'Current King of Songs 2' has crowned Park Seo-jin as the second 'Current King of Songs,' setting a new record for itself.

The final episode of 'Current King of Songs 2,' which aired on MBN at 9:50 p.m. on the 25th as a 200-minute special, achieved a peak rating of 15.1% and a nationwide rating of 13.9% (according to Nielsen Korea), marking its highest ratings ever. It held the top spot among all channels for 12 consecutive weeks in the same time slot and ranked first in variety shows across all channels on Tuesdays.

In the final episode, the 'Current King of Songs 2' TOP10 contestants, including Hwanhee, Shin Yu, Kim Soo-chan, Park Seo-jin, Jin Hae-sung, Kim Jun-soo, Choi Soo-ho, Kang Moon-kyung, Shin Seung-tae, and Enok, faced off in the final Round 1 and then in the final Round 2 'Song of the Current'. The TOP10 members presented heartfelt performances reflecting their lives while their families watched.

First, Hwanhee caught attention by inviting his mother to the stage for the first time in his 25 years as a singer. He selected the song 'Thank You,' which he wanted to share with his mother, and delivered an emotional performance that delighted the audience. His mother was in tears as she listened to the song. Hwanhee's heartfelt stage received a score of 100 points for the highest and 70 points for the lowest.

Shin Yu, who said, “I was happy to reach the finals but felt heavy-hearted,” received support from his mother, Han Seong-ja, before the competition. Choosing 'Song of the Wind,' Shin Yu demonstrated his determination despite struggling with severe throat issues due to a cold. Nam Jin comforted him by saying, “I found a lot of charm in your rough voice.” Shin Yu, who shed tears during the performance, tied with Hwanhee, scoring 100 points for the highest and 70 points for the lowest.

Kim Soo-chan, who has long been known as 'Little Nam Jin,' took a bold step with Nam Jin's 'Empty Glass.' Before his final performance, he prepared various dishes for his younger brother and drew strength from their conversation in which his brother said, 'You have always been a superstar.' On stage, he showcased the solid vocal skills that were hidden behind his entertainment persona. Kim Soo-chan received high praises from Nam Jin, who said, 'Today, this song was Kim Soo-chan's empty glass,' scoring 100 points for the highest and 70 points for the lowest, the same as Hwanhee and Shin Yu.

Park Seo-jin confessed that in the past, senior singers criticized him for lowering the dignity of a singer by playing the janggu, but he said, “I want to end my stage with what I do best,” regaining attention by picking up the janggu again. He delivered a performance of 'Heungtaryeong' with breathtaking vocals and a mesmerizing janggu performance, even adding a lion dance to create an exciting show. Park Seo-jin received accolades from Yun Myung-sun, who said, “You truly performed excellently and conveyed emotions wonderfully,” scoring 98 points for the highest and 80 points for the lowest.

Jin Hae-sung chose 'Indifferent Time' as a song dedicated to his grandmother, who raised him in place of his busy parents during his childhood. After preparing homemade food for his grandmother in Busan, as she cried, 'I want to see my grandson succeed,' he shed tears as well. Jin Hae-sung expressed 'Indifferent Time' beautifully, resonating with the audience, and received a score of 100 points for the highest and 68 points for the lowest. Later, he was seen crying as he kept vigil over his grandmother's funeral, evoking sympathy.

Kim Jun-soo, who was the youngest member of the National Changgeuk Company and dubbed the 'top of Korean traditional music,' took the stage supported by traditional performance masters Yun Moon-sik and Kim Sung-nyeo. Kim Jun-soo powerfully expressed 'Don’t Cross That River,' seamlessly transitioning from a roaring sound to an emotionally-charged tone. He received high praise from Seol Woon-do, who said, “I felt respect as a fellow musician,” scoring 100 points for the highest and 77 points for the lowest.

Choi Soo-ho performed 'The Farewell of Han-ne' as his final stage in front of his grandmother and parents who came to watch the final. He excellently portrayed the emotions of han that can be felt in traditional Korean music, and after finishing the performance, he cried thinking of his late grandfather. He received an impressive score of 100 points for the highest and 95 points for the lowest.

Kang Moon-kyung, who chose 'Very' as her final song, visited her parents' Chinese restaurant and showed her affectionate side by giving her mother a kiss on the cheek and hugging her father. Kang Moon-kyung proved the class of 'Aegyo Shin' with a performance that left a lasting impression, scoring 100 points for the highest and 80 points for the lowest, generating high expectations for her ranking.

Shin Seung-tae selected 'Love is the Flower of Life' as his final song, expressing that it reminds him of his family who were once in difficult circumstances but were filled with happiness. From the first note, Shin Seung-tae captivated everyone with his explosive ability, prompting even MC Shin Dong-yeop to exclaim, “This is amazing.” Shin Seung-tae scored a remarkable 100 points for the highest and 99 points for the lowest.

Enok chose 'Everyone' as a song dedicated to his parents and fans, showcasing a dramatic performance that boasted his explosive vocal power. Yun Myung-sun, who witnessed Enok's heartfelt healing performance, commented, “This was a stage where I realized you are a true artist and a creator,” and Enok shed tears from overwhelming emotions. He scored 100 points for the highest and 72 points for the lowest.

After all rounds of 'Current King of Songs 2' concluded, the final rankings were announced, reflecting the total scores from Round 1, on-site judging results, nationwide audience support votes, and real-time text voting scores. The total of 2,434,804 real-time text votes marked an increase of over 160,000 votes compared to Season 1 of 'Current King of Songs.' The honor of being the 'Current King of Songs' TOP1 went to Park Seo-jin, who received 396,359 votes out of the total real-time text votes, achieving a total score of 4,574. Following him were Jin Hae-sung, Enok, Shin Seung-tae, Kim Jun-soo, Choi Soo-ho, and Kang Moon-kyung, listed in order as TOP7.

Park Seo-jin, who captivated viewers with amazing performances in every round and was considered a strong contender for the championship, expressed his overwhelming feelings, saying, “The reason I could win is that the public chose me. I will work harder.” Over the past three months, 'Current King of Songs 2' has redefined the concept of a trot survival show, achieving unparalleled success as an unbeatable variety show on Tuesdays.

■ What 'Current King of Songs 2' has left behind 1. 'The term “Whale Fight” was correct!' Ratings, buzz, replays, sound sources, YouTube: a complete success in the 'big five' of hype.

'Current King of Songs 2' started with a nationwide rating of 8.0%, breaking the first broadcast record from the previous season (6.8% according to Nielsen Korea) and emerging as the center of attention. It achieved an impressive feat of 12 consecutive weeks at the top in all time slots across terrestrial, general programming, and cable channels, as well as ranking first in variety shows across all channels on Tuesdays. Additionally, it dominated the 'non-drama TV search response' chart for four consecutive weeks, ranking first among popular keywords for eight weeks straight, proving its immense popularity. This success was further evidenced by topping the 'TV Replay' category announced by Home Choice, a cable TV video-on-demand service provider, along with various new songs from the final Round 1 climbing the music charts and a total of 70 million views for the TOP10 stage videos on MBN and Crea Studio's official YouTube channel.

■ 'The current king was indeed on a different level!'

'Current King of Songs 2' showcased amazing performances by active singers at the forefront of trot music. Specifically, the production team of 'Current King of Songs 2' presented fabulous stage production and thrilling competition scenarios, evoking admiration every time. The active performers, having disregarded their experience levels, aimed to showcase their true worth by continuously upgrading their performances, which significantly influenced the diversification of trot and the expansion of its worldview, raising expectations for 'trot above trot' that 'Current King of Songs 2' is creating.

■ 'A thrilling variation of tension and laughter!' MC Shin Dong-yeop and the active participation of the celebrity judging panel.

Once again hosting 'Current King of Songs 2,' MC Shin Dong-yeop showcased his skills as a talented MC, fulfilling the role of a super messenger for the show. His well-timed humor lightened the atmosphere that could become tense, and his sharp comments heightened the survival competition's tension and added to the fun. Along with legendary trot singers Nam Jin, Seol Woon-do, and Joo Hyun-mi, and hit trot song composer Yun Myung-sun, they provided both sharp analysis and warm advice, adding a layer of professionalism. Additionally, Park Hyun-bin, Lee Ji-hye, Dae-sung, Kang-nam, and Jang Young-ran drew empathy with their stormy reactions and spot-on remarks.

■ 'This is both an end and a grand beginning!' Launching toward the 2025 'Korea-Japan King of Songs.'

'Current King of Songs 2' TOP7 will join the new season of the 'Korea-Japan King of Songs' starting in 2025, following their victory in Season 1 against Japan. Transitioning from representatives of the trot scene to representatives of South Korea, the TOP7 will serve as a cultural bridge between South Korea and Japan, spreading the glory of K-trot. Attention is focused on how the talented and charming national representatives of TOP7 will create marvelous performances against Japan.

The production team of 'Current King of Songs 2' stated, “The future of the TOP7 starts now. To repay the love received from viewers over the past three months, TOP7 plans to connect with audiences in various ways. We ask for your continued interest in the upcoming 'Current King of Songs 2' gala show and the 2025 'Korea-Japan King of Songs,' and please extend your generous support for the proud national representatives, TOP7.”

[Photo] 'Current King of Songs 2' broadcast capture.

[OSEN = Choi Yi-jeong, reporter]