Davichi's Lee Hae-ri Narrowly Misses Victory on 'Hidden Singer 8'

Davichi's Lee Hae-ri, the fourth original singer on the show, narrowly missed out on victory, finishing as the runner-up.

On the October 21st episode of JTBC's 'Hidden Singer 8', Lee Hae-ri took the stage as the fourth original singer. Despite finishing as the runner-up, she created a harmonious atmosphere with the impersonators through her iconic songs. The episode recorded a viewership rating of 3.0% in the metropolitan area and 2.9% nationwide.

Lee Hae-ri performed as the original singer, while her group member Kang Min-kyung sat in the audience as part of the hidden judging panel. Given Davichi's status as the longest-running female duo in South Korea since their debut in 2008, there was significant interest in Kang Min-kyung's accuracy. Lee Hae-ri jokingly warned Kang Min-kyung to approach the show as if filming a documentary, to which Kang Min-kyung replied, "If I can't identify her voice, we might as well disband Davichi," showing her determination from the start.

The first round kicked off with Davichi's legendary debut song 'Even Though I Hate You, I Love You'. Lee Hae-ri expressed concern about her changed singing style, but as soon as the intro played, the atmosphere shifted. She delivered a voice identical to her past recordings. However, the impersonators were equally skilled, and Lee Hae-ri barely advanced to the second round. Kang Min-kyung advised her to "sing in a way that makes it obvious it's Lee Hae-ri," raising expectations for her next performance.

The second round featured the sing-along hit '8282', turning into a round where everyone forgot about the competition and enjoyed the music together. The first verse ended sooner than expected, causing confusion, and Soyou exclaimed, "That's too much!" MC Jun Hyun-moo humorously calmed the complaints, saying, "What can we do? That's how the song is!" Despite the hidden judging panel's difficulty in voting, Kang Min-kyung accurately identified Lee Hae-ri's position, impressing everyone. Lee Hae-ri narrowly escaped elimination.

The third round, featuring the OST 'Don't You Know' from the drama 'Iris 2', heightened the tension with its difficulty. Lee Hae-ri surprised everyone by appearing in an unexpected spot, leaving the panel in shock. Song Eun-i was amazed by the impersonators' skills, and Kim Jun-ho admitted he was so surprised by Lee Hae-ri's position that he shouted until his voice was hoarse.

After overcoming another challenge, Lee Hae-ri opened the fourth round with 'Don't Say Goodbye'. Kang Min-kyung, who had correctly identified Lee Hae-ri in every round, maintained her perfect accuracy. She jokingly admitted to "cheating for the first time," while Song Eun-i, who identified Lee Hae-ri through Kang Min-kyung's expression, and Park Tae-hwan, who confidently claimed, "She touched my eardrum," also guessed correctly, hinting at Lee Hae-ri's potential victory. However, in a surprising twist, the impersonator known as 'Hwacheon-gun Lee Hae-ri' claimed the win.

The impersonator, 'Hwacheon-gun Lee Hae-ri', shared tears of joy, saying, "This moment feels like a gift," celebrating the victory with Lee Hae-ri. Kang Min-kyung humorously remarked, "I wanted Lee Hae-ri to win, but seeing so many people congratulate her, it's good that she didn't," causing laughter. The episode featuring Lee Hae-ri ended beautifully, captivating the hidden judging panel with a showcase of iconic songs.

Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr