On the evening of March 1, 2026, viewers across South Korea tuned in for the much-anticipated fifth episode of MBC’s variety show 마니또 클럽 (Manitto Club), a program that has quickly carved out a place in the hearts of audiences with its blend of mystery, camaraderie, and good-natured mischief. The episode, which aired at 6:05 PM KST, featured an all-star cast including Jung Hae-in, Go Youn-jung, Park Myung-soo, Hong Jin-kyung, and Kim Do-hoon, each tasked with preparing and delivering handmade gifts to their secret “manitto” (a kind of secret friend or gift-giver). But this wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill episode—this time, the show upped the ante with a hidden “manitto,” a fanatical movie lover, and a chase that left everyone, both on- and off-screen, on the edge of their seats.
From the get-go, the air was thick with intrigue. Park Myung-soo, affectionately nicknamed “Polar Bear,” was first up, heading to his live radio broadcast while on high alert. According to eToday, Park was still reeling from a previous episode’s surprise, when “Koala” Go Youn-jung had gifted him a caricature bread box. Determined not to be outwitted again, he immediately began scrutinizing everyone around him, asking the production staff to keep an eye out and even requesting the building’s security to watch for anyone acting suspicious. “If you see a man looking around or leaving something behind, let me know,” he reportedly told them, his nerves on full display. Even the smallest movement from an onlooker set him on edge, and he was so convinced he’d caught his manitto that he proudly returned to his DJ duties—only to be blindsided yet again.
The real twist came during the show’s listener story segment. A message arrived from a supposed fan named “Ma Hee-do,” describing how they braved a minus-10-degree cold snap to buy their favorite bread for a beloved older brother. The sender? None other than Go Youn-jung, who, unable to deliver her gift in person due to scheduling conflicts, cleverly disguised her identity with a radio message. As Park read the story aloud, realization dawned, and his confidence melted away into confusion and frantic searching. “It’s like a game of cops and robbers. I have to find them!” he exclaimed, even going so far as to approach a delivery driver, suspecting a possible disguise. The whole scene was a riot of laughter and suspense, with Park’s earnestness only making his predicament more relatable.
Not to be outdone in the creativity department, Jung Hae-in embarked on his own culinary adventure. As reported by Newsen, Jung learned that Go Youn-jung was a fan of “Dujjonku,” a chewy Dubai-style cookie. Wanting to make something truly special, he headed to a cooking studio, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work. “No wonder these cookies are expensive,” Jung mused while painstakingly shelling pistachios. “It takes a lot of labor, and the ingredients are top-notch. You have to do everything by hand, so it’s bound to be pricey.” His remarks were a mix of pride and playful complaint, showing off his forearm muscles and joking, “I guess I have some talent. I gained muscle while making these. It’s not easy. My arms are pumped!”
Jung’s sense of humor shone through as he considered how to present his gift. “I should write in the letter that I made these myself. I want the credit,” he said, grinning at the camera. “Are you watching, Go Youn-jung? Look! Power. She once said that being able to buy as many of these as she wants is a sign of success.” The effort, sweat, and genuine thoughtfulness behind the gesture made it all the more touching—proof that, sometimes, the best gifts are those made by hand, even if they come with a side of self-congratulation.
Meanwhile, Park Myung-soo wasn’t the only one getting into the spirit of covert gifting. In a separate storyline, he took on the role of manitto for Kim Do-hoon, preparing a homemade hamburger and going to great lengths to deliver it without being caught. As detailed by Maeil Business Newspaper, Park donned a helmet to disguise himself, snuck into Kim’s fitting room, and made a hasty escape down a set of stairs. Kim, surprised and bemused, gave chase but ultimately lost his mysterious benefactor. “Who was that? That guy was really fast. I think it was a young man,” Kim guessed, missing the mark entirely. Upon discovering a hot pack inside the burger bag (to keep it warm), Kim was moved to exclaim, “It’s so delicious. Polar Bear, I love you. Out of 100 points, I give this 1,000!”
But the real showstopper was the arrival of a hidden manitto, code-named “Meggie.” For the first time in the show’s history, a secret participant entered the fray, and their devotion to Jung Hae-in was nothing short of legendary. According to eToday, Meggie had watched Jung’s film Veteran 2 an astonishing sixteen times and ominously declared, “Should I give him a little shock?”—hinting at an unforgettable gift in the works. The twist? No one knew who Meggie was, and their elaborate undercover tactics—complete with “clone” maneuvers and disguises—turned the studio into a veritable battleground of suspense and hilarity. As the so-called “Hae-in Battle” unfolded, three manittos converged on Jung at once, while Hong Jin-kyung and Kim Do-hoon became entangled in the chaos, leading to a wild chase that had everyone gasping for breath and doubled over with laughter. “I feel like my lifespan is shortening,” Meggie confessed during the pursuit, adding, “I almost lost it,” in a moment of comic honesty that viewers won’t soon forget.
Throughout the episode, the cast’s genuine affection for one another shone through—even when mistaken identities and undercover antics led to confusion and chaos. Each gift, whether a hand-delivered hamburger, a labor-intensive cookie, or a cleverly disguised surprise, reflected not just effort but a deep sense of camaraderie and playfulness. The audience, in turn, was treated to a masterclass in variety show entertainment, where heartfelt gestures and laugh-out-loud moments went hand in hand.
As the credits rolled on episode five of 마니또 클럽, one thing was clear: sometimes, the best television comes not from grand spectacle or high drama, but from the simple joy of friends surprising friends—and the delightful mayhem that follows.