On the night of the 17th at 9:50 PM, MBN's 'The King of Singers 3' aired the semifinals featuring the 'National Trot Battle,' where Kim Joo-yi and Koo Soo-kyung faced off in a 1-on-1 rival match.
Before the showdown, Kim Joo-yi, known for her traditional Korean singing style, playfully warned Koo Soo-kyung to be cautious of her undefeated streak. In response, Koo Soo-kyung, who holds an undefeated record, countered by suggesting that she might be more suited to be the new face, creating a tense atmosphere.
Kim Joo-yi took the stage first, choosing Kang Jin's 'Makgeolli Han Jan' and delivered a performance that highlighted the beauty of traditional Korean music with her solid voice. After her performance, Kangnam praised her, saying it was the best he had seen from her so far, while Seol Woon-do pointed out the distinct difference between trot and traditional Korean music, expressing regret that a more pop-oriented style was needed.
Koo Soo-kyung then took the stage, challenging herself with a traditional trot song for the first time by performing Hwang Jung-ja's 'Cheonyeo Baetsagong.' Her poignant voice and delicate vocal techniques drew a passionate response from the audience. Lyn expressed her admiration, saying, "Her talent is enviable," while Joo Hyun-mi was astonished by Koo Soo-kyung's performance, calling it "flawless and perfect."
Ultimately, Koo Soo-kyung secured her victory with a significant score difference of 173 to 87 over Kim Joo-yi. After the performance, Koo Soo-kyung humbly remarked that she could have done even better, while Kim Joo-yi showed signs of disappointment after tasting defeat once again. The next stage will feature a showdown between Kim Tae-yeon and Kang Hye-yeon, with Kim Tae-yeon set to perform Tae Jin-ah's 'Companion,' promising another intense competition.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, Ten Asia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr