This is a review article written based on materials provided by the broadcaster.
'Radio Star' delivered both deep resonance and uproarious laughter with a 'national OOO' special. Park Geun-hyung recalled the late Lee Soon-jae and calmly spoke of times with juniors and seniors, and Song Ok-sook pleasantly flipped the "national mom" frame, stamping her presence from her first appearance. Choi Hyun-woo shook the set with changes surrounding the magic world and an on-the-spot AI verification, and Won-hee added liveliness to 'Radio Star' with honesty as a self-proclaimed "aspirant" and the freshness of a rookie.
On the 14th, MBC's 'Radio Star' (planned by Chey Yoon-chung / directed by Yoon Hye-jin, Hwang Yoon-sang, Byun Da-hee) aired a 'national OOO' special featuring Park Geun-hyung, Song Ok-sook, Choi Hyun-woo, and Won-hee.
According to Nielsen Korea on the 15th, that day's 'Radio Star' rose to first place in the 20-54 rating, a core channel competitiveness indicator reflecting changes in media consumption, proving its competitiveness. The highlight minute was Song Ok-sook. She showed a terrifying mother-in-law performance with a sharp tone as the "number one accomplice in daughter-in-law conflicts" in dramas, drawing admiration.
Park Geun-hyung created a touching moment as he recalled the late Lee Soon-jae, a colleague and senior who had shared the stage with him for a long time. He said the late actor pushed for the "Grandpas Over Flowers" gathering until the end, and although the actors promised to rehearse the script together, they ultimately could not, which drew sadness. He added that he had postponed visiting the hospital with the words "let's meet when you get better" and ultimately could not meet him, revealing, "my heart is truly resentful."
Park Geun-hyung also specifically spoke about how the late Lee Soon-jae cared for works and people. Remembering a life in which he would move from dawn and teach students even when filming ended late, he said he respected the senior's attitude of refining himself until the end for the work and the team. He confessed that he always mentioned Lee Soon-jae when asked "who is your rival," and said he felt great remorse even after his passing, leaving a heavy aftertaste.
Park Geun-hyung also explained why he stepped forward to appear in the play 'Waiting for Godot' after the late Lee Soon-jae's midrun withdrawal created a gap. He wanted to reduce the losses the production company would incur, and after finishing the performance he said, "I felt like I had lifted a great burden." He recalled the late actor's words, "From now on you must take good care of the theater," and added that in retrospect it was a plea to "work hard in theater."
Park Geun-hyung's "tiger senior" side was also a topic of conversation. Recalling Jeon Do-yeon's rookie days, he said, "She's not an ordinary temper," and recounted how he advised on acting that mechanically handled lines by emphasizing "the cadence and breaks of our language." Although the seniors tried to stop it at the time, seeing Jeon Do-yeon cry yet attack the role again, he felt, "what an amazing kid," heating up the set.
He also clarified misunderstandings surrounding the "bad actor" remark. He said that the context was meant to introduce something he had heard in the past but was distorted into words he had said to a junior, which he found unfair. About Lee Sang-yoon, he pointed out an attitude of approaching theater logically and emphasized the importance of emotion, and later said that while working together on 'Death of a Salesman' they ultimately fixed it, adding to the laughter.
From her first appearance on 'Radio Star,' Song Ok-sook reversed the mood with the greeting "I'm free today." She used her crisp voice to deliver lines like "if you turn off the lights and listen, you'd think I'm in my teens," collecting laughs from the start, and her talk proved why the label "scene-stealer" was attached to her.
Song Ok-sook bluntly twisted the "national mom" title, saying, "It's embarrassing to be called a national mom. I abandoned many children. I'm not a national mom but a mom who starved them," which provoked laughter. She added that the mother and mother-in-law roles she usually played were closer to creating conflict than to being "cherished characters," honestly explaining her reasons for building those characters. She added, "I release all my stress through bad roles," and said she usually has no stress, which drew empathy.
Song Ok-sook also recounted becoming an original Korean wave aunt through 'Winter Sonata.' She played Bae Yong-joon's mother, and she said there was a moment during filming in Myeong-dong when fans ran toward her shouting "Kang Mi-hee" that made the top stars feel awkward, which added to the laughter. She recalled the popularity at the time cheerfully, even mentioning it was "thanks to a filial son."
Song Ok-sook revealed the behind-the-scenes of the "slap scene" with Song Seungheon. She told the then-rookie Song Seungheon, "I'll hit you hard so let's finish it in one take," and actually struck him hard, but she confessed she was so surprised by how well he took it that she caused an outtake. She said she felt sorry afterward and couldn't hit as hard anymore, and she still feels sorry, showing a humane side.
Her connection with Yoo Se-yoon also produced big laughs. Bringing up their Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts ties, she explained, "It's awkward to call him my pupil," and Yoo Se-yoon responded with a "miraculous calculation" of "so I'm the senior," which bounced back. Song Ok-sook said she wanted to check the title of "national younger man" and raised the mood with an impromptu line like "try to woo me," and she naturally connected that to the fact she is co-starring with Park Geun-hyung as his wife in the play 'The Dresser,' completing the chemistry.
Choi Hyun-woo lamented, "YouTube is the worst these days," and pointed out changes around the magic world. From when he first performed magic on TV in 1998 to now, the trend shifted from cutting and levitation-centered tricks to audience participation, he explained. He added that the most difficult point for magicians is the environment where magic is analyzed at 0.25 speed and the age when you can ask AI questions like "how do you cut a person," which drew empathy.
The "magician recognized by AI" verification added interest. When Won-hee asked the AI, "Who is Korea's national magician?" the AI pointed to Choi Hyun-woo, and a skeptical Kim Gu Ra rephrased the question for reconfirmation but got the same result. Kim Gu Ra joked, "Eun-gyeol, you work hard too," turning the set into a sea of laughter, and Choi Hyun-woo relaxed by saying, "I was more nervous than entering a magic Olympics."
Choi Hyun-woo confessed he even called an emergency meeting before appearing because of Kim Gu Ra. The reason was, "magic must be perfect in front of Gu Ra hyung." When someone said it was hard to satisfy him because of an extreme T tendency, Song Ok-sook retorted, "I'm T too," continuing the back-and-forth, and Kim Gu Ra replied, "Park Geun-hyung is T too," keeping the flow.
Choi Hyun-woo revealed the behind-the-scenes of the group hypnotic magic show that earned him the nickname "K Harry Potter." When the scale and process were introduced, the cast were amazed, and Choi Hyun-woo's obsessive preparation for magic added credibility. He broadened the laughter with a magical anecdote that a lottery number was told to him in a dream.
Finally, Choi Hyun-woo wrapped up the finale by performing a joint magic act with girl group ILLIT member Won-hee. When cast members from different generations took the stage together, the atmosphere heated up, and the tempo befitting a "national magician" drove the flow of the talk.
Despite it being her first terrestrial talk-variety appearance, Won-hee left a clear presence. She drew a line by saying, "not the nation's younger sister but an aspirant," and, claiming she is also a national figure, she cheerfully said, "national ant, national weed, national sprout are also possible." She added quick wit by saying 'Radio Star' started in 2007 and she was born in 2007, calling them "our friends," which added to the laughter.
Won-hee shared behind-the-scenes of a stage where IU gave her a "shoutout." Preparing a cover stage of "Good Day" at the year-end music festival, she practiced the three-step high notes until she cried, and she said IU's words, "I saw your stage. You did so well," gave her great strength. The rookie's tension and growth were conveyed simultaneously, heating the talk.
Talk about her life as an adult continued. She said she turned 20 this year and recounted having drinks with her parents, and she joked that now she could walk into late-night horror movies "with her shoulders back." She also told a story about buying alcohol at a convenience store for the first time, "preparing her ID in advance and acting like an adult," which came alive with Won-hee's characteristic cute reactions.
She did not miss showcasing her talents. After a 'Jjanggu voice impression,' she reversed the mood by eating a whole lemon and finished with a 'mochi piece,' protecting her talents. She even set up an impromptu showdown with Kim Gu Ra, showing the proactive energy of a "variety rookie," and summarized the meaning of her first 'Radio Star' appearance by saying, "my dream was to be ganged up on."
Meanwhile, next week's broadcast on the 21st is previewed to be a 'Words, words, words! As you say!' special featuring Lee Keum-hee, Yeom Kyung-hwan, Ku Hye-sun, and Jeon Min-gi, raising expectations.
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBC
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