TV
Golden Friday: A New Era Begins with Intense Competition for the Golden Cup
On the night of the 17th, TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' aired at 10 PM, marking the official start of the second Golden Cup race with more intense rules. The second battle for the golden stars heated up with the appearance of 'Golden Star' Jang Yoon-jeong. The episode recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 4.7%, up from the previous week, according to Nielsen Korea. The peak rating reached 5%, making it the top program among daily general programming and cable shows.
The conditions to reach the Golden Cup have become more challenging. The criteria for acquiring golden stars increased from 7 to 10, and a new rule where the winner takes the loser's star was introduced, creating a more ruthless survival competition. The first Golden Cup winner, Kim Yong-bin, enjoyed the privilege of the 'Golden Badge,' while the lowest-ranked Choo Hyuk-jin had to return a star, starting as a 'No-Star,' highlighting the stark contrasts in fortunes.
In the opening, Kim Yong-bin made a striking entrance with a golden cup as big as his torso, drawing immediate attention. He joked about having a golden badge, tie, and even underwear, bringing laughter. He also expressed his determination for the new Golden Cup with the meaningful statement, "I need to fill the vault more."
The first match saw Mi Cheon-rok-dam face off against Chun-gil. Cheon-rok-dam, who narrowly lost the Golden Cup to Kim Yong-bin in the previous race, fired a direct shot at Chun-gil, saying, "This time, it's not going to be easy," heating up the atmosphere from the start. Cheon-rok-dam scored 98 points with a rhythmic performance of 'Firefly,' defeating Chun-gil, who scored 97 with 'Song-in,' and quickly rose to '3-Star' status.
The highlight of the night was the reunion of Kim Yong-bin and 'Catfish Singer' Yang Ji-eun in the second round. Kim Yong-bin delivered a stable performance with 'First Love,' scoring 97 points, but his nemesis reappeared, none other than 'Miss Trot 2' winner Yang Ji-eun. Having previously defeated Kim Yong-bin as the Catfish Singer, the tension soared.
In the third round, Mi Oh Yoo-jin took control of the momentum. She scored the first perfect 100 points of the night with 'Oh My!' dominating the atmosphere. Nam Seung-min, who followed with 'Jjan-jjara,' couldn't surpass the perfect score.
The fourth round between Seon Son Bin-ah and Jin Jeong Seo-joo delivered a surprising twist. Son Bin-ah performed 'Aegata,' earning high praise from original singer Jang Yoon-jeong, who said, "If you had sung this in the competition, you might have set a record," but the karaoke master score was only 93, causing a stir. Jeong Seo-joo, who chose 'Wind Path,' also impressed with her beautiful voice, earning comments that she sang better than the original, but her final score was 92. Son Bin-ah won by a narrow 1-point margin.
In the final match, Choi Jae-myung scored 99 with 'Mokpo-bound Slow Train,' defeating Choo Hyuk-jin's 'Flower' by 2 points, securing the final victory. The nail-biting competition kept viewers glued to their screens. As the second Golden Cup race has just begun, all eyes are on who will be the last one standing.
Previously, Kim Yong-bin, born in 1992, won TV Chosun's 'Mr. Trot 3,' receiving a prize of 300 million won, with a net amount of approximately 286.8 million won after taxes. Regarding his prize money plans, Kim Yong-bin expressed his intention to give some to his aunt, present gifts to his members, and show appreciation to his fan club 'Love Bin.'
Meanwhile, TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' airs every Friday at 10 PM.
Reporter Lim Chae-ryeong, Ten Asia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr
