Huh Gak and Son Seung-yeon Shine in MBC's New Show 'The Winners'

Singer Huh Gak, who married Lee Soo-yeon in 2013, made an appearance on 'The Winners'.

MBC's new variety show 'The Winners' kicked off with a thrilling battle for the throne featuring Huh Gak, Lee Ye-ji, and Son Seung-yeon. The show achieved a 4.4% viewership rating nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea. The showdown between 'monster vocalist' Son Seung-yeon, who won 'The Voice Korea' 13 years ago, and the new rising star of 2025, Lee Ye-ji, was nothing short of a legendary drama.

'The Winners' showcased a fierce competition among nine audition winners from shows like 'Superstar K', 'Our Ballad', 'Birth of a Great Star', 'The Voice Korea', 'Tomorrow's National Singer', and 'K-pop Star'. The narrative of the competition began with 'audition first generation' Huh Gak, was shaken by 'fearsome rookie' Lee Ye-ji, and concluded with 'monster vocalist' Son Seung-yeon.

The first to take the stage was Huh Gak, the winner of 'Superstar K2', the origin of Korea's audition craze. He performed his winning song 'Always' from 16 years ago, showcasing his timeless vocal prowess. Panelist Heo Sung-tae was moved to tears, recalling how he listened to the song while preparing for acting auditions and losing weight. Huh Gak, embodying the dignity of the 'audition first generation', became the first owner of the gold line symbolizing first place.

However, Huh Gak's reign was interrupted by Lee Ye-ji, the winner of 'Our Ballad'. Armed with passion, the 'rookie of the audition world' captivated the audience with her unique emotion and raw charm. MC Lee Min-jung was moved to tears from the first note, and Lee Ye-ji set a record with eight consecutive wins, defeating formidable seniors like Huh Gak, Park Chang-geun, Lee Ye-jun, and Ulala Session.

Just as Lee Ye-ji's perfect victory seemed certain, the tables turned with the appearance of Son Seung-yeon, the 'The Voice Korea' winner whom the first-place singers feared the most. Choosing the song 'Immersed', Son Seung-yeon dominated the stage with her overwhelming vocal power and presence. Baek Ji-young praised her as "beyond perfect, insane", and even Lee Ye-ji, on an eight-win streak, admitted to feeling intimidated by her resonance. Ultimately, Son Seung-yeon claimed first place in the final vote, halting the rise of the rookie and preventing a generational shift in vocals.

The panelists' reactions testified to the level of the performances. Actor Heo Sung-tae expressed his awe, saying, "I couldn't leave my seat for 4 hours and 30 minutes, not even for the bathroom. I feel like I hit the jackpot today." Kim Chae-won of Le Sserafim remarked, "It felt like my ears were opened, worth paying to watch."

Son Seung-yeon, who clinched the first place in the debut episode, humbly stated, "I held back today," while Lee Ye-ji, who narrowly missed the top spot, vowed, "I will definitely beat my senior."

Meanwhile, MBC's 'The Winners' airs every Sunday at 9:10 PM.

Reporter Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr