I Can See Your Voice

Formats

Players

The game's main element, "mystery singers", are a lineup of selections catered to guest artist(s) that divide into uncertain number of good and bad singers.^[a] Actually, the winning mystery singer can perform freely without accompanying guest artist(s).^[13] Aside from that, it also includes civilian or celebrity contestants, taking the role of "eliminators".^[9] Some lineup variations include:

• For mixed groups, if all mystery singers are good but to include of at least one bad singer, they are designated as "bad".
• The "surprise" entrant, when a mystery singer stands inside an enclosure and remain concealed until its revelation by being eliminated or a final performance by one of the guest artists.

Rewards

Throughout the game, mystery singers, contestants, and to lesser extent guest artists have given rewards such as prize money, trophy, or recording contract.^[9] Some commonly used methods include:

• The eliminated or winning mystery singer, regardless of being good or bad, gets a cash prize. With contestant(s) involved, they get a cash prize if the last remaining mystery singer is good, or to the winning bad singer selected by them.
• The contestant(s) must eliminate one mystery singer at the end of each round, receiving a petty cash if they eliminate a bad singer. At the end of a game, if the contestant(s) decide(s) to walk away, they will keep the money had won in previous rounds; if they decide to risk for the last remaining mystery singer, they win its main prize if a singer is good, or lose their all winnings if a singer is bad.

Rounds

For its game phase, the mystery singers must examine for legitimacy through different rounds with varying mechanics.

In-game variations

The American second season introduced the use of Golden Mic, in which the guest artist(s) and contestant(s) may hear additional clues and observations to mystery singers from celebrity panelist(s) off-stage.^[9]

For the third season of Peesh ili luzhesh, the Golden Switch can be used by panelists during the proper game phase to apply one randomly-selected mystery singer as an additional hint; the guest artist(s) could still eliminate that, even if they are revealed as good or bad.^[14]

Legacy

I Can See Your Voice can be preferred as a game show alternative, unlike the existing reality competition programs such as Idol, Rising Star, The Voice, or The X Factor. It also served as a "stepping stone" for participants to perform effortlessly, describing it as the "second coming of National Singing Contest", specifically due to significant impacts on their careers, as well as its contribution to the local music industry.^[15][16] Certain mystery singers such as Hwang Chi-yeul^[17] and Samantha Irvin^[18] went on to have successful careers, while others like Lee Sun-bin,^[19] Kim Min-kyu,^[20] Ninety One,^[21] and Black Pearl^[22] also performed there, despite having already established their careers earlier.

Concerns and controversies

Accolades

I Can See Your Voice has been nominated for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment Program at the 44th International Emmy Awards,^[27] Best Light Entertainment Program at 2020 Venice TV Awards,^[28] and Studio Entertainment Award at 2023 Rose d'Or.^[29][30]

Overview

Pending adaptations

Apart from existing ones, 14 other countries have confirmed their intention to produce local adaptations of I Can See Your Voice:

• Slovakia and Czech Republic — Slovakia first reported as one of provisional countries for a local adaptation of I Can See Your Voice by The Korea Economic Daily in December 2018, and a press release by CJ ENM in March 2019;^[51][52] Czech Republic would also follow suit, as both countries signed into a co-deal between CJ ENM and Fremantle in November 2020, with possibility of having a multinational adaptation in the former Czechoslovakia.^[53]
• Australia and Italy — Both countries were provisionally included through a press release by CJ ENM in December 2019.^[54]
  • During the 20th Busan Content Market in June 2026, Maria Chiara Duranti of the Italy-based FormatBiz mentioned that she met CJ ENM head of formats Lee Jin-hee, who was also behind international distribution and licensing of I Can See Your Voice.^[55]
• Poland and Turkey — Both countries were provisionally included, according to a report by El Español in October 2020.^[56]
  • Poland was one of countries to have sign a co-deal between CJ ENM and Fremantle in November 2020.^[53] WPtv did also air the American counterpart under its title, Śpiewają, czy udają? (lit. 'Are they singing or pretending?').^[57][58]
  • In April 2021, Acun Medya formally acquired the rights to produce a Turkish adaptation of I Can See Your Voice in Turkey as part of dealing with Eccho Rights in April 2021; TV8 is assigned to air under its tentative title, Sesini görebiliyorum.^[59][60]
• India and Norway — Both countries signed a co-deal between CJ ENM and Fremantle in November 2020.^[53]
• Greece — According to report by Grigoris Melas of NewsIt on August 20, 2021, Alter Ego Media formally acquired the rights to produce a Greek adaptation of I Can See Your Voice, with Silverline Media assigning on production duties; Mega Channel is assigned to air under its tentative title, Boró na do ti foní sou (Greek: Μπορώ να δω τη φωνή σου), with Maria Mpekatorou [el] as host.^[61][62]
• Serbia — In September 2021, Videostroj initially planned to produce a multinational adaptation of I Can See Your Voice consisting of all countries from the former Yugoslavia, with Una TV [sr] assigning as the broadcaster prior to its launch on 21 December 2021.^[63] Amidst the U.S. sanctions linked to then-president of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, Una TV eventually ceased operations in July 2024 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Croatia (the latter would produce Tko to tamo pjeva?).^[b] Except for its Serbian counterpart (co-managed by Srđan Praštalo and Aleksandar Radoš), there is a possibility that they will produce the sole adaptation.^[64][61]
• Ukraine — In February 2022, a post from Novyi Kanal's official Instagram page announced the auditions for a provisional Ukrainian adaptation of I Can See Your Voice.^[65]
• Colombia — The country was provisionally included, according to a report by iMBC eNews in February 2023.^[66]
• Japan — The country was provisionally included through a press release by CJ ENM in April 2023;^[67] Mnet Japan's website did also have a translated title of I Can See Your Voice (Japanese: 君の声が見える, Hepburn: Kimi no koe ga mieru).^[68]
• Brazil — The country was provisionally included, according to a report by El País in February 2024, as related to the Uruguayan counterpart of Veo cómo cantas.^[69]