Monster vocalist Son Seung-yeon took first place in the first contest of "1deungs".
The fierce showdown for the pride of South Korea's audition winners, MBC's new variety show "1deungs," dominated living rooms from the first broadcast by staging a nerve-wracking throne-reclaiming battle that continued with Heo Gak, Lee Ye-ji and Son Seung-yeon. Viewers responded to an unprecedented singing contest among first-place winners. As a result, "1deungs" proved its powerful presence by posting a 4.4% rating in its first episode (Nielsen Korea, nationwide). In particular, the showdown between Son Seung-yeon, the "monster vocalist" who shocked the music industry by winning 'Voice Korea' 13 years ago, and Lee Ye-ji, the new star of 2025, was nothing short of an all-time drama.
On "1deungs," a brutal contest unfolded among nine audition winners representing broadcasters, including 'Superstar K', 'The Ballad of Us', 'Birth of a Great Star', 'Voice Korea', 'Tomorrow's National Singer' and 'K-pop Star.' The narrative of the day's contest opened with 'audition first generation' Heo Gak, was shaken by the "fearsome rookie" Lee Ye-ji, and concluded with the "monster vocalist" Son Seung-yeon.
The first performer to appear on the "1deungs" stage was Heo Gak, the winner of 'Superstar K2' and the originator of the audition craze in Korea. He sang his winning song "Always" from 16 years ago with a superb vocal that belied the years. Panelist Heo Sung-tae said, "When I was working and preparing for actor auditions, I always listened to this song while working out as I lost weight from 95kg to 75kg," and wiped his eyes, and Heo Gak, befitting an 'audition first generation,' displayed dignity as the first owner of the gold line symbolizing first place.
But Heo Gak's reign was halted by The Ballad of Us winner Lee Ye-ji. Armed with determination, the "audition world's rookie" Lee Ye-ji captivated the audience with unique emotion and raw charm. MC and audition fan Lee Min-jung cried uncontrollably from the first note as Lee Ye-ji's whirlwind was so strong, and Lee Gak went on to defeat formidable seniors such as Park Chang-geun, Lee Ye-jun and Ulala Session in succession, setting the remarkable record of eight consecutive wins.
Just when Lee Ye-ji's perfect victory seemed certain, the most feared first-place singer, Voice Korea winner Son Seung-yeon, appeared and turned the tables. Choosing the song "Muldeureo," Son Seung-yeon dominated the stage with overwhelming power and momentum. Baek Ji-young praised her, saying, "It's more than perfect; it's insane," and even Lee Ye-ji, who had been riding an eight-win streak, could not hide her tension, saying, "The resonance is terrifying." Ultimately, in the final vote Son Seung-yeon took first place, halting the momentum of the surging rookie and stopping a generational vocal change.
The panels' reactions that day proved the level of the performances. Actor Heo Sung-tae said, "I haven't been able to go to the bathroom for 4 hours and 30 minutes while holding my seat. I feel like I've been reborn today," and was moved, and Kim Chae-won (LE SSERAFIM) praised the show, saying, "It was so soul-stirring it felt worth paying to watch."
Son Seung-yeon, who grabbed first place in the first episode, left a relaxed remark: "I showed restraint today," and Lee Ye-ji, who was narrowly pushed into second place, vowed, "I will definitely beat my senior," burning with fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, "1deungs," which declared a ranking reset, promised an even bloodier war next week. MBC's "1deungs" airs every Sunday at 9:10 p.m.
[Photo] "1deungs"
[OSEN]