Mr. Trot Stars Return as Judges: Lee Chan-won, Youngest Solo Grand Prize Winner in KBS Entertainment Awards History, Joins "Mr. Trot 4"
Six past contestants from the first three seasons of Mr. Trot, including Lee Chan-won, will serve as senior masters on TV CHOSUN's "Mr. Trot 4", which premieres in December.
Stars produced by "Mr. Trot" are coming back to find the next generation's leading names. Six alumni of the first three seasons will sit as senior masters on TV CHOSUN's "Mr. Trot 4", including Lee Chan-won, who in 2024 became the youngest man in the history of the KBS Entertainment Awards to win the top prize alone.
Joining from "Mr. Trot 1" are Lee Chan-won and Kim Hee-jae. From "Mr. Trot 2" come Ahn Sung-hoon and Park Ji-hyun, and from "Mr. Trot 3" Kim Yong-bin and Son Bin-a.
Lee Chan-won's return draws the most attention
Lee Chan-won reached the top three of "Mr. Trot 1" and has since worked not only as a singer but also as a host of entertainment and music programs. Attention is on what role he will play in the main competition, given his extensive knowledge of trot and his friendly way with words.
Winners, runners-up and a finalist from three seasons
From the most recent season, "Mr. Trot 3", the winner Kim Yong-bin and the runner-up Son Bin-a take part. Kim Yong-bin has depth in traditional trot and delicate expressiveness, while Son Bin-a proved his ability after several attempts. How they will view the younger contestants' musical individuality and potential for growth is also of interest.
Kim Hee-jae, a top-seven finisher on "Mr. Trot 1", is also on the panel. He is expected to point out contestants' varied charms through stages that combine vocal ability and performance.
The "Mr. Trot 2" winner Ahn Sung-hoon and runner-up Park Ji-hyun also lend their support. Ahn Sung-hoon is expected to offer empathy and encouragement, drawing on the experience of winning after a second attempt. Park Ji-hyun, known for a powerful voice and energetic stages, plans to look at contestants' potential and popular appeal.
What the panel is expected to bring
The six masters are expected to give realistic advice based on having competed themselves. Their differing perspectives on vocal ability, emotional expression and performance are expected to make the judging scenes a new point of interest. Attention is also turning to how the group will judge and advise the new contestants, with stars of each season gathered in one place.
Broadcast
TV CHOSUN's "Mr. Trot 4" premieres in December.
Covers K-pop for KSW Journal, and also writes about Culture and K-Variety.
Comments 0
Comments are currently disabled.