In the MBN 'Hanil Top Ten Show', during the special training segment 'Three-Way Battle with Japanese Prodigies' in preparation for the '2025 Hanil King of Kings Competition', the seasoned and experienced 'Current King 1' emerged as the final winner.
The 44th episode of MBN 'Hanil Top Ten Show', aired on the 8th, recorded a peak rating of 7.3% per minute and a nationwide rating of 6.5% (according to Nielsen Korea), achieving the remarkable feat of maintaining the top viewership among all Tuesday entertainment programs aired on terrestrial, general programming, and cable channels.
In this episode, 'Current King 2', 'Current King 1', and the Enka prodigy trio from Japan, the 'Japanese Prodigy Team', engaged in a fierce three-way battle, raising expectations for the '2025 Hanil King of Kings Competition'.
First, the TOP 7 of 'Current King 2', including Park Seo-jin, Jin Hae-sung, Enok, Shin Seung-tae, Choi Soo-ho, and Kang Moon-kyung, sang 'Like a Swallow', providing a fragrant spring opening. Following this, MC Daesung declared, "We will enter very rigorous training for the Hanil match," and at the same time, the Japanese Enka prodigy trio Akiyama Saki, Nishiyama Riku, and Kudo Takeru appeared singing 'Nice to Meet You' in Korean, showcasing the true value of Japanese prodigies. The trio boasted that their cumulative views on YouTube were nearing 10 million, and Takeru created a tense atmosphere by stating, "Since I was on this show first, I will show that power."
In the first round, titled 'Battle of the Gods', Jeon Yu-jin, Kang Moon-kyung, and Takeru participated. Jeon Yu-jin described herself as "the goddess of trot who protects the tradition of the first king of 'Current King'", adding, "My beauty is my secret weapon," which drew cheers from everyone, including Kang Moon-kyung. Kang Moon-kyung humorously mentioned, "That person is the secret weapon," referring to the one who transforms her into a 'Trot Goddess'. Kang Moon-kyung delivered a compelling performance of 'Men Say', while Takeru sang 'Jongkara Onnabushi', receiving high praise from Kim Da-hyun, who said, "Your voice is truly charming." Jeon Yu-jin expressed 'Chaesokgang' with a deep tone befitting a goddess of timbre, securing her first victory.
In the 'Hexagonal Star' battle, Choi Soo-ho, Byeol Sarang, and Azuma Aki faced off. Choi Soo-ho, who claimed to excel in looks, height, pansori, and trot, completed an attractive performance with 'Cute Woman'. All-rounder Byeol Sarang, who possesses dance, singing, and entertainment skills, exploded with emotions in 'I Come and Go'. Aki, who performed on stage with Japanese legend singer Kimura Yumi after appearing on 'Hanil Top Ten Show', passionately sang 'Island Village Teacher' in Korean, earning the praise of 'We are proud of you, Aki' from the members of 'Current King 1' and securing a victory.
In the 'Handsome Battle', featuring the handsome members of each team, 'Current King 1's self-proclaimed top beauty Maijin, 'Japanese Prodigy Team' Riku and Takeru, and 'Current King 2' Jin Hae-sung took the stage. Maijin performed 'Shower' while delivering a small umbrella to Riku, while Riku and Takeru sang 'Life's Only Path', showcasing the depth and essence of Enka. Jin Hae-sung, who claimed to have a big body, eyes, nose, and appearance but very small lips, boldly declared, "I will dance today," and performed 'Butterfly Flower' with clumsy movements, surprising even Jeon Yu-jin and securing a victory.
In the 'Important Thing is the Heart of the Bend' battle, featuring the masters of bending Shin Seung-tae, Saki, Jeon Yu-jin, and Byeol Sarang, they took the stage. Jeon Yu-jin and Saki identified the formidable Shin Seung-tae as their top target, who stated, "I prepared Enka as a meaning of welcome," and chose 'Amagigoe', overwhelming everyone and eliciting cheers. Saki expressed 'Is it real?' with emotions that changed 180 degrees from her expression, captivating the audience. Jeon Yu-jin and Byeol Sarang surprised everyone by saying it was their first duet, and with 'True Love', they created an infectious atmosphere that made shoulders sway. However, Shin Seung-tae secured a victory.
In the 'MVP Battle' prepared for the 'King of Kings before the Hanil Match', 'Hanil King of Kings Competition' MVP Kim Da-hyun, 'Hanil Prodigy King Competition' MVP Nishiyama Riku, and '2nd Current King' Park Seo-jin clashed. Park Seo-jin expressed, "I think they will be watching to see how well I can sing, so I am paying more attention to my mindset," revealing the weight of being the 2nd king. Park Seo-jin and Riku shared a parallel theory photo with the same curly hairstyle, bringing laughter. Kim Da-hyun opened with 'Young', capturing the peak of freshness. Riku showcased his unique charm with 'Look at Me, Defection', displaying everything from his signature elbow claps to cute Korean phrases and whimsical belly waves, receiving a shower of hearts from everyone. Park Seo-jin infused the dignity and sincerity of a king into 'Though I May Be a Fool', but the victory went to Kim Da-hyun.
Finally, a big match was held between the heads of each family, Lin, Azuma Aki, and Enok. When asked to boast about their families, Lin stated, "We have been through thick and thin together, so our teamwork is amazing," Enok said, "The energy of 2025 has passed to 'Current King 2'," and Aki proudly declared, "Age is a gangster." Aki perfectly delivered 'Love is the Flower of Life' with flawless Korean pronunciation, receiving praise from Shin Seung-tae, who said, "It feels like peony flowers are blooming by the riverside." Enok chose 'Confidently', expressing a solid resolution with a performance reminiscent of a musical. Lin sang 'Life is Incomplete' with deep sensitivity, stating, "This song has comforted me a lot about everything I have been experiencing lately," and shed tears during the lyrics 'Friend, oh friend', evoking a poignant atmosphere. Lin conveyed heartfelt sincerity, saying, "I hope my feelings reach somewhere," and secured a victory. With Lin's winning point, 'Current King 1' claimed the final victory, receiving the limited edition trophy of 'Hanil Top Ten Show' and expressing their emotions.
Meanwhile, 'Hanil Top Ten Show' airs every Tuesday night at 9:50 PM.
[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]
