With guest singers like Hyun Sook and Park Sang-chul joining the fun, MC Nam Hee-suk spotted a participant he believes could be a real rival to Son Bin-ah.
In the May 17 episode of KBS1’s ‘National Singing Contest’ held in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, composers Park Sung-hoon and Song Kwang-ho joined the panel as judges.
Hyun Sook kicked off the festivities in Hadong-gun with ‘Puk Ppajyeonna Bwa’, dominating the stage with her signature bright energy. Local star Son Bin-ah also made an appearance, showcasing powerful vocals with ‘Thank You’.
Meanwhile, a cute duo of 4th and 5th grade elementary students delivered a sweet performance of ‘Praise Whale’. Nam Hee-suk was amazed, asking, “You’re so good! Why are you such great singers?” The girls revealed they attended the same choir, and when Nam Hee-suk guessed they were the best in the group, they happily agreed.
The young participants shared a touching message for their 99-year-old great-grandmother currently in the hospital, wishing her health until she’s 200. They also performed the pansori ‘Sarangga’ and a captivating AI dance that caught everyone’s attention.
Next up were the ‘Hadong Sisters’, colleagues from the same workplace. They presented a seasoned raw marsh clam dish caught by local fishermen. When the band’s drummer, Park Jung-hyun, asked if it was fish, Nam Hee-suk jokingly teased him for having a “baby mouth.”
The show also featured ‘Hadong Pine Needle Hanwoo’, beef raised on pine needle yogurt. Nam Hee-suk raved about the tenderness, saying, “It’s so soft that seniors could eat this even without their dentures!” Guitarist Yoon Jung-sun caught everyone’s eye by popping four pieces of beef into his mouth at once. The local specialties concluded with a Hadong Matcha Strawberry Latte.
Another guest was Park Sang-chul, President of the Korea Singer Association and a former ‘National Singing Contest’ participant. Dressed in bold red, he energized the crowd with ‘Sijagi Ban’. Singer Gyu-ri, a former musical actress, also captivated the audience with ‘Tok! Ssonne’.
A participant from Nanjeong Village showcased traditional straw shoes and keyrings. Then, a beekeeping trio in sparkling outfits performed ‘Busan Station of Parting’, calling themselves the “youth generation.” Nam Hee-suk was so impressed by their looks that he exclaimed, “You’re so handsome, you look like movie stars!” One participant joked, “I’m famous for being a flower boy in my singing class. I guess I became handsome after turning 60.” Nam Hee-suk laughed, admitting, “I was terribly ugly when I was young, but I think I’m getting better now.”
The highlight came with a 3rd-year middle school student. Nam Hee-suk was floored, noting, “To sing this well during the voice-changing period is absolutely incredible.” Seeing a banner that read ‘Trot Prince Hwang Jung-min’, Nam Hee-suk declared, “If he debuts like this, he’ll be a rival to Kim Yong-bin!”
