With the age limit abolished, 'Mr. Trot 3' returns with promises of change. Will a second Lim Young-woong be born?
At the production presentation held online on the afternoon of the 19th, CP Min Byung-joo stated, “There are changes in the master composition and judging methods, but I also hoped that someone from outside would help stabilize the master’s role,” adding, “There was one person who came to mind, and that was Lee Kyung-kyu, Korea's Conan O'Brien. After much effort, we were able to bring him on board.”
Jang Yoon-jung, who has been a master since Season 1, said, “It’s been six years and three seasons, and many people ask if there are still participants, but there are,” and added, “After judging for five years, I found myself unconsciously considering things outside of the broadcast. The performance of the senior master group was so impressive that it helped me regain my original intention. I believe viewers will see many unique aspects this season.”
Jin Sung also remarked, “I have been singing for decades, but I reflected on myself as a seasoned singer. There are many times I regret whether I gave my best on stage. Watching the young contestants sing with all their might made me realize that we have much to learn from them. I am confident that a world-class singer will emerge.”
New master Lee Kyung-kyu said, “If I hadn’t created ‘Masked Singer’, there wouldn’t have been ‘Mr. Trot’,” jokingly adding, “Having only watched from home, coming to the actual site made me feel that it’s both a fun and challenging program. The act of giving feedback is quite burdensome and very difficult.”
He continued, “Seeing these young contestants with passion made me want to return to my original intention. I believe viewers will be very pleased when the show airs. There will be a variety of songs and contestants. The production team is really working hard,” he expressed his expectations.
Boom, who has been with the show since Season 1, said, “I wondered if there would be friends who could show a more perfect performance, and there were. There were friends who exceeded that, and I was moved watching them,” adding, “Lee Kyung-kyu even stood up and got into a scuffle. It would be great if there were scuffles with similar people, but he kept trying to fight with Jeong Dong-won.”
Young-tak, who transformed from a participant to a judge, said, “The tension from five years ago is still vivid,” and added, “Personally, I became a fan of a certain contestant. I hope that person finishes the competition well.”
Jang Min-ho also mentioned, “Many unknown songs have become well-known through ‘Mr. Trot’. I think it will be exciting to see the contestants sing songs they didn’t know and showcase their charm.”
‘Mr. Trot 3’ is introducing changes such as the abolition of age limits, changes in judging methods, and special benefits for advancing to Japan, aiming to discover new stars. The most significant change from the previous rules is that the masters will be divided into two groups for judging. Consequently, a new rule has been added that requires obtaining a majority from one master group. Even if a contestant receives all hearts from one master group, they will be eliminated immediately if they do not receive a majority of hearts from the other master group.
One of the most notable changes is the introduction of Active Division X. Participants who are currently active singers have chosen to identify as part of Active Division X and have been assigned to this division. They will conduct auditions in a blind state, wanting to break away from their existing images or challenge themselves with completely different styles of songs.
After the first recording, the masters unanimously expressed, “We felt a thrill and emotion from the stage of Active Division X. It shattered all the prejudices we had. It was a rediscovery of the active division.”
‘Mr. Trot 3’ will premiere on the 19th at 10 PM.
