On the afternoon of the 13th, a press conference for the Top 5 of MBN's 'Miss Trot 4' was held at TV Chosun's Gasan Studio in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. Present at the event were the winner Lee Sona, runner-up Heo Chanmi, third-place Hong Sungyoon, fourth-place Gil Ryeowon, and fifth-place Yoon Taehwa.
Lee Sona, who claimed the top spot, expressed her gratitude by saying, "Participating in 'Miss Trot 4' has changed my life." She added, "I joined with a desperate heart as opportunities to perform were dwindling, and winning first place is an honor. The show allowed me to reveal my inner wounds, and the competition became a healing journey."
Heo Chanmi, who secured second place, shared, "It doesn't feel real. Preparing for 'Miss Trot 4' made me reflect on why I've persevered for 20 years, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to showcase my life."
Hong Sungyoon, who took third place, expressed disbelief and joy, saying, "It feels like a dream I never want to wake up from. I'm living happy days."
Gil Ryeowon, who finished fourth, said, "I was just a college student who loved trot, but now I want to become a singer. I thought I'd be eliminated during the master audition, but I'm amazed to have come this far." Yoon Taehwa, who placed fifth, shared, "Having debuted 18 years ago, I approached this with a desperate heart. I'm grateful for the good results and will continue my activities with gratitude."
Lee Sona attributed her success to "responsibility," stating, "As someone whose job is to sing, I can't do it solely for my own joy. The responsibility to support my family fueled my determination."
Despite having previous audition experiences, Heo Chanmi and Yoon Taehwa returned to compete for the crown. Heo Chanmi described the allure of auditions as "addictive like dopamine," explaining, "Receiving direct evaluations helps with self-awareness and reveals what I lacked. It also allows me to discover something within myself." Yoon Taehwa added, "It makes me humble and brings me back to my roots, helping me grow by accepting evaluations and results."
The Top 5 members also shared their thoughts on the global expansion of K-trot. Yoon Taehwa emphasized, "Many think trot is a genre full of excitement, but it also carries history. With many comforting songs, I believe it can resonate with other countries. I want to promote K-trot with my skills."
Heo Chanmi expressed her ambition to keep the tradition of trot while making it enjoyable for all generations, saying, "I want it to become a genre within K-pop, and I'll work hard to achieve that."
After dedicating four months to the competition, the contestants have various personal desires. Lee Sona wishes to run along Jeju's beaches, recalling a refreshing experience despite running 1km. Heo Chanmi wants to enjoy a meal with fans who supported her during the competition. Hong Sungyoon hopes to relax in a sauna with her grandmother.
Gil Ryeowon expressed a desire to visit an amusement park with her mother and sister, a plan she found challenging to execute during the competition. Yoon Taehwa wishes to spend a day swimming for relaxation.
The Top 5 singers, along with Yoon Yunseo and Yeom Yuri, will embark on a nationwide tour starting on the 25th of next month, recreating the emotional performances.
Meanwhile, the final episode of 'Miss Trot 4,' which aired on the 5th, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 18.1%, with a peak of 18.4%, maintaining its position as the top program across all channels for 12 consecutive weeks.
By Dayeon Jeong, Ten Asia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr