TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' Honors Late Song Dae-gwan on His First Anniversary

TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' commemorated the first anniversary of the late Song Dae-gwan.

The 7th episode, aired on the 6th, was a special tribute to the eternal companions of the trot world, Tae Jin-ah and the late Song Dae-gwan. The episode, aired a day before Song Dae-gwan's first anniversary, held a deeper significance. It achieved a nationwide viewership rating of 4.9% according to Nielsen Korea, maintaining its position as the number one daily cable and general programming channel for seven consecutive weeks. The peak viewership moment reached 5.3%.

Born in 1953, Tae Jin-ah expressed his deep respect and longing for Song Dae-gwan. He shared, "I never considered him a rival. He sang better, won more awards, and became a king of singers before me. He was always a step ahead," conveying his heartfelt sentiments for the late singer. He added, "However, he always saw me as a rival," recalling their special relationship. When asked if he still thinks of him, Tae Jin-ah replied, "Yes, he was the most beloved companion among all my seniors and juniors," evoking a sense of poignancy.

The episode also highlighted the unique bond between Tae Jin-ah and Jin (True) Kim Yong-bin. Kim Yong-bin shared his story of pursuing his dream of becoming a trot singer by learning directly from Tae Jin-ah. It was revealed that Tae Jin-ah had a special relationship with Kim Yong-bin's grandmother and had quietly watched over his growth since childhood. Notably, when Kim Yong-bin was announced as the winner of 'Mr. Trot 3', Tae Jin-ah's joy was so immense that even his son, Eru, was surprised, showcasing their special connection.

On this day, Kim Yong-bin chose Tae Jin-ah's song 'Your Tears', captivating the audience with his powerful voice. Watching him, Tae Jin-ah expressed, "I'm grateful and proud that Yong-bin has grown to stand on the same stage. It brings tears to my eyes," conveying his overwhelming emotions. Kim Yong-bin proved his remarkable growth on stage, winning against Seon (Good) Son Bin-ah in the deathmatch and adding a golden star to his achievements.

Mi (Beautiful) Cheon Rok-dam also performed Tae Jin-ah's representative song 'Ok Kyung-i' in his unique style, scoring 100 points. This performance not only halted the solo lead of Chun-gil, who held five golden stars, but also edged out surprise guest Park Sang-chul by one point, adding another golden star. Park Sang-chul, after passionately singing Song Dae-gwan's 'Four Beats', expressed his deep affection, saying, "The love he gave me while he was alive was immense."

Jin (True) Jeong Seo-joo continued his winning streak by defeating Seon (Good) Bae Ah-hyun once again. Jeong Seo-joo performed Song Dae-gwan's 'I'm Alone' with a clear tone and poignant emotion, scoring 98 points and successfully adding a golden star. Bae Ah-hyun, who chose Tae Jin-ah's 'Fool', was expected to impress the original artist but made a regrettable mistake by forgetting the lyrics during the performance, scoring 92 points. As a result, Jeong Seo-joo joined the leading ranks alongside Chun-gil, who held five golden stars.

Mi (Beautiful) Oh Yoo-jin and Choi Jae-myung also scored 99 and 98 points, respectively, earning golden stars. Oh Yoo-jin delivered Tae Jin-ah's 'Mother's Song' with mature emotions beyond her years, moving the audience, while Choi Jae-myung interpreted Song Dae-gwan's popular song 'Sunny Day' in a traditional Korean style, presenting a lively and energetic performance.

While Kim Yong-bin and Jeong Seo-joo showcased their prowess as strong contenders, Chun-gil, Son Bin-ah, and Bae Ah-hyun showed a slight decline. Choi Jae-myung finally secured a golden star, reigniting hope, but Chu Hyuk-jin failed to escape the no-star zone. The intense deathmatches of 'Golden Friday' continue to grip trot fans' hearts. Who will take a step closer to the Golden Cup next week remains to be seen.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr