MBN's 'Legend of the Unknown - The Battle of Trot Men' (hereafter 'Legend of the Unknown') has reached the climax of its '1-on-1 Death Match,' unveiling a new TOP5 amidst the triumph of the unknowns. The dynamics of survival, marked by passes and failures, have dramatically shifted.
According to Nielsen Korea on the 9th, the 7th episode of MBN's 'Legend of the Unknown,' aired on the 8th, achieved a peak viewership rating of 7% among paid households.
Continuing from the 6th episode, the second round of the '1-on-1 Death Match' featured face-offs between unknowns, battles of pride among the famous, and unpredictable matches between the unknown and the famous. The stage was dominated by a desperate fight for survival, resulting in unpredictable outcomes.
In this episode, Jung Yoon-young and Lee Do-jin were the first to face off. Jung Yoon-young chose Lee Do-jin, with whom he had teamed up in the first round 'Team Death Match,' to engage in a head-to-head battle that transcended a 20-year age gap. Lee Do-jin's performance of Kim Yong-im's 'Today is a Young Day' was enhanced by the presence of his neighborhood grandmothers, creating a warm atmosphere. Meanwhile, Jung Yoon-young reinterpreted 'Heungbo is Astonished' with a hip twist, incorporating a traditional Korean percussion performance with school friends, earning admiration. Ultimately, Lee Do-jin won 11-4, proving the strength of the active performer.
As the bold matches continued with unknowns challenging the famous, Yoo Ji-woo expressed a desire to compete against a famous opponent, choosing Ryan, the runner-up of the 'Famous Selection.' In a 'doppelganger battle' featuring similar visuals, styling, and song choices, Yoo Ji-woo maximized emotion with 'To a Grateful Person,' while Ryan countered with 'Thank You, Life,' resulting in a fierce competition. Yoo Ji-woo's victory at 9-6, praised as the best performance of the day by Lim Han-byul, marked a 'rebellion of the unknowns.'
The competition among the famous was even more intense, leading to a high-stakes showdown. The match between 'Famous Selection' winner Sung-ri and 19-year veteran Lee Chang-min was a big match in itself. Sung-ri, an idol junior, received praise for his movie-like performance and matured vocals, while Lee Chang-min, determined not to lose, showcased his emotional vocals, earning the evaluation of having found his own style and color. The result was a 4-11 victory for Lee Chang-min, with Sung-ri expressing no regrets and acknowledging the learning experience.
The showdown between veteran trot singers Choi Woo-jin and Park Min-soo was so close that it was dubbed the 'real death match.' In response to Park Min-soo's provocation after winning the team death match, Choi Woo-jin, a 10-year senior, retorted, "You lost your manners along with your weight," and vowed to prove why seniors are seniors on stage. In a neck-and-neck battle, the top pro panel's vote ended in a 7-7 tie, and the national pro panel's vote decided the victory for Choi Woo-jin by just 8 votes.
The match between Kwak Hee-sung and Shin Sung was a color battle of 'New Trot vs. Traditional.' Kwak Hee-sung showcased Ryu Ji-kwang's 'Cavalry' with cello and dance performances, while Shin Sung demonstrated the depth of traditional trot with Nam Jin's 'Sky of Memories.' In a situation where "120% effort is required for recognition," Shin Sung completed the stage with unwavering vocals and depth, securing a 5-10 victory.
The 'second-generation trot battle' between Lee Woo-jung and Marcus Kang also drew attention. Lee Woo-jung showcased a stage grown from his father Na Dang-jin's 'Before Knowing,' while Marcus Kang elevated emotions with his mother Woo Yeon's 'Wings,' enhancing the performance's completeness. In a heartfelt stage carrying their parents' names, a vocal battle breaking stereotypes ensued, with Marcus Kang winning 5-10 amidst praise of "a reverse trend is expected."
Amidst the continuous elimination of active performers, the announcement of additional passes once again shook the dynamics. In a rule where top pros could save only one person each, Sung-ri, Park Min-soo, Jang Han-byul, Hwang Yoon-sung, Moon Eun-seok, Kwak Hee-sung, Lee Woo-jung, and Kim Han-yul survived dramatically, while famous figures like 36-year veteran Pyeon Seung-yeop and group Paran's leader Ryan were eliminated, causing shock.
As the fates of life and death intertwined, a new TOP5 emerged through the '1-on-1 Death Match,' initiating a full-scale reshuffling of rankings. Jung Yeon-ho, showcasing overwhelming skills, emerged as the new dark horse at 1st place, followed by Lee Chang-min at 2nd, Haru at 3rd, Kim Tae-woong at 4th, and Yoo Ji-woo & Kwak Young-kwang tied for 5th. Except for Lee Chang-min, all were from the 'unknown' category, resulting in an unprecedented outcome amidst the unstoppable momentum of the 'unknowns.' The stage soundtracks from the intense 7th episode will be released as '1-on-1 Death Match PART.2' on various music sites at noon on the 9th.
At the end of the broadcast, the third round 'National Song Contest' began. As the final gateway to the semifinals, a mission featuring hit songs by legendary Korean pop singers and composers like Jang Yoon-jung, Jeon Young-rok, Choi Baek-ho, and Kim Jin-ryong was announced. The contest will proceed with the 1st round 'Team Medley Battle' and the 2nd round 'Top Ace Battle,' where the entire 1st place team advances to the semifinals, while the rest face elimination.
The first stage was opened by 'Simkuungdan,' which includes Kim Tae-woong, who ranked 4th in the new TOP5, with Jang Yoon-jung's 'Here It Comes.' Kim Han-yul, Moon Eun-seok, Son Eun-seol, and Lee Do-jin elevated the atmosphere with their refreshing charm, while Jang Yoon-jung added tension by saying, "My songs usually don't perform well, but I hope this time it breaks the jinx."
Amidst the reshuffled dynamics centered around the 'unknowns,' intense competition for the semifinals ticket is anticipated, with the 8th episode of 'Legend of the Unknown' airing on the 15th at 9:40 PM on MBN.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr