tvN STORY's first trot entertainment program, 'Handsome Trot,' presented an extraordinary stage alongside the T4 battle of taking and being taken.

In the second episode of 'Handsome Trot' (directed by Hwang Da-won, written by Jeong Soo-jeong), which aired on Feb. 28 (Friday), the first round 'Handsome Debut' competition followed last week's challenge. Earlier, In Gyo-jin, Kim Jun-ho, Kim Dong-ho, and Choo Sung-hoon claimed their T4 spots, and the second episode featured even more powerful performers.

The first stage to challenge the intensified T4 was actor Ji Seung-hyun. Notably, trot prince Young-tak and actor Kim Dong-jun came to his aid, drawing attention. Young-tak, who has a special connection with Ji Seung-hyun as colleagues from Andong High School, offered a one-point lesson, which dramatically boosted Ji Seung-hyun's trot skills. Ji Seung-hyun, who chose 'I Think of You All the Time' (originally by Hyeon-cheol), presented a heartfelt performance and received high praise as it was described as "a stage that reflected Young-tak's style," but unfortunately failed to secure a T4 position.

"Trot is momentum," said Jeong Gyeo-un, who surprised trot producers with his rapidly improving skills in a short time. This was his first time singing on broadcast, and he chose Nam Jin's 'Nest,' delivering an exhilarating performance that inspired Jang Min-ho to press the 'T' button. Although he failed to ascend to T4, Jeong Gyeo-un expressed his determination, saying, "I will dominate the next round."

Actor Tae Hang-ho's stage, which he took on for his mother, also left a profound impression. His captivating tenor while passionately singing 'Aemo' (originally by Kim Soo-hee) led Lee Chan-won to exclaim, "Even I cannot sing better than Tae Hang-ho.", offering nothing but praise. Tae Hang-ho, who received an all-T from the trot producers, pushed Kim Jun-ho aside to revel in the joy of reaching T4.

Actor Hyeon-woo brought astonishment with an unprecedented twist in his performance. Known for his flower boy character, he had shown confidence in a pre-meeting with the production team, stating, "This is a program for me." His bold arrangement hit the mark perfectly. Hyeon-woo, who sang Park Sang-cheol's 'Ja-ok-a,' captivated the audience with the essence of trot while also leading to a standing ovation, successfully pushing In Gyo-jin aside to secure a place in T4.

Han Jeong-wan, a winner of Korea's best looking contest, also drew attention with his impressive performance. He selected Shim Soo-bong's 'I Know Nothing but Love,' setting a sensual atmosphere on stage with a standing microphone. Although he did not reach T4, he showcased his talent by performing the 'Malatanghuru' dance challenge in front of his senior, Jang Hyuk.

As Hyeon-woo, Tae Hang-ho, Kim Dong-ho, and Choo Sung-hoon held their T4 positions, the next contender to challenge with recognized vocal talent was musical star Choi Dae-cheol, raising the tension among everyone. His fellow stars, including Kim Kwang-kyu, Hong Kyung-min, Baek Jin-hee, Choi Jeong-hoon, Kim Dong-wan, and Yoon Park, showed their support, and after passionately singing Choi Jin-hee's 'Heavenly Reunion,' Choi Dae-cheol became emotional toward the end of the stage. He showcased skills that rivaled professional levels and successfully pushed Tae Hang-ho aside to smoothly ascend to T4.

'Ending fairy' was actor Jang Hyuk. Having analyzed other participants' stages until now, Jang Hyuk displayed traits of a 'trot critic' by choosing 'The Final Station of Separation' (originally by Son Si-hyang) and presenting an emotion-filled performance unique to him. Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won praised him, saying, "It felt like watching a scene from a Hong Kong movie," as they pressed the T button. Unfortunately, he failed to push others aside to reach T4, but trot fighter Choo Sung-hoon remarked that it was "personally the top stage," expressing excitement for Jang Hyuk's next performance.

Thus, the first round of 'Handsome Debut' T4 featured all its champions. Amidst an extraordinary series of performances, Hyeon-woo, Choi Dae-cheol, Kim Dong-ho, and Choo Sung-hoon ascended to T4 for the first round, leaving everyone curious about how the next round will unfold and who will seize the opportunity to debut as the final trot singer. 'Handsome Trot' airs every Friday night at 10 p.m. on tvN STORY and can also be viewed on tvN at 10:40 p.m. on Saturdays.

[Photo] 'Handsome Trot'

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