In celebration of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, the world’s first music national competition, ‘2025 Korea-Japan King of Kings Competition’, has confirmed its premiere on September 2. This program presented by MBN is a ‘music battle’ where representative singers from both countries compete with their pride on the line, returning this year with intense interest following last year’s success.
The ‘2025 Korea-Japan King of Kings Competition’ is a large-scale music contest featuring the TOP 7 active kings of Korea and the TOP 7 active kings of Japan. The production is jointly handled by MBN and CREA Studio, and a teaser poster has already been released, signaling the start of fierce competition and raising expectations.
The released poster features the Korean and Japanese flags facing off against each other, with the striking red text stating ‘September Premiere’. Beyond being a simple music program, it serves as a stage where national pride and cultural identity collide, positioning the ‘Korea-Japan King of Kings Competition’ as a new form of ‘cultural sport’.
Last year, the ‘Korea-Japan King of Kings Competition’ made a spectacular debut, recording a nationwide viewership rating of 11.9%. The peak viewership rating exceeded 12.5%, setting a record for the highest viewership rating for MBN’s first broadcast, and it received overwhelming responses in terms of TV popularity and cumulative views of clip videos. The program was praised as a platform for music exchange that transcends generations and borders.
This year, attention is focused on the lineup of the TOP 7 from both countries. The Japanese team was selected through the ‘Active King of Kings Japan’ in June and consists of stars who possess both talent and looks, along with a strong fanbase. The Korean side is set to feature Park Seo-jin, Jin Hae-sung, Enok, Shin Seung-tae, Kim Jun-su, Choi Soo-ho, and Kang Moon-kyung. They have completed their preparations, including performance and appearance checks, ahead of the main stage.
The production team stated, “The ‘2025 Korea-Japan King of Kings Competition’ will be more than just a competition; it will be a platform for cultural understanding and exchange,” adding, “Viewers can look forward to the passionate performances and deep emotions of the representative male singers from both countries.”
Following the broadcast, this program will lead into a spinoff titled ‘Active King of Kings 2’, continuing the diverse narratives of artists from both countries. Attention is drawn to what achievements the ‘2025 Korea-Japan King of Kings Competition’ will bring as a central axis of the expansion of the Korean Wave.
