Son Tae-jin Talks Prize Money from 'Burning Trotman' on 'Radio Star'

On January 22, 2025, during the special 'O-Singer Game' episode of MBC's variety show Radio Star (라디오스타), Son Tae-jin (손태진) discussed the prize money he received from the competition 'Burning Trotman' (불타는 트롯맨).

Son revealed that he had been misled into a job by Yoon Jong-shin (윤종신), stating, "I was told they would create a second Kim Dong-ryul. I trusted only Yoon Jong-shin, but his interests shifted quickly." This comment resonated with the MCs, who shared in his sentiment.

He humorously recalled, "I was very interested in 'Phantom Singer' (팬텀싱어), but soon after, he became engrossed in 'Super Band' (슈퍼밴드). It left me wondering who to trust."

Son also marked his eighth anniversary with Mystic Entertainment, mentioning he had renewed his contract once. When the MCs expressed surprise, he noted, "I believe this opportunity today is thanks to those eight years."

Particularly noteworthy was Son's mention of the prize from 'Burning Trotman.' He explained, "At the time, 'Squid Game' (오징어게임) was trending, and they created a cumulative prize system where 100 contestants sang and competed hard, and I ended up winning it." The final prize amounted to 630 million KRW, and after taxes, he received around 400 million KRW.

He added that there was no second-place prize, likening the competition to 'Squid Game.' After winning, he decided to donate part of his winnings, feeling that it wasn't entirely his to keep as the chosen winner through public voting.

This candid sharing of his experiences and winnings captivated the audience and highlighted the competitive nature of the show.