A new king has been born on ‘Mask Singer’, revealing the identity of the three-time champion ‘Carnival’.
On the broadcast of MBC's entertainment program ‘Mask Singer’ on the 22nd, a new king was crowned. With a captivating voice and poignant emotions, ‘Flower Over Perfume’ defeated the three-time champion ‘Carnival’ by a margin of 19 votes to claim the golden mask.
The identity of ‘Carnival’, who showcased a soulful tone and explosive vocal power on every stage, was revealed to be Kang Sung-hee, the vocalist of the legendary South Korean band ‘Shinchon Blues’. During her first appearance, she overwhelmed the stage with strong impact by choosing Jeong In's ‘Monsoon’ and Jeong Kyung-hwa's ‘Invitation to Me’, quickly claiming the king's seat while shedding tears and expressing her heartfelt victory remarks, leaving a deep impression.
Kang Sung-hee continued to shine in the subsequent defense rounds, particularly demonstrating her unique dignity as a king from the very first defense round. Through the legendary song ‘Everyone’ by Yoon Bok-hee, she delivered overwhelming vocal power and a delicate, emotional expression that felt like a confession of life, moving many. The celebrity judges watching the performance were seen shedding tears, leaving a profound impression on many.
In the second defense round, Kang Sung-hee performed ‘That’s My World’ by Jeon In-kwon, showcasing her signature husky voice and the touching lyrics and melody, once again demonstrating her dignity as a king while touching the hearts of viewers and judges alike. In her final defense round, she sang ‘I Loved You’ by Kim Kwang-seok, perfectly expressing poignant emotions and leaving a lasting resonance that did not fade away.
While the splendid festival of ‘Carnival’ on stage has come to an end, the deep emotions left by Kang Sung-hee will continue to remain in the hearts of ‘Mask Singer’ viewers. We reveal the behind-the-scenes story of Kang Sung-hee, who presented a brilliant stage to many with her heartfelt voice.
Q1. When you first became the king, you shed tears while expressing your feelings. What was your state of mind at that time?
A. At that time, I was struggling because I had a severe cold and my condition was not good. I was so unwell that I had been to every hospital. But fortunately, I passed the first, second, and third rounds safely and became the king, and I think I got emotional remembering that process. And when I won and put on the golden mask, the feeling was completely different. I felt so good and thought, “I really became the king, and this is what it feels like.” Ultimately, I felt like I had achieved something more for myself. I think I cried because I felt like I received some reward for all the music and singing I had done until now.
Q2. After becoming the king, did anyone around you recognize you? What was the reaction from those around you after the broadcast?
A. I wanted to keep it a secret thoroughly. But surprisingly, many people seemed to know. They contacted me knowing my identity, but I couldn't bring myself to admit it. So I kept pretending, saying, “I don’t know either.” But my acquaintances would say, “You’re the one, why are you pretending not to be?” I think that situation was quite amusing.
Q3. Among the opponents you met on ‘Mask Singer’, is there anyone who stands out in your memory?
A. I remember Vincent from the band Crack Shot, who appeared as ‘Mangdungi’. I also come from a rock band, and when I saw Vincent singing, I immediately thought, “Isn’t that person from a rock band?” Also, there are some similarities in our singing styles, so he stands out in my memory.
I heard your home is in Taean, Chungnam. What is life like in Taean?
A. I lived in Seoul for 20 years while pursuing music. But suddenly, I developed allergic asthma, and the symptoms were so severe that I could hardly speak due to coughing. So, since it’s my hometown and the air is good in Taean, I thought I’d go down there, and I completely recovered in six months. After that, I decided, “I guess I should live here.” I’ve been working on music in a small port and living like that. Thanks to that, I got much better and was able to become the king on ‘Mask Singer’.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
