In the second round of the third preliminary round of ‘Current King of Singers 2’, a fierce battle among the contestants aiming for the semifinals unfolded, shaking the living rooms of viewers.
The 8th episode of MBN’s ‘Current King of Singers 2’, aired on the 21st, achieved a peak rating of 11.7% and a nationwide rating of 11% (according to Nielsen Korea). It ranked first in the simultaneous ratings across all programs aired on terrestrial, comprehensive, and cable channels for seven consecutive weeks, proving its reputation as the king of Tuesday entertainment.
This broadcast featured the second round of the preliminary round, titled ‘A Flip Match’, following the first round ‘One Song Battle’ from the previous week. In the first match of the second round, which had a total score of 600 points—double that of the first round—contestants including Noh Ji-hoon, Kang Moon-kyung, Kim Soo-chan, Shin Seung-tae, Enok, Na Tae-joo, Park Seo-jin, Hwanhee, Hwang Min-ho, Choi Soo-ho, Jin Hae-sung, and Kim Kyung-min competed, with only the scores from the celebrity judging panel, each worth 30 points, being revealed.
Noh Ji-hoon appeared wearing a white long coat that actor Byun Woo-seok had worn at an awards ceremony, showcasing his ‘fashionista’ side in the trot world. He then performed ‘Miyun Sarang’, a song contrasting with the dance trot he had shown so far, delivering it with calm emotions and receiving praise from Lin as “a vocalist with no ups and downs.” At the same time, he caught attention with a humorous comment from Yoon Myung-sun, who said, “I wish he were just a little less handsome.”
Kang Moon-kyung, who ranked 16th in the first round, was anxious due to the pressure, but when his chosen song ‘Bae Deureonda’ started, he transformed with the gaze of ‘Pongsin’, bursting into fantastic vocal runs and relaxed stage manners that drew cheers. Moreover, unlike his previous expressionless demeanor, he heated up the atmosphere with enthusiastic reactions like “Thank you” and “I love you” after the performance.
Kim Soo-chan expressed his belief that participating in ‘Current King of Singers 2’ would be a good experience for becoming a long-loved singer, and shared his frustration over unfounded rumors that he had intentionally revealed family matters to appear on the show. Additionally, Kim Soo-chan, who spread happiness with ‘Kungjjak Life’, showcased an energetic performance with his impressive vocal power, earning praise from Park Hyun-bin, who said, “There is absolutely no one who can replace this charm and role.”
Shin Seung-tae, who ranked 17th in the first round, made a bold decision to let go of the title of ‘Trot Maniac’ and chose to sing ‘The Sound of Silbi Coming’, which required him to sing with restraint. His delicate expressiveness and grand finish evoked deep emotions, receiving overwhelming praise that “This level is what makes judging ‘Current King of Singers 2’ worthwhile.” Ultimately, Shin Seung-tae scored 352 points, just 8 points shy of the perfect score of 360 from the celebrity judging panel.
Enok, who shocked everyone by ranking 19th in the first round, delivered a moving performance. With a serious expression, Enok captivated the audience with his emotional rendition of ‘Haehu’, bringing tears to Lee Ji-hye’s eyes. Notably, Enok created a strong impact by raising the key midway through the song, eliciting intense standing ovations.
Na Tae-joo, who ranked first in the first round, raised expectations by declaring, “I will create a stage that foreigners would be surprised to see such performances in Korea!” Choosing ‘Night Train’, Na Tae-joo showcased a variety of performances, from a stunning LED opening to powerful shouts and a ‘Taegeuk performance’ with dancers dressed in red and blue, proving his prowess as a ‘K-Trot performer’.
Park Seo-jin, known as the ‘God of Janggu’, drew significant attention by boldly putting down the janggu (traditional Korean drum) at this crucial moment before the semifinals and going head-to-head with just his voice. Park Seo-jin, who expressed his desire to hear comments like, “Even without the janggu, such a song can come out!” delivered an emotional trot performance filled with longing in ‘Do You Know Flower Soon-i’. Yoon Myung-sun praised him, saying, “You should thank God. When I listen to Park Seo-jin’s song, it grabs my heart and makes me unable to move.”
Hwanhee, dubbed the ‘Second Lin’, showed his determination to shed his R&B style accumulated over 26 years by choosing Na Hoon-a’s ‘Samo’ and boldly challenging ‘traditional trot’ for the first time in his singing career. After practice, Hwanhee completed a stage with deep appeal and impressive high notes, receiving accolades such as “He has completely removed the R&B” and “He is someone who can write a new history for trot,” setting a new personal best on ‘Current King of Singers 2’.
Hwang Min-ho, who was considered a strong candidate for victory, felt disheartened by ranking last in the first round at 20th place, but soon resolved to give it his all, knowing it might be his last stage. When the song ‘Jin Ttobae-gi’ began, Hwang Min-ho showcased professionalism with a bright smile, and from the first line, he burst into a powerful performance that created a festive atmosphere.
Choi Soo-ho, through ‘The Heroine of My Soul’, stepped away from his usual energetic performances and presented a more mature stage, controlling the emotional highs and lows with comfortable vocalization. Choi Soo-ho received thrilling praise from Yoon Myung-sun, who had previously pointed out in the first round that “He is a warrior without a sword,” saying, “Today, a truly sexy warrior has come out with a sword, and he is swinging it.”
Jin Hae-sung showcased the essence of ‘traditional trot’ with ‘Busan Port, Weeping and Parting’. With flexible vocal runs and deep emotions, Jin Hae-sung swept the stage, receiving compliments from Seol Woon-do, who said, “It felt like a confident stage showing ‘Hey! This is how you do trot!’” and boosting his confidence. Kim Kyung-min, who chose ‘Shoe Laces’, impressed everyone with his seamless emotional delivery and stable vocal ability, leaving a strong presence.
As a result, in the first match of the second round of the third preliminary round, the celebrity judging panel scores revealed that Shin Seung-tae ranked first with 352 points, while Enok and Hwang Min-ho tied for second place with 343 points, creating a major turnaround. With the performances of the remaining 8 contestants and the scores from the national judging panel yet to be revealed, the fate of the 11 finalists for the semifinals remains shrouded in mystery, leaving viewers eager for next week.
