Kim Shin-young and Cheon Dan-bi captivated the stage with their flawless ensemble, winning the trophy for '2026 Entertainment King Battle Part 1' on KBS2's 'Immortal Songs'.
The 749th episode of 'Immortal Songs', aired on Saturday, the 28th, featured the '2026 Entertainment King Battle Part 1'. This special episode brought together 10 teams, including Kim Shin-young & Cheon Dan-bi, Lalal, Moon Se-yoon, the Gag Concert team, Park Jun-hyung, Song Il-gook & Oh Man-seok (musical team), Lee Chan-seok, Lee Hwi-jae, Jo Hye-ryun, and Hong Seok-cheon, showcasing a fierce competition among comedians, actors, creators, and show hosts. The show maintained its power as a traditional Saturday entertainment leader, recording a nationwide viewership rating of 4.8% and securing the top spot in its time slot for 147 consecutive weeks.
The second act featured Park Jun-hyung, who chose Kim Sang-bae's 'No, No'. He crafted a unique stage with his smooth vocals and comedic flair. His secret weapon, Park Sung-ho, made a surprise appearance, delivering a yodeling performance that amazed everyone with its innovative mashup of the original song and yodeling. Moon Se-yoon commented, "Park Sung-ho's yodeling wasn't over the top and ended with a touching note," while Song Il-gook expressed, "The fusion of trot and yodeling might be a world first. I want to give a big round of applause for the idea." In the first showdown between Hong Seok-cheon and Park Jun-hyung, Hong Seok-cheon emerged victorious.
Lee Hwi-jae performed the fourth act with Choi Ho-seop's 'When Time Passes'. He delivered the song with a calm voice, reflecting on the lyrics. Shin Dong-yup shared, "The last line, 'Don't forget and remember,' really resonated with me." In the contest between Moon Se-yoon and Lee Hwi-jae, Lee Hwi-jae emerged as the new winner.
Lee Hwi-jae also candidly shared his thoughts on returning to broadcasting after four years. He reflected, "I know well where I was lacking and made mistakes. It was a time to reflect on my 30-year broadcasting career. Since I can't turn back time, I thought I should do my best with the work given to me now." He added, "Coincidentally, the day I received the casting call was my mother's memorial day. I wondered if she helped me. I didn't realize the value of work when I was busy. I love coming to Yeouido and getting energy from meeting colleagues," he said, tearing up.
The final act was Kim Shin-young and Cheon Dan-bi's performance of Seoul Family's 'Now'. They delivered a retro-themed stage, instantly turning the audience and waiting room into a disco fever. The perfect harmony between Kim Shin-young's low tones and Cheon Dan-bi's high notes delighted the ears, and their performance, utilizing their height difference, brought laughter. Lalal praised the duo's 'hexagonal stage' that combined vocal skills, concept, and humor, saying, "They tore it up," while Lee Chan-won complimented, "They were just like Wi Il-cheong and Kim Seung-mi." In the final showdown, Kim Shin-young and Cheon Dan-bi defeated Lee Hwi-jae to claim the ultimate victory in Part 1.
The '2026 Entertainment King Battle Part 1' was a special filled with a variety of spectacles, as it was a showdown of pride among the entertainment industry's top musical talents. From artists who delivered deep resonance with just their voices to those who took bold moves with unique ideas and dazzling performances, the episode offered a flood of unique entertainment, raising expectations for the upcoming Part 2.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr