MBN ‘The King of Active Singers 3’
‘The King of Active Singers 3’ crowned Hong Ji-yoon as the third ‘King of Active Singers’, bringing a dazzling finale.
The final episode of MBN ‘The King of Active Singers 3’, aired on the 10th (Tue), recorded a per-minute peak rating of 12.4% and a nationwide rating of 11.7% (based on Nielsen Korea). In particular, through to the finale, for six consecutive weeks it swept first place in Tuesday all-channel ratings across all programs aired on terrestrial-general programming-cable channels, demonstrating the overwhelming prowess of a survival show that truly represents South Korea.
In the much-anticipated final of ‘The King of Active Singers 3’, the TOP9 Hong Ji-yoon-Cha Ji-yeon-Gu Soo-kyung-Solji-Kim Tae-yeon-Kang Hye-yeon-Lee Soo-yeon-Hong Ja-Geum Jandi, following the first round of the final, fought their last fierce battle to become the third King with the second-round mission ‘Song of the Active’. With their beloved families watching, the TOP9 poured their hearts into the life-defining songs they had prepared to comfort the nation, delivering a poignant resonance and deep emotion.
Going on stage first, Geum Jandi told her upset mother, “I am happy because I felt everything like excitement and a rush on a big stage,” expressing the joy she gained by taking part in ‘The King of Active Singers 3’. Choosing ‘Daejeon Blues’, which she called “the first song of my life,” she showcased a rich, full-throated performance that maximized the seasoned depth of a veteran of classic trot. After the stage, she plopped down and joked, “I fell and then climbed back up. Mom and Dad almost passed out,” but with the celebrity judges giving a highest score of 90 and a lowest of 30, she confirmed a higher-than-ever threshold for the final.
Having struggled with vocal cord nodules and the flu, Hong Ja said, “I want to do the last stage well for the fans,” and selected ‘You Are Beautiful’, which she had once sung directly for a bedridden fan. Pouring out emotive lyrics and melody, she received the review, “It gave strength to herself and comfort to us who listened,” but had to swallow disappointment with a highest score of 93 and a lowest of 30.
Lee Soo-yeon said, “Thinking of the love of my grandmother who filled the absence of my parents, I want to comfort everyone,” and expressed heartfelt gratitude with ‘Healing Hands’, moistening the eyes of all. She shed tears for the first time and received high praise from Ju Hyun-mi as “a very perfect and professional singer,” then smiled after earning a highest score of 100 and a lowest of 55.
Rechallenging on ‘The King of Active Singers 3’, Kang Hye-yeon, who had said, “It was very hard because I kept getting eliminated,” ranked first in the nationwide support vote and reignited her resolve, saying, “I cannot fall here.” Selecting ‘Dream’, she burst forth with earnest sincerity, and amid praise that “You really sang this song well,” she received a highest score of 100 and a lowest of 50, shedding tears of joy.
Kim Tae-yeon said, “My driving force is family, especially my grandfather,” recalling happy times spent with him, then, after sharing about the hard days with the flu, she delivered ‘Eomae’ with ample vocal power and her signature emotive interpretation. Receiving the compliment, “Singers who saw this stage might even decide to retire,” Kim Tae-yeon scored a highest of 100 and a lowest of 50, tying with Kang Hye-yeon.
Solji said, “With all my heart, I want to gift this song to my parents,” and in the process of selecting ‘Years That Cannot Be Turned Back’ she expressed her sorrow, saying, “Thinking of Mom makes me cry.” With solid, well-honed vocals, she preserved the heart-rending emotional line intact, and alongside Yoon Myung-sun’s lavish praise, “You became so sincere. Congratulations on pioneering the land of trot,” she received a highest score of 100 and a lowest of 65, leaping straight to first place.
Gu Soo-kyung visited the market where she had performed during her days as an unknown singer and, after receiving tearful support from her parents, took the stage. Selecting ‘The Road That Goes Round and Round’, she unleashed her signature explosive vocals that fuse trot and rock, and her mother, watching, sobbed as she looked at her daughter who had worked so hard. Even receiving Enoch’s confession, “I became such a fan. It was the very best stage,” Gu Soo-kyung secured a top-tier position with a highest score of 100 and a lowest of 55.
Cha Ji-yeon appeared not in a glamorous dress but in a modest hanbok with a side bun adorned with a binyeo hairpin, puzzling everyone. Meeting the benefactor who made her participation in ‘The King of Active Singers 3’ a reality and firming her resolve, she chose the classic trot ‘Spring Days Pass’ and completed an overwhelming, musical-like stage structured as a sorrowful story in which 83-year-old Jung Ae-sim looks back on life. Singing the first verse as if acting in the voice of Jung Ae-sim, she moved the masters Seol Woon-do, Ju Hyun-mi, Park Seo-jin, Lyn, and even the national judging panel to tears, earning a highest score of 100 and a lowest of 65.
Hong Ji-yoon reflected on her competition journey, saying, “‘King of Active Singers’ was a series of challenges. I wanted to show a new side that does not rest on my laurels.” Containing the wish, “I came to and learned trot because of my grandmother. I hope my grandmother lives for a long time,” she selected ‘My Dear Mother’ and, with an artful singing style, proved ultimate skill befitting a classic trot purist. Amid high praise that “Applause to the effort and ability to turn any song into a legendary stage,” she rose to a joint first place with Solji and Cha Ji-yeon with a highest score of 100 and a lowest of 65.
After the final match of the championship ended, the final ranking was announced by adding the on-site judging results of the second round to the total from the first round, plus the nationwide support vote, the score for the new track, and the real-time text vote. The real-time text vote totaled 1,207,267, confirming overwhelming support for ‘The King of Active Singers 3’.
The honor of the third ‘King of Active Singers’ went to Hong Ji-yoon, who received 196,188 of the 1,207,267 total real-time text votes and recorded a total score of 3,727 points. Next, in order, Cha Ji-yeon-Lee Soo-yeon-Gu Soo-kyung-Kang Hye-yeon-Kim Tae-yeon-Solji entered the TOP7 and were selected as national representatives.
Repeatedly transforming every round and proving a wide musical spectrum, Hong Ji-yoon said in tears, “I agonized a great deal before entering ‘King of Active Singers’. Because I became a singer through an audition and debuted with too little preparation, I thought I was very lacking. So I took courage and challenged myself because I wanted to show growth and improvement. I will continue to work hard and do my best to become a fine musician.”
The production team of ‘The King of Active Singers 3’ said, “We thank the viewers who supported and stood by the 100-day grand journey of ‘The King of Active Singers 3’ to the very end. The third King Hong Ji-yoon and the TOP7 will repay viewers with love through diverse activities going forward. Please send much interest and support to the ‘2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Match’, where the TOP7 will take the stage as national representatives.”
