded onto the scene with outstanding skills in the redemption round, creating memorable moments of the season. In particular, the comeback story in which KAIST, having survived the redemption round, surged to first place in the subsequent semifinal match was the highlight of this season.
Narratives of contestants surpassing their limits also drew strong responses. Seoul National University STEM's Han Jong-yoon, despite confidence in his memorization skills as the STEM pretest first-place, lost in the first round of the death match against KAIST's Jeon Ji-min but returned in round 3 to lead the team to victory, completing a dramatic revenge narrative. Seoul National University Medical's Lee Seung-hyun also grew rapidly with each round, playing a key role in securing the team's final victory and leaving a deep impression.
# Seoul National University Medical defended the brainical throne with a three-peat…revealing emotional victory remarks Seoul National University Medical solidly held the 'brainical throne' continued since season 1 and achieved a three-peat. Lee Seung-hyun said, "I was able to achieve the final victory because I never gave up until the end. I want to continue to be someone who contributes to society." Han Seoyeon said, "It was a precious experience that will never come again in life. There are many regrets, but I'm grateful to Seung-hyun for winning the final game, and it was an incredibly happy time," Joo Min-seo said, "I liked being able to feel myself grow every day," Kim Min-seok said, "Thanks to Seung-hyun who finished well, Seoyon who made good plans, Min-seo who solved problems whenever they arose, thank you to everyone," and fulfilled the team's 'bungee jump' victory pledge.
The production team looked back on the journey as Elite League season 3 concluded. PD Heo Beom-hoon said, "This season clearly conveyed to viewers the process of contestants growing through each round," and "the newly introduced redemption round allowed us to multidimensionally show individuals' thinking ability, judgment and momentary response capabilities." Writer Kim Jung-sun said, "With strengthened psychological and strategic elements, the season clearly revealed how each team's tactical choices led to victory and which decisions led to defeat," and added, "As the seasons progressed, contestants' understanding of the games increased, and accordingly the density of play also noticeably rose, which was very meaningful."
Elite League season 3, which once again proved the essence of a 'brainical survival' by presenting fiercer and more sophisticated brain competition than ever before under the 'medical vs. STEM' faculty war, has released all episodes, and previous seasons can be watched on Coupang Play.<
[Photo] Coupang Play
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