Dongguk University's 'Musical Prince' Hwang Geon-woo Leads TV Chosun College Song Festival Semifinals

The semifinals of the 'TV Chosun College Song Festival' kicked off with 16 teams competing for a spot in the finals, airing Thursday night at 10 PM. In the broadcast on the 28th, half of the semifinal performances were revealed, with Dongguk University's Hwang Geon-woo, known as the 'Musical Prince,' currently holding the top position.

Following closely in second place is 'Oysters,' a spirited duo of 17-year-old twins who have garnered attention for their bold performances.

The semifinals are scored out of a total of 2000 points, with 800 points from judges and 1200 points from the audience. Only the top 10 teams will advance to the finals. The order of performances was determined by the participants' self-evaluation rankings, starting from the lowest.

The first team to perform was 'Twenty-One,' an acoustic duo from Myongji University, who showcased their bright energy with The Classic's 'Fox.' Their performance was praised for bringing a festive atmosphere to the semifinals, with comments like, "It felt like spring on campus despite the autumn season," and "The tension transcended competition." They received a score of 657 from the judges.

Next, Baek Seok-yeob from Baekseok University, ranked 15th in self-evaluation, put down his guitar to deliver a powerful vocal performance of Yoon Do-hyun's 'Tarzan.' His stage was described as a "perfect culmination of everything he has worked on so far," earning him a score of 707.

In 14th place, Lee Dong-hyun from Dongduk Women's University performed Kim Hyun-sik's 'Always by Your Side.' While he received positive feedback for his unique tone, there were concerns that he did not fully utilize his strengths, resulting in a score of 645.

Ranked 13th, the 'Concept Artisan' team, Navy Chicken Stew from Seoul Institute of the Arts, expressed the frustrations of modern life through their rendition of 'Please' by Deulgukhwa. Their performance was noted for its dramatic direction and storytelling, earning them a score of 690.

Hwang Geon-woo, the 'Musical Prince,' performed 'Wings' by Heo Young-ran, conveying messages of hope and comfort. Judge Yoon Sang expressed surprise, stating, "Geon-woo breathed new life into this song," and praised the performance as a rediscovery of the piece, awarding him a score of 718.

Min-woo Lee from Seokyeong University, ranked 11th, attempted to make a statement with Park Hyo-shin's 'Wildflower.' However, he struggled with tension, leading to an unstable performance, and received a score of 679.

In 10th place, the youngest band at 17, Oysters from Howon University, delivered an explosive performance of 'Radio' by Transfiction, showcasing their growth and earning a score of 713. Judges expressed their belief that the band is on the path to becoming a significant force in the music scene.

The performances of the remaining teams will be revealed next week, with Hwang Geon-woo currently in the lead and Oysters in second place. The final scores, including audience votes, will be disclosed after all performances are completed, determining which teams will advance to the finals.

Meanwhile, host Jeon Hyun-moo continued to prove his status as the 'National MC,' lightening the mood after Lee Jae-yeob expressed regret post-performance, and sharing an emotional moment with Park Sol as she became teary-eyed while discussing her stage experience.

Next week promises to bring more surprises and fierce competition as the semifinals continue.