Hong Ji-yoon decided to go all in for a real showdown!
In the finale of MBN’s ‘2026 Korea-Japan Singer Match’ on the 12th, the Top 7 trot representatives from both nations clashed in a battle of pride. Korean Queen Hong Ji-yoon and Japanese Queen Bon Inoue fought for the throne, while the youngest members, Lee Su-yeon and Arakawa Karen, took the mic once again following their first round of the preliminaries.
Ahead of the battle, Hong Ji-yoon stood her ground, declaring, “There can’t be two queens in the ‘Korea-Japan Singer Match.’ The queen is me, Hong Ji-yoon.” Bon Inoue responded by saying, “I want to compete with my pride on the line,” ramping up the tension on stage.
Hong Ji-yoon took a bold approach by choosing traditional Japanese Enka. She selected ‘Bokyo Shoka,’ released in 1985 by Hosokawa Takashi, and even invited a professional shamisen player from Japan to elevate the quality of the performance. Bon Inoue countered with MAMAMOO’s ‘Decalcomanie,’ delivering an energetic performance that blended rap and choreography. With two such vastly different styles, judge Takenaka Yudai shook his head, admitting, “It’s not easy to decide the vote.”
However, the results differed in terms of execution. After her performance, Bon Inoue burst into tears, admitting, “I made a mistake.” Yudai offered warm comfort, saying, “The stage itself was great, and your strictness toward yourself was touching.” He then gave a thumbs-up to Hong Ji-yoon, praising her, “Your Japanese pronunciation was so natural. It was a performance worthy of a climax.” The final vote from the Korea-Japan celebrity panel was 80 to 40 in favor of Hong Ji-yoon. Cha Ji-yeon hugged Hong Ji-yoon as she left the stage, telling her, “You worked so hard.”
Meanwhile, the 3rd round featured a 1-on-1 match where the youngest members had a rematch. Korea’s youngest, Lee Su-yeon, called out Japan’s youngest, Arakawa Karen, giving Karen a chance to avenge her loss from the first round. Karen showed her determination, saying, “I will win this time.” Lee Su-yeon brought laughter with a cute provocation, asking, “Do you see stars before your eyes? You’ll see stars after you lose to me and get hit with a blow!”
Going first, Lee Su-yeon chose Park Seo-jin’s ‘Star Star,’ showcasing delicate emotions and solid vocals that belied her 12 years of age. Karen sang Lee Sun-hee’s ‘To J’ in Korean, adding her own fresh sensibility to the song. The result of the fierce battle was a 60 to 60 draw, leaving the judges visibly surprised by the unexpected outcome.
