Choi Jae-myung Takes 5th Place and Wins Hallyu Star Award at Mister Trot 3

Choi Jae-myung (26), who secured 5th place in the final rankings of Mister Trot 3 and was awarded the Hallyu Star Award by Master Takahashi Yoko from Mister Trot Japan, expressed his gratitude for the support he received from fellow contestants. He stated, "This competition was a journey where I risked my musical future, and thanks to the guidance and help from my older brothers, I was able to complete it successfully. It felt like a growth story, much like in the movie Saving Private Ryan, shaped by their assistance."

A prodigy in traditional Korean music, Choi shared in a recent interview that while he loves music, pursuing a career as a 'sori-gun' (traditional singer) has not been without its challenges. He applied for the competition with a sense of urgency, viewing it as his last chance.

Hailing from Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, Choi and his younger sister, who is two years his junior, participated in various pansori competitions during their elementary school years, earning the nickname 'genius pansori siblings.' After their parents' divorce, he moved to Seoul with his sister to ease their father's burden of raising them alone, taking on various part-time jobs to cover their tuition and living expenses. "When I arrived at the preliminary audition, I was amazed by the talent of the other contestants. There were professional singers and non-professionals alike who sang exceptionally well. I was shocked to be selected as the Master’s choice for beauty (미), thinking, 'Am I really someone worthy of such attention?'

Choi often feels grateful yet somewhat trapped by descriptors like 'first-time audition' and 'freshness' that accompany his introduction. He reflected, "While others see it as a unique 'weapon,' I wonder how long I can rely on my freshness in the professional world. I have been contemplating how to grow and gain recognition among seasoned professionals, and creating my performances has been both a struggle and a joy."

He sought out older contestants he had casually greeted during their stay together. "I have a habit of lagging behind the beat in traditional music, so I asked (Kim) Yong-bin to help me correct it. His ability to push and pull the rhythm is remarkable. When I started using vocal techniques I wasn't familiar with in trot, I quickly strained my voice, and (Chun-gil) stepped in to help. He taught me various vocal styles and encouraged me to think about what suits me best. (Son) Bin-ah also provided key insights on controlling vocal power during our one-on-one death match."

Choi chose Jang Min-ho's 'Yeonriji' as his life song, acknowledging the hard work his peers put in behind the scenes and expressing a desire not to part ways with such amazing individuals who are also taking risks in their lives.

When asked about his feelings after being named one of the Top 7 and receiving the Hallyu Star Award, he humbly replied, "I am still in the learning phase. I will continue to learn and improve, hoping that even those who may have disliked me in the past will one day say, 'Jae-myung is finally singing well!'"