In the latest episode of ‘Crossing the Line Class’, Seol Min-seok captivated the 'K-Grandmas' by even singing during his lecture.
On the 10th, the MBC entertainment program ‘Crossing the Line Class’ featured Jeon Hyun-moo, Yoo Byung-jae, and Seol Min-seok meeting the rap grandmothers 'Suni and the Seven Princesses' from Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, to give a lecture on the 'K-stars' of the Joseon Dynasty, Shin Saimdang and Heo Nanseolheon.
The viewership rating for the metropolitan area during this broadcast recorded 3.5%, showing an increase compared to the previous week. In a scene where Heo Nanseolheon shared her story of sending her family to the heavens, the rating peaked at 4.6% per minute. (According to Nielsen Korea)
‘Suni and the Seven Princesses’ is a hip-hop group of grandmothers with an average age of 83 who learned Hangul at a late age, and they have gained attention from foreign media as 'K-Grandmas'. They made a striking entrance with a powerful self-introduction rap, showcasing the hipness of 'K-Grandmas' and leaving everyone in awe.
Following this, Jeon Hyun-moo and Yoo Byung-jae approached the grandmothers like grandchildren, beginning to open their hearts. Jeon Hyun-moo called their favorite trot singer Young-tak, shouting, “Please sing ‘Makgeolli Han Jan’,” effectively using the 'Young-tak chance'. Young-tak performed a live phone concert, winning the grandmothers' love and becoming a strong competitor (?) to Seol Min-seok, who was preparing for his lecture. Additionally, Jeon Hyun-moo's sweet gesture of putting on the grandmothers' shoes earned him compliments like, “I wish my daughter would have a son-in-law like that,” making him a warm candidate for son-in-law status.
The lecture topic that Seol Min-seok carefully chose resonated well with the grandmothers who blossomed their talents later in life. The topic was the two 'K-stars' of the Joseon Dynasty, Shin Saimdang and Heo Nanseolheon, who showcased their abilities. The grandmothers were intrigued to learn that Shin Saimdang, known as the epitome of a virtuous wife, was an outstanding painter. Seol Min-seok shared behind-the-scenes stories about Shin Saimdang's painting, which a chicken pecked at thinking it was a living insect, and anecdotes about how she excelled beyond her husband. Jeon Hyun-moo admired Shin Saimdang's qualities, which were overshadowed by the virtuous wife label, saying, “She truly is a virtuous wife.”
Seol Min-seok then introduced Heo Nanseolheon, known as the sister of Heo Gyun, the author of ‘Hong Gildong Jeon’, as a genius poet, forming a connection with the grandmothers. The grandmothers deeply engaged with Heo Nanseolheon’s life, born in an era when women's status was low, as they listened to the poems she wrote.
In the meantime, Seol Min-seok approached the grandmothers by singing to win their hearts. He attempted to express Heo Nanseolheon’s feelings of hardship due to her husband’s infidelity through song, but ended up sweating profusely after choosing a song the grandmothers didn’t know. Eventually, after being scolded by a grandmother to “sing louder! I can’t hear you,” Seol Min-seok changed the song to Lee Jeong-ja's ‘Dongbaek Agassi’, and only then did the grandmothers start to respond with rhythm, bringing laughter.
Heo Nanseolheon’s poetry gained fame beyond Joseon to China and Japan after her death. The grandmothers felt a deep emotional connection to the story of Heo Nanseolheon, who found her light late in life. Seol Min-seok mentioned Heo Nanseolheon’s pen name, which means 'orchid blooming in the snow', saying, “Flowers do not bloom in spring but at their own time. Mothers who were born in difficult times and couldn’t blossom their talents while taking care of their families have now bloomed their talents during this time, which others call winter, and have become stars of Chilgok.” He encouraged the grandmothers for their bright future ahead. The grandmothers, who focused on the stories of Heo Nanseolheon and Shin Saimdang, who were similar to them, expressed their satisfaction with Seol Min-seok’s lecture through warm applause.
Meanwhile, MBC’s ‘Crossing the Line Class’ is an open class that rushes to deliver to the entire nation immediately upon order, a historical lecture program held in unexpected locations, airing every Tuesday at 9 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
