It's a 'fight for connections' Current address of 'Mr. Trot 2'

Following Jang Yun-jeong, this time it is Kim Yeon-ja. There is no time for the controversy over the fairness of 'Mr. Trot 2' to go out.

On the 16th, singer Kim Yeon-ja, who is active as a judge on 'Mr. Trot 2', was suspected of pushing her family. Cast members Hwang Min-woo and Hwang Min-ho, brothers, belong to Hongik Communications like Kim Yeon-ja.

Hongik Planning is an entertainment agency founded by Kim Yeon-ja's husband, Mr. Hong. His older brother, Hwang Min-woo, has had a long-standing relationship with Hongik Communications and has always chosen Kim Yeon-ja as his role model, so they were able to work together.

Thanks to this, news of his younger brother Hwang Min-ho's exclusive contract with Hongik Communications was also heard in October 2020. However, according to an exclusive report by Sports Kyunghyang, Hwang Min-ho has already had a close relationship with Kim Yeon- from September 2013.

Kim Yeon-ja's love for her junior was extreme. Even before meeting on 'Mr. Trot 2', Hwang Min-woo met Kim Yeon-ja, a judge on MBN's 'Voice Trot' in 2020. Hwang Min-ho also faced judge Kim Yeon-ja on 'Voice King' in 2021.

This is already their third meeting with 'Voice Trot', 'Voice King', and 'Mr. Trot 2'. All three times, I met with a contestant attempting an audition program and a judge judging him. The fact that he has a special relationship with Kim Yeon-ja, a key member of the judges, is likely to cause controversy.

This is a situation where the hearts of the remaining judges may be swayed by a single word from veteran singer Kim Yeon-ja, who debuted 49 years ago. In particular, there is a possibility that comedian Lee Eun-ji, along with his young juniors Chu, Kang Daniel, and Eun Ga-eun, will also be swayed by Kim Yeon-ja's opinions.

However, Kim Yeon-ja is not the first to dispute the fairness of 'Mr. Trot 2'. Judge Jang Yoon-jeong's division family members are already appearing on the program. Park Ji-hyun of the college team and Yeonggwang of the Saetbyeol club are juniors at Jang Yoon-jung's agency.

In fact, Park Ji-hyun was introduced as Jang Yoon-jeong's direct junior through KBS 2TV's 'The Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears'. At that time, Jang Yoon-jeong attracted attention by showing full support, such as recommending Park Ji-hyun and Yeonggwang for the event schedule and evaluating their busking.

As suspicions arose that certain performers were being promoted, 'Mr. Trot 2' announced that it would appoint Park Seon-joo as the master. Park Seon-joo, who received attention for her tiger review in 'Miss Trot 2', reappears. It was the return of Park Seon-joo, who had suffered from severe negative comments in the past due to sharp reviews.

Nevertheless, the controversy over fairness did not go out. If Park Seon-joo appeared due to suspicions of pushing Jang Yoon-jeong, one wonders what kind of judges will be involved in this incident with Kim Yeon-ja's juniors.

The reason why the audition program attracted attention was because there was a possibility for people full of desire and earnestness for their dreams to create that future. But now it has degenerated into a battle over personal connections, and its original meaning has faded. It may feel like 'Mr. Trot 2' is a fight between 'Jang Yoon-jung's juniors' Park Ji-hyun and Young-gwang and 'Kim Yeon-ja's juniors' Hwang Min-woo and Hwang Min-ho.

Ryu Ye-ji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr