Choi Soo-ho Impresses with 32 Points in First Performance on 'Current King of Masked Singers 2'

Choi Soo-ho made a striking debut on the first episode of MBN's 'Current King of Masked Singers 2', which aired on November 26, 2024. The show features 34 active male singers competing for a spot in the top 7 who will represent South Korea in the upcoming 'Korea-Japan King of Singers' competition in 2025.

During the episode, host Shin Dong-yeop asked the contestants if anyone wanted to take the stage first. Choi Soo-ho and No Ji-hoon both stepped forward simultaneously, generating excitement among the audience. Shin Dong-yeop humorously inquired if it was indeed the two of them, to which No Ji-hoon joked, "It’s because of my pants."

Choi Soo-ho expressed his eagerness to perform first, stating, "Since I was the first to arrive at the competition venue, I want to go first. If there’s Suho in EXO, then there’s me, Choi Soo-ho, in the trot world. I came here to compete with my esteemed seniors." His confidence was evident.

In a show of support, No Ji-hoon pressed the button to vote for Choi Soo-ho even before he began singing. Shin Dong-yeop teased him, saying, "No Ji-hoon, you’re quite clever. You pressed the button now and later you can say, 'Soo-ho, I pressed it. You know what that means, right?'"

After his performance, Choi Soo-ho received an impressive score of 32 out of 33 points. The atmosphere shifted when Hwanhee made his entrance, as he was identified as the contestant most likely to be targeted by the other 31 participants.

When it was his turn, Hwanhee introduced himself as a 26-year veteran R&B singer, admitting, "It feels awkward for me to be on this stage, and I’m quite nervous too." He shared his motivation for participating, saying, "I’ve never sung trot before, but my mother told me, 'I can’t sing along to my son’s songs.' I wanted to perform for her before she gets older, which is why I decided to take on this challenge."

Hwanhee emphasized the cultural significance of trot, stating, "Isn’t trot the music of Koreans? I want to challenge myself and learn, so I’m here to avoid any regrets as a singer. I was worried about being eliminated, but I don’t regret my decision. I’ll do my best as far as I can."

He chose to perform Kang Seung-mo’s 'Mujeong Blues' and received a perfect score of 33 points, earning the title of 'All-In'. Hwanhee humbly remarked, "Since it’s my first time, I appreciate the generous scores."

After stepping off the stage, Hwanhee shared with the production team, "When I said I would challenge myself with trot, it felt like they were saying, 'Go ahead, try it, and see if you can survive.' I felt relieved thinking, 'I’ve made it this far.'"

'Current King of Masked Singers 2' is a large-scale project commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, aiming to select the top 7 male singers who will represent South Korea in the 'Korea-Japan King of Singers' competition in 2025.