On the afternoon of the 15th, Zhu Yunfa passionately sang on MBC's "King of Mask Singer" episode 246. Photo by "King of Mask Singer" capture.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hyesoo] 'King of Mask Singer' contestant Joo Yoonbal achieved a 2nd consecutive victory, becoming the 123rd Mask King.
On the afternoon of the 15th, the 246th episode of MBC's 'King of Mask Singer' featured a stage where four masked singers challenged the reigning Mask King, Joo Yoonbal.
The first performance of the second round was a showdown between Cup Ramen and Horangnabi. Cup Ramen chose Ivy's 'Temptation Sonata,' melting the judging panel with a seductive voice. During the piano interlude, everyone moved their fingers together, enjoying the song. Horangnabi sang Lee Seung-hwan's 'You Are You.' The crystal-clear and poignant voice that shook the studio made the judges whisper, "Young."
The first stage ended with Horangnabi winning 64 to 35. The defeated Cup Ramen was revealed to be Yo-Yo Mi, a fierce rookie trot singer known as Little Hye-eun. Kim Sung-joo emphasized that Yo-Yo Mi is a hot topic figure, nicknamed the President of Middle-aged People, Expressway IU, and Little Hye-eun. He also asked Song Ga-in and Kim Gura if their guesses were correct, and Song Ga-in confirmed they were.
Song Ga-in said, "No other trot singer has this kind of voice," explaining why she guessed correctly on the first stage. Listening to Song Ga-in, Yoon Sang asked, "Then why did you say no when I asked if it started with 'Y' earlier?" Song Ga-in replied, "Because it's a secret," causing laughter.
The second stage was between Gangbyeonbuk-ro and Pudding. Gangbyeonbuk-ro sang Yoon Si-nae's 'Passionate Love' with a husky and rough tone, increasing curiosity about his identity. On the other hand, Pudding captivated the judges with a masculine and stable voice. Yoo Young-seok described Pudding as a "seasoned mid-career singer," and Lee Yoon-seok predicted he was a "90s rocker."
Gangbyeonbuk-ro won the stage with 51 votes. Therefore, Pudding, who revealed his identity, was Kim Jae-hee, a 28-year veteran vocalist who sang Boohwal's 'The More I Love.' The judges expressed regret for not recognizing him despite his familiar appearance. 'The More I Love' was originally sung by Kim Jae-hee's older brother, the late Kim Jae-gi. However, before the release of their third album, Kim Jae-gi died in a traffic accident, and Kim Jae-hee took over as Boohwal's vocalist.
Kim Jae-hee confessed, "While active, I received a lot of love from many people. But I felt the cold gaze of the public comparing me to my brother, so I left the music scene for a while to find my own identity." He then moved the audience by performing 'The More I Love' live.
The identity of Gangbyeonbuk-ro, who appeared on MBC's 'King of Mask Singer,' was revealed to be singer Hong Seo-beom. Photo by 'King of Mask Singer' capture
The third stage continued with a battle between Horangnabi and Gangbyeonbuk-ro. Horangnabi chose Crush's 'SOFA,' delivering a stage that highlighted his slender, trembling, and attractive vibrato. Gangbyeonbuk-ro expressed Jo Gap-kyung's 'Foolish Smile' with a deeply emotional and touching performance, drawing attention.
This stage ended with Horangnabi narrowly defeating Gangbyeonbuk-ro by one vote, advancing to the final round. Gangbyeonbuk-ro, who narrowly missed advancing by one vote, was revealed to be singer Hong Seo-beom, the husband of Jo Gap-kyung. Yoo Young-seok, who heard the song earlier, hinted at Hong Seo-beom by saying, "I thought he was a devoted husband, but he turned out to be a henpecked husband."
After removing his mask, Hong Seo-beom said, "I sang (Jo Gap-kyung's song) as a gift to her," and added, "Teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s think I'm a TV personality, not a singer. So I came out to let them know through this stage."
The final stage was a showdown between Joo Yoonbal, aiming for a 2nd consecutive win, and Horangnabi. Joo Yoonbal chose NELL's 'Fading,' once again filling the studio with explosive vocal power. He won overwhelmingly with a score of 84 to 15, securing the title of the 123rd Mask King.
The identity of Horangnabi, who challenged the Mask King until the end, was revealed as Ail, the leader of the band Hopipolla. Yoon Sang, who said, "I had a hunch about Horangnabi's identity," nodded upon seeing his face. Ail, who has a close relationship with Yoon Sang, has an older brother, Noh Min-woo, who previously appeared on 'King of Mask Singer.' When Kim Sung-joo mentioned this, Ail said, "My brother appeared on 'King of Mask Singer' but was brutally eliminated in the first round. Seeing him sulkingly go home after the defeat made me decide I must appear on this show," causing laughter.
MBC's entertainment program 'King of Mask Singer' airs every Sunday at 6:20 PM.
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