Digital Detox Gets Real on tvN’s Earth Arcade 3 as Phones Are Locked Away
In a bold twist of format, tvN’s popular variety show Earth Arcade 3 (Korean: 뿅뿅 지구오락실3) is taking its cast through a ‘digital detox’ mission in its latest episode airing tonight (May 9), where the celebrities must guess the exact time without using any electronic devices. This unique challenge has sent the show to the top of the GoodData Corporation‘s FUNdex ranking for non-drama TV buzz this week.
The episode features performers An Yu-jin, Mimi, Lee Eun-ji, and Lee Young-ji attempting to predict 8:00 a.m. without watches, phones, or any time-telling devices. Only the two closest guesses will earn back their phones, while the bottom two face penalties—one hour of phone confiscation time added for every one-minute error.
Lee Young-ji hilariously summons the ‘God of Clocks’ in hopes of channeling her inner sense of time, echoing her earlier comment: “We’ll need to rely on shamanism and gut instinct.” Meanwhile, Lee Eun-ji amps up the theatrics with what’s described as a comedic midnight ritual. Juxtaposed to these antics, An Yu-jin fully embraces analog tools—like hourglasses—demonstrating her steady ‘sand-timer mindset,’ living up to her fan-favorite nickname, “Anyujineous.”
Mimi, ever the outlier, develops her own methodology, adding more unpredictability to the competition. As they sneak in and out of the lodging, viewers are left wondering which two of the four will reclaim their smartphones.
Adding even more to the episode’s excitement is the introduction of a new aerobic-powered game called “Strawberry, Banana, Apple,” which challenges the cast physically and mentally. Mimi laments, “This really makes you feel miserable,” while Lee Young-ji admits “This hits hard with reality,” amusing audiences even further.
The buzz surrounding these trending segments proves Earth Arcade 3 isn’t just a variety show—it’s an unpredictable cultural ride tapping into tech-free reflection, laughter, and creative challenges. Tune in to tvN every Thursday at 8:40 p.m. KST to catch the latest antics from Korea’s favorite quirky adventurers.
