MBN ‘Legend of the Nameless - Rank War of the Trot Men’ crowned its inaugural winner in the finale on the night of the 13th. Seongri kept up overwhelming momentum through the second round of the final, the ‘Life Masterpiece’ mission, to rise as the ‘First Legend’. However, another protagonist of this stage was the singer Haru.
Haru remained in fifth place, with 777 points, in the first round of the final. It was a situation that would make anyone click their tongue. Facing a moment when giving up might come to mind, Haru went into overdrive. In the second round, he captivated the audience and judges with gentle emotion and explosive expressiveness, taking the runner-up spot. Third went to Jang Han-Byul, fourth to Hwang Yoon-Seong, fifth to Jung Yeon-Ho, sixth to Lee Chang-Min, and seventh to Iru-Ne, all settling into the Top 7. Park Min-Su, Lee Dae-Hwan, and Kim Tae-Ung unfortunately finished eighth through tenth.
The journey of Haru was the core narrative of the program.
The 22-year-old from Cheongju, with a good-looking appearance at 176㎝ and, true to the nickname ‘Trot Little Prince’, a blend of purity and deep emotion, showed an almost undefeated run throughout his appearances. In the semifinals, he overwhelmed the strong favorite Seongri by 941:559 to seize a direct ticket to the final. He demonstrated both leadership and skill in the main round ace match and the team medley, earning the appraisal of a ‘fully formed rookie’.
Haru delivered a warm resonance by singing the composition ‘Key to Life’ by Son Tae-Jin in the first final, the ‘Hit Song Mission’, and in the second, the ‘Life Masterpiece’ mission, he proved his true value with his chosen song. His vocal, rising from a soft low register to high notes in the latter half, drew the assessment “The chest voice is really good”. The overall victory went to Seongri. It is something worthy of applause. Moreover, the runner-up finish by Haru is not only a matter for regret, because through ‘Legend of the Nameless’ he revealed a shining growth story.
Haru is already a seasoned contestant who set the records for youngest and most votes in the grand championship of ‘Morning Yard Challenge! Stage of Dreams’. Having lost his mother early and nurtured his musical dream on his own, his story elicited empathy from viewers and even gave birth to a passionate fandom called ‘All Day’. Through this program, he properly introduced himself to the public and has now emerged as a new hope for the trot scene.
The victory of Seongri was the fruit of the tenacious patience and skill of a challenger marked by ‘seven trials and eight comebacks’. The third place of Jang Han-Byul likewise proved his staying power and popularity. The singers who made the Top 7 are expected to completely shake off the ‘unknown’ label through a variety of opportunities on TV, in concerts, and in commercials.
‘Legend of the Nameless’ has breathed fresh air into the trot market. In particular, the emergence of newcomers with youthful sensibility and skill, like Haru, brightens the future of the genre. Although he remained the runner-up, the true legend of Haru is only beginning. Expectations are gathering as to what stages his resolve“I will work even harder in proportion to the great love I receive”will lead to next.
