Choi Tae-sung Wins 'Global Big Four' Special on JTBC's 'Lecture Battle Show'

Choi Tae-sung emerged as the ultimate winner.

On the 12th, JTBC's 'Lecture Battle Show: The Fraudsters' (hereafter referred to as 'The Fraudsters') unveiled the winner of the 'Global Big Four' special, lighting up Thursday night.

Last week's 'Global Big Four' episode, which focused on the theme of 'survival,' featured captivating lectures by Choi Tae-sung and Kim Ji-yoon. This week, Sun Kim and Seol Min-seok, who was aiming for a second consecutive win, continued the intense lecture battle with even more compelling stories.

Sun Kim kicked off with a story about the Aztec Empire hidden behind the excitement of Mexico City, the host of the 2026 World Cup. He highlighted that the Aztec's human sacrifice culture was actually a survival strategy for the empire, describing the gruesome procedure of cutting open a living person's chest to remove the heart. MC Kim Jong-min expressed shock, saying, "It's too shocking." The revelation that the Aztec Empire, which once enjoyed a golden age, collapsed in just two years due to foreign invasions and epidemics left the audience in deep shock. Although the empire vanished, the history and spirit of the Aztecs continue to live on in the identity of the Mexican people, delivering a resonant message.

Finally, Seol Min-seok took the stage with a determined expression to defend his first-place position, declaring, "I will compete with the essence, without any embellishments." He shed light on the life of independence activist Choi Jae-hyung, who took responsibility for the survival of his compatriots and country beyond personal survival. MC Kim Jong-min noted, "Choi Jae-hyung is Seol Min-seok's secret weapon," raising expectations.

Seol Min-seok emphasized that behind the independence hero Ahn Jung-geun, remembered for the Harbin incident, was Choi Jae-hyung, who supported him in every way. The story of Choi Jae-hyung, who dedicated his entire fortune and even his life for independence, and is presumed to be buried on a desolate hill in Russia, left the audience solemn. Seol Min-seok shared photos from his visit to Russia to trace Choi Jae-hyung's footsteps, revealing a barren and bleak scene with no trace to commemorate him, bringing tears to the 'Sasimdan' members. Seol Min-seok's remarkable lecture, which created a meaningful time to remember the forgotten independence activist, passionately concluded the 'Global Big Four' special.

The 'Global Big Four' special, which was more tense than ever, saw Choi Tae-sung take the top spot. With tears in his eyes, Choi Tae-sung expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying, "I want to dedicate this award to those who helped us overcome the IMF crisis." Seol Min-seok, who applauded Choi Tae-sung sincerely, hinted at a rematch, saying, "If history leads me, I will come back," when asked if he would participate in the next battle. The new lecture battle, with the even more provocative theme of 'Scandal,' will be unveiled on the 19th at 8:50 PM on JTBC's 'Lecture Battle Show: The Fraudsters.'

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