TV
Korean and Japanese Trot Stars Clash in Epic 'Deathmatch' on 'Golden Friday'
The 8th episode, aired on January 13, heated up the screens with this special New Year event. Following Korea's victory in the 'Korean-Japanese Mister Trot Showdown' six months ago, the rematch was filled with tension from the start. Team Korea declared, "We'll defeat them again," while Team Japan vowed, "No more losses," setting the stage for an intense showdown.
The broadcast achieved a nationwide rating of 5.4% according to Nielsen Korea, with peak ratings reaching 5.7%. This made it the top-rated variety show across terrestrial, general programming, and cable channels during its time slot, as well as the number one Friday variety show overall. 'Golden Friday' captivated audiences with its cross-border performances and unpredictable outcomes.
Leading each team were the 'Queen of Korean Enka' Kim Yeon-ja and 'Japanese Diva' Yoko Takahashi, adding gravitas to the event. Kim Yeon-ja opened the special with 'Danjang's Miari Hill,' captivating the studio with a cinematic performance. Yoko Takahashi responded with 'A Cruel Angel's Thesis,' showcasing her powerful vocals and presence. Both legends expressed mutual respect while aiming to lead their teams to victory, marking the start of a prideful Korea-Japan rivalry.
The first round's 'Rival Deathmatch' featured a rematch between Mi Cheonrokdam and Kazaminosato Tsunehiko. Tsunehiko, who lost in their previous encounter, challenged Cheonrokdam for revenge. Cheonrokdam retorted, "I'll make you feel the same way on your flight back to Japan," heightening the tension.
Tsunehiko performed Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi's 'RUN' with a dramatic performance and intense charisma, scoring 98 points. Cheonrokdam followed with 'Float the Boat,' delivering a traditional Korean music-inspired performance with 98 points, resulting in a tie and hinting at a closely contested Korea-Japan match.
In the second match, Jin Kim Yong-bin faced 32-year veteran singer Utagokoro Rie. Kim Yong-bin, performing first, chose Na Hoon-a's 'You,' delivering a deeply emotional performance with his 23 years of stage experience. Yoko Takahashi praised him, saying, "It was beautiful from the first note. Each voice connected like light."
Rie, performing second, flawlessly sang Choi Jin-hee's 'Heavenly Reunion' in Korean, delivering another moving performance. MC Kim Sung-joo praised her pronunciation, and the cast remarked, "It was the most impressive performance today." However, the final results for this match were not revealed, adding to the suspense.
The youngest Jin match featured 'Miss Trot 3' Jung Seo-joo against 'Mister Trot Japan' Shima Yuuki. Yuuki chose X-JAPAN's 'Endless Rain,' delivering a high-pitched performance that left the audience in awe. The cast marveled, "When did he breathe? It was like a marathon."
In the match between Seon Bae Ah-hyun and Chai, the outcome was decided. Bae Ah-hyun performed Lee Mi-ja's 'Jindo Arirang,' showcasing her signature vocal technique and scoring 96 points. Chai, a 15-year singer-songwriter, countered with Matsubara Miki's 'Stay with Me,' delivering a sophisticated city pop performance and scoring 98 points, securing Team Japan's first golden star by a narrow 2-point margin.
The first round featured closely contested battles, fitting for a special New Year event. With Team Japan leading with one golden star, the competition is heating up as both teams strive for victory. The focus now shifts to how the remaining rounds will unfold.
Born in 1992, Kim Yong-bin, the winner of TV CHOSUN's 'Mister Trot 3,' received a prize of 300 million won, with a net amount of approximately 286.8 million won after taxes. He plans to share some of the prize with his aunt, give gifts to his team members, and express gratitude to his fan club 'Sarangbin.' Meanwhile, TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' airs every Friday at 10 PM.
Reporter: Im Chae-ryeong, Ten Asia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr
