A battle unfolded between masked singers aiming to stop the four consecutive wins of the King of Singers, Joo Yoon-bal. Photo by 'King of Mask Singer' capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hyesoo] On the afternoon of the 5th, MBC's 'King of Mask Singer' aired a performance featuring Choo Yoon-bal, who challenged the throne for the 125th king, along with eight masked singers.
Before the main performances, a special stage commemorating the 5th anniversary of 'King of Mask Singer' was presented. Luna and Kwon In-ha sang Im Jae-beom's "A Wound Deeper Than Love." Seeing Luna emerge through the golden door, Shin Bong-sun remarked, "It seems like the past kings are coming out," showing her sharp insight. Luna was the first king with the title 'Golden Rokka Headache,' and Kwon In-ha had previously appeared as 'Fly, Taekwondo Boy.'
Next, the masked singers who aimed to stop Choo Yoon-bal's four consecutive wins took the stage. The first round featured the Magician and the Clown. Both sang Kim Min-woo's "It's Just Love," characterized by calm yet slightly husky voices. Kim Gu-ra guessed that the Clown might be a singer, while Daybreak's Lee Won-seok gave a specific opinion, saying he resembled a ssireum (Korean wrestling) athlete.
This round ended with the Magician winning 14 to 7. The Clown, who took off his mask while singing Kim Kwang-jin's "Letter," was revealed to be 90s high-teen star Choi Yong-jun. The panel lamented that none of them guessed Choi Yong-jun's identity. Especially after finishing the song, Choi Yong-jun expressed disappointment to Yoo Young-seok, saying, "Young-seok hyung, what's up?" and also teased Yoon Sang, saying, "Sang-ssi, I didn't expect that from you," bringing laughter.
The second first-round match was between Burning Friday and Happy Birthday. They chose Kim Yeon-woo's "A Common Word Called Love." Burning Friday captivated with a seasoned vocal style, while Happy Birthday impressed with an honest tone. Burning Friday won this round 18 to 3, earning a ticket to the second round.
Happy Birthday, who took off the mask after singing Psy's "Paradise," was comedian Lee Sang-joon. After the performance, Lee Sang-joon said, "I came to celebrate the 5th anniversary of King of Mask Singer. Today, I am your celebrity," and sang Psy's "Celebrity." Lee Sang-joon energized the stage by hopping around, delivering joyful energy to the panel.
The third stage was a battle between Sushi and Triangle Kimbap, both singing Daybreak's "Good." Sushi's feminine and fluttering tone matched the original well, while Triangle Kimbap captivated the panel with a sweet and smooth vocal style. Triangle Kimbap won this round 16 to 5.
Sushi revealed her identity by singing Jaurim's "Magic Carpet Ride." She was Park Tam-hee, a 23-year veteran actress who appeared in 'The Mermaid' and 'Jumong.' Park Tam-hee shared, "After taking a short break and starting activities again, the three-year hiatus felt long," adding, "I needed courage, and 'King of Mask Singer' was the hurdle."
The final stage featured Hamster and Lobster. They competed with Papaya's "Listen to My Story." Lobster delivered the original with a fresh and lively voice, while Hamster performed with a solid and stable voice. Hamster overwhelmingly won this round 20 to 1 and advanced to the second round.
Lobster, who took off the mask after singing Jang Nara's "Sweet Dream," was Hyerim, a former member of Wonder Girls. Hyerim said, "It's my first stage in four years," and added, "This is the first time I've sung a full song alone." She also expressed her emotions, saying, "'King of Mask Singer' seemed like a show only for those with outstanding vocal skills. I was amazed just to be considered."
MBC's entertainment program 'King of Mask Singer' airs every Sunday at 6:20 PM.
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