In the special training for the '2025 Japan-Korea King of Singers Contest' titled 'A Triangular Battle with Japanese Prodigies,' 'King of Singers 1,' characterized by experience and skill, clinched the final victory.

The 44th episode of MBN's 'Japan-Korea Top Ten Show' aired on the night of 8th (Tuesday) at 9:50 p.m., recorded a peak viewership rating of 7.3% and a national rating of 6.5% (according to Nielsen Korea), achieving the remarkable feat of maintaining the top viewership among all channels for a Tuesday entertainment program. The broadcast featured a fierce triangular battle between 'King of Singers 2,' 'King of Singers 1,' and the 'Japanese Prodigy Team' consisting of the three Japanese prodigies, raising expectations for the '2025 Japan-Korea King of Singers Contest.'

First, the top 7 of 'King of Singers 2,' including Park Seo-jin, Jin Hae-seong, Enoch, Shin Seung-tae, Choi Soo-ho, and Kang Mun-kyung, serenaded 'Like a Hummingbird,' presenting a fragrant spring opening. Following this, MC Daesung proclaimed, "We will enter very intense training in preparation for the Japan-Korea battle," simultaneous with the entrance of the Japanese prodigy trio Akiyama Saki, Nishiyama Riku, and Kudo Takeru, who performed 'We Meet Again' in Korean, showcasing the true essence of Japanese prodigies. The Japanese prodigy trio boasted an impressive YouTube accumulated view count nearing 10 million, and Takeru sparked tension with his declaration, "As I was a senior who appeared on this broadcast first, I will show my strength."

The first segment, dubbed 'The Battle of the Gods,' featured Jeon Yoo-jin, Kang Mun-kyung, and Takeru. Jeon Yoo-jin remarked, "As the first King of Singers, I am the goddess of trot, preserving the tradition of the trot family," adding, "Beauty is my secret weapon," which elicited cheers from everyone, including Kang Mun-kyung. Kang Mun-kyung said, "That person is my secret weapon," humorously referencing the individual who transformed her. Kang Mun-kyung delivered 'Men Say' with emotional appeal, while Takeru sang 'Jongkara Onnabushi,' receiving high praise from Kim Da-hyun, who remarked, "Your voice is truly charming." Jeon Yoo-jin expressed 'ChaeSeokGang' with a deep tone befitting the goddess of timbre and secured the first victory.

In the 'Hexagonal Star' battle, Choi Soo-ho, Byeol Sarang, and Azuma Aki faced off. Choi Soo-ho, who can do everything from face, height, pansori, to trot, completed an appealing performance with 'Lovely Woman.' All-rounder Byeol Sarang, who encompasses dance, singing, and variety skills, exploded with emotions in 'I Come and Go.' Aki, who performed the song 'Island Village Teacher' in Korean after appearing on 'Japan-Korea Top Ten Show' and sharing a stage with Japanese legend singer Kimura Yumi, received enthusiastic applause and praise from 'King of Singers 1' members with, "Proud of you, our Aki," marking a win.

In the 'Handsome Battle' featuring the good-looking members from each team, 'King of Singers 1' standout Mai Jin, Japanese prodigy team members Riku and Takeru, and 'King of Singers 2' Jin Hae-seong participated. Mai Jin delivered a performance of 'Shower' while passing a small umbrella to Riku. Riku and Takeru sang 'Lifelong Path,' revealing the depth and essence of enka. Jin Hae-seong, who boasts a tall physique, sharp eyes, and an attractive appearance with notably small lips, threw a bold declaration, "I will dance today," before performing 'Butterfly Flower' in a clumsy manner, surprising even Jeon Yoo-jin and seizing the first win.

In the 'Important is the Heart of the Bend' battle, known as 'Jung. Ggeok. Ma,' the master of bending Shin Seung-tae, Saki, Jeon Yoo-jin, and Byeol Sarang took to the stage. The formidable Shin Seung-tae, who was deemed a one-priority target by Jeon Yoo-jin and Saki, said, "I prepared enka to symbolize appreciation," choosing 'Amagigoe' to overwhelmingly captivate the audience. Saki expressed the emotional transformation with 'Is This Real?' with a facial change of 180 degrees, capturing everyone's attention. Jeon Yoo-jin and Byeol Sarang surprised everyone by announcing it as their first duet, and their song 'Real Love' exploded with excitement that made shoulders involuntarily tremble, but Shin Seung-tae bagged the win.

The ‘MVP Battle,’ prepared for the ‘King of Singers’ ahead of the Japan-Korea competition, saw the MVPs of ‘Japan-Korea King of Singers Contest’ Kim Da-hyun, MVP of ‘Japan-Korea Prodigy King Contest’ Nishiyama Riku, and the 2nd King of Singers Park Seo-jin clash. Park Seo-jin expressed, "I think you will see how well I can sing, so I’m paying more attention to my mindset," revealing the significant burden of being the 2nd King. During the broadcast, Kim Da-hyun took the lead with 'Young,' highlighting freshness at its peak. Riku showcased a variety of charms with 'Look at Me, Guisun,' performing quirky elbow claps and cute Korean while presenting a spectacular belly wave, receiving a shower of hearts from everyone. Park Seo-jin infused the dignity and sincerity of a king into 'Though I Am Foolish,' but the victory went to Kim Da-hyun.

Finally, a big match was established among the firstborns and heads of families, Lyn, Azuma Aki, and Enoch. When asked to boast about their families, Lyn stated, "Since we have been through thick and thin together, our teamwork is tremendous," while Enoch noted, "The energy for 2025 has come to 'King of Singers 2.'" Aki remarked, "Age is a gangster," showcasing pride. Aki perfectly delivered 'Love is the Flower of Life' with flawless Korean pronunciation, earning praises from Shin Seung-tae, who described it as "a feeling of peonies blossoming by the riverside." Enoch chose 'Confidently,' channeling the readiness for the Japan-Korea competition into a performance resembling a musical. Lyn, expressing, "This song has comforted me a lot regarding everything I’ve been experiencing lately," sang 'Life is Incomplete' with deep emotion, evoking tears with the lyrics of 'Friend, Oh Friend.' Lyn shared her heartfelt sincerity, wishing that her emotions reached somewhere and achieved victory. With Lyn's winning points, 'King of Singers 1' claimed the final victory, accepting the limited edition championship trophy of 'Japan-Korea Top Ten Show' with deep emotion.

[Photo] Capture from the broadcast of 'Japan-Korea Top Ten Show.'

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