CREA Studio

On ‘The King of Active-Duty Singers 3’, Gu Soo-kyung and Hong Ji-yoon shocked viewers by placing first and ninth, respectively, in the interim standings of Round 1 of the third main match, and now they head into a do-or-die showdown to either cement the lead or pull off a reversal.

MBN’s ‘The King of Active-Duty Singers 3’ broke its own record again in Episode 7 with a peak rating of 12.5% and a nationwide rating of 11.5% (Nielsen Korea). Airing on the 3rd (Tue), it topped all channels across terrestrial, general programming, and cable, including every program, cementing its status as the undisputed “absolute king of variety.” In addition, in the TV-OTT search-response rankings for Week 5 of January released by the K-content competitiveness analysis firm Good Data Corporation, it surged two spots to land in the TOP 3, proving its scorching buzz.

Gu Soo-kyung and Hong Ji-yoon will take the stage for Round 2 of the third main match, the “War of Fate,” in Episode 8 of ‘The King of Active-Duty Singers 3’ airing today, the 10th, to grab a direct ticket to the semifinals. First, in Round 1 of the third main match, “Witch Hunt 2,” Gu Soo-kyung faced Chu Da-hye and, even securing a 30-point benefit from the Legendary Witches, amassed an overwhelming 289 points. As a result, she delivered a dramatic twist by rising to No. 1 in the interim standings, proving the mettle of a rising dark horse.

Regarding writing this miraculous run, Gu Soo-kyung reveals her bold ambition: “Being in first place suddenly made me feel even more pressure. It feels like a dream. I had planned to pour everything out without greed, but as the competition goes on, I find myself wanting it more.” Attention is focused on what kind of killer-stage move Gu Soo-kyungwho is rapidly emerging as a powerful title contender by mastering a wide range of genreswill unveil, and whether she can cement her No. 1 from Round 1.

By contrast, Hong Ji-yoon, who had been counted as a strong title favorite even before ‘The King of Active-Duty Singers 3’ began, lost by a narrow margin in her single-song duel with musical top-tier Cha Ji-yeon in Round 1 of the third main match and ended up ninth in the interim standings, causing a stir. It was a shocking turn in which the MVP of the second main match suddenly became a candidate for elimination.

In response, wearing a retro-style red polka-dot outfit she made herself, Hong Ji-yoon sets out to turn the rankings around with a rousing performance of “Mr. You.” After the stage, the masters praised her passion, saying to Hong Ji-yoon, “There is talk that because of ‘The King of Active-Duty Singers 3’ you opened an overdraft account,” and her stagestaking it all on a transformation that ranges from visual concept to song choice and performancedraws intense interest.

Meanwhile, because Round 2 of the third main match, the “War of Fate,” carries a total of 900 pointsthree times more than Round 1it foreshadows a fierce upheaval in the standings until the very end. For the first time in the history of the ‘King of Active-Duty Singers’ series, an active singer takes the stage with hip-hop and rap, while another makes a shock transformation into pumba, prompting a full standing ovation on site, among a feast of diverse stages. At one point, an active singer is even captured getting a nosebleed in the waiting room due to extreme tension. Curiosity is mounting over the results of Round 2 of the third main match, the “War of Fate,” which has piled on immense pressure.

The producers stated, “Round 2 of the third main match is a crucial stage that puts not only the survival of the active singers but also their pride on the line,” adding, “To reach the semifinals, the power of the active singers who have pushed beyond their limits will explode. Please look forward to it.”

Meanwhile, MBN’s ‘The King of Active-Duty Singers 3’ is a national-team selection survival music variety show in which South Korea’s top-tier active singers across genres gather and wage a fierce battle for the Taegeuk emblem. Episode 8 airs at 9:50 p.m. on the 10th (today).