Ppyong Ppyong Earth Arcade 3 Dominates Friday Nights with Laughter, Drama, and Unexpected Twists

tvN’s hit variety show Ppyong Ppyong Earth Arcade 3 has once again proven its irresistible charm, taking top rankings in both viewership and online buzz. The latest episode aired on the 16th reached a 3.1% average rating nationwide, peaking at 4.1%, making it the most-watched show in its time slot across cable and satellite networks, according to Nielsen Korea.

The episode, set in Abu Dhabi, followed Eunji Lee, Mimi, Youngji Lee, and Yujin An on a special field mission where the members transformed into characters with codenames like Maryam, Aisha, Cassandra, and Patra, fully embracing local fashion and customs. Their in-character role play continued in hilarious AI-driven situational skits, where quirky personas like ‘Eunjipt’, ‘Mimipt’, and the convincingly robotic ‘Youngjipt’ delivered plenty of laughs.

Later, the cast stirred up excitement with a solo challenge of the group game ‘Juljuli Malhaeyo’. Youngji Lee, in particular, provided a stand-out comedic moment by missing answers until the nail-biting 9th round, when she finally succeeded in answering five palindromes correctly, earning her dinner.

Arguably the highlight of the episode came when ‘Misa Paein’ (a die-hard fan of I’m Sorry, I Love You) Eunji Lee faced off against Director Park Jun-young in a drama trivia showdown. Though the prize—digital detox exemption and department store vouchers—was enticing, the heartfelt reunion of fans around the beloved drama took center stage. One challenging question about the show’s character Mu-hyuk Cha led them to the tearful correct answer: “I Hate Korea.” This moment marked a warm, mutual victory for both competitors, emphasizing shared nostalgia over rivalry.

But the light-hearted tone took a darker turn the next morning with a shocking twist. The group discovered that two flight tickets to Lisbon, Portugal were purchased using a divine corporate card by Torong-i—followed by the startling revelation via social media that Cheolyong-i was an undercover double agent. Items were stolen, including Youngji’s cherished gift from Yang Hee-eun, sparking a high-stakes pursuit to recover their belongings.

Eunji Lee, Mimi, Youngji Lee, and Yujin An now prepare to chase the culprits in Portugal, with the gripping continuation set to air on June 23 at 8:40 PM KST on tvN. With bold storytelling, nostalgic references, and clever suspense, Ppyong Ppyong Earth Arcade 3 has cemented itself as a Friday night favorite, delivering both laughter and thrills.