On the October 20th episode of TV Chosun's 'Love Call Center Seven Stars,' a nostalgic 'Reply 1990' theme brought together stars Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Ki-chan, Park Kwang-hyun, and Hyun Jin-young. Kim Yong-bin found himself in a thrilling face-off against Lee Ki-chan.
The episode, themed 'The Return of the Oppas,' featured 1990s icons Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Ki-chan, Park Kwang-hyun, and Hyun Jin-young as the '90 Stars' team, competing in a singing battle against the TOP7.
The cast donned 'denim-on-denim' fashion to recreate the 90s vibe. Kim Yong-bin stood out with a stylish denim jacket featuring white accents and light blue semi-bootcut jeans. He confidently flipped his jacket collar, declaring, "This is how you do it," earning praise from MC Boom, who remarked, "Kim Yong-bin's denim is like a suit." Kim Sung-joo added, "He has the Apgujeong-dong orange tribe vibe."
The '90 Stars' team performed iconic hits: Lee Ji-hoon sang 'Why the Sky,' Lee Ki-chan performed 'Love Goes Again,' Park Kwang-hyun delivered 'Smile,' and Hyun Jin-young sang 'You in My Faded Memories.' To balance the teams, Seven Stars' Chu Hyuk-jin joined the '90 Stars, creating an intense competition.
In a highlight of the show, 'Trot Prince' Kim Yong-bin faced off against 'Ballad Prince' Lee Ki-chan. Nervous yet excited, Kim Yong-bin admitted, "It's overwhelming," and confessed his admiration for Lee Ki-chan's song 'Beauty,' which he frequently listened to as a teenager. He even sang a line from the song, capturing everyone's attention.
As Kim Sung-joo stirred the competitive spirit, Kim Yong-bin humorously warned, "Senior, this is our territory," playfully suggesting Lee Ki-chan should head home. Lee Ki-chan, feeling the pressure, joked, "I just want to go home," adding to the tension and laughter.
Lee Ki-chan chose Seo Ji-won's 'Gather My Tears,' earning praise for his 'half air, half sound' technique and scoring 97 points. Kim Yong-bin, impressed, said, "It felt like listening to a CD." He performed Yang Hee-eun's 'About Love and Loneliness,' delivering a standout performance that TOP7 members hailed as his best yet. Lee Ki-chan, moved by the performance, remarked, "It was so sad, I almost cried," questioning the significance of scores in such a moment. Ultimately, Kim Yong-bin scored 93 points, with Lee Ki-chan taking the win.
Born in 1992, Kim Yong-bin is 33 years old. As the winner of TV Chosun's 'Mr. Trot 3,' he received a prize of 300 million won, with a net amount of approximately 286.8 million won after taxes. Kim Yong-bin plans to share some of his winnings with his aunt, gift his fellow members, and express gratitude to his fan club 'Sarangbin.'