Controversy Surrounds Trot Singer Sookhaeng Amid 'Hyun-yeok Ga-wang 3' Appearance

Famed trot singer Sookhaeng has found herself embroiled in a 'mistress scandal' while making a surprise appearance on 'Hyun-yeok Ga-wang 3'. Although her performance was edited out, her reaction scenes were not completely removed.

The second episode of MBN's 'Hyun-yeok Ga-wang 3', aired on the 30th, achieved a peak viewership rating of 10.3% and a nationwide rating of 9.6%.

The episode featured a 'witch hunt' preliminary round judged by a panel of 10 active singers, including Jeong Hoon-hee, Hyun Sook, Jang Eun-sook, Choi Jin-hee, Seo Joo-kyung, Jeong Soo-ra, Yoo Ji-na, Han Hye-jin, Seo Ji-oh, and Kim Hye-yeon.

Soo Yoo-mi, the youngest in a family of trot singers, showcased her powerful visuals and expressed her desire to be judged for her singing rather than her looks. She performed the traditional trot song 'Samdado News' but received criticism for not delivering her best performance, earning 5 points.

Han Yeoreum, an 8-year veteran and four-time trot audition participant, sang 'Shall I Call You My Love' with a deep, traditional trot flavor but was criticized for her awkward vocal inflections, receiving 5 points.

Sookhaeng's reaction scene appeared unedited, where she remarked, "Guys, we need to do well. The expectations are no joke."

Akiyama Saki, a 15-year-old prodigy who has swept various singing competitions in Japan, explained her participation by stating, "There are no shows in Japan where you compete with enka." She performed the traditional Japanese enka 'Yawara' with a stunning vocal twist, earning 8 points.

Even during the moment of selecting the next performer, Sookhaeng appeared on screen, expressing her nervousness by saying, "I feel like I'm going to be called next."

Bae Da-hae, known for the 'Nella Fantasia' syndrome, expressed her desire to surpass her previous hit by performing 'Affection'. She received mixed reviews, with some praising her clean vocals and others wishing for more emotional depth, earning 5 points.

Ryu Yeon-ju, a 1-year veteran and ambassador for Pohang City, performed 'What Love' but only received 1 point from the original singer Yoo Ji-na, leading to tears. Kim Ui-young, a 4-year veteran and 'Miss Trot 2' TOP5 finalist, showcased her spicy capsaicin voice with 'Beautiful Farewell', earning 8 points but was advised by Jeong Hoon-hee that singing should come from the heart, not technique.

Kim Tae-yeon, a 5-year veteran and former child prodigy, delivered a powerful performance of 'Dan-hyeon', expressing the sorrow of traditional trot and earning unanimous recognition. She shared her struggles with puberty and a slump, moving everyone to tears.

Stephanie, a 21-year veteran and former member of the idol group 'The Grace', captivated with her unique greeting and performed 'Rain at Dawn' like a musical, but a mid-performance pitch issue led to a score of 9 points.

Hong Ja, a 14-year veteran known for her emotional vocals, confessed her fear of being judged again, which led her to decline 'Hyun-yeok Ga-wang 1'. She performed 'After You Left' with a rich emotional palette, earning a perfect score and advancing to the finals.

Kan Mi-yeon, a 29-year veteran and former main vocalist of 'Baby V.O.X', surprised with her trot debut, performing 'Angry Woman' with a seductive voice but received criticism for unclear lyrics, earning 5 points.

Jin Sori, the older sister of 'Hyun-yeok Ga-wang 1' TOP3 Kim Da-hyun, performed 'Yongdusan Elegy' with emotional vocalizations but was critiqued for lacking understanding of the song, earning 5 points.

The 'Masked Girls', including 12-year veteran Ban Ga-hee, 5-year veteran Hi-ryang, and 14-year veteran Kang Hye-yeon, revealed their identities. Shin Dong-yup announced the harsh rule that only one would survive, with two facing elimination.

Ban Ga-hee performed 'Scar' with a deep, resonant style, earning praise. Hi-ryang, known for her husky voice, performed 'Mother's Grass', moving the audience to tears. Kang Hye-yeon delivered 'Wings' with perfect control, ultimately winning survival after a long deliberation by the 'Witch Judges'.

Jang Tae-hee, a 16-year veteran known as the Marilyn Monroe of the trot world, returned after battling blood cancer for a year, performing 'They Say It's a Disease' but received 6 points and advice to show her inner color.

Jang Ha-on, a 13-year veteran and original trot performer, showcased 'Meet Me Tonight' with a performance befitting her reputation, earning 9 points. Gu Soo-kyung, a 10-year veteran, impressed with her vocal range in 'Here', earning 9 points and praise from Jang Eun-sook and Choi Jin-hee.

After the 'witch hunt' preliminaries, the tense moment of announcing the final eliminations arrived. Cha Ji-yeon, Lee Soo-yeon, Solji, Kim Tae-yeon, and Hong Ja secured their spots in the finals with perfect scores, while nine elimination candidates, including Kang Ye-seul, Ryu Yeon-ju, Han Yeoreum, Kan Mi-yeon, Bae Da-hae, Soo Yoo-mi, Jin Sori, Ban Ga-hee, and Hi-ryang, awaited their fate. Ultimately, Kang Ye-seul, Ryu Yeon-ju, and Ban Ga-hee were eliminated, with tears shed by both the contestants and the judges.

Meanwhile, on the 29th, Sookhaeng was identified as the accused mistress on 'Incident Chief'. On the 30th, she posted a handwritten apology on her social media, stating, "All facts will be clarified through legal procedures." She requested restraint from excessive and unnecessary reporting, as it could cause irreparable harm to her, her family, and the programs she participated in. She announced her departure from 'Hyun-yeok Ga-wang 3'.

Reporter Taeyuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr