Song Daekwan and Joo Hyunmi Critique Trot Performances on 'Current King of Trot 2'

On January 14, 2025, the MBN music survival show 'Current King of Trot 2' showcased a notable face-off between contestants following the announcement of the second round results. The team led by Enok (에녹), which included Park Seo-jin (박서진), Noh Ji-hoon (노지훈), Han Gang (한강), and Kim Kyung-min (김경민), emerged victorious, ensuring all members advanced to the next stage. In contrast, Yang Ji-won (양지원), Choi Woo-jin (최우진), Yoo Min (유민), Gong Hoon (공훈), and Jeon Jong-hyuk (전종혁) were eliminated, leaving fans disappointed.

Enok, who was named MVP of the second round, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform alongside his fellow contestants, stating, "I have learned a lot while participating in 'Current King of Trot.' I feel more thankful for the chance to create another great stage with these individuals than for receiving the MVP title."

The competition then moved to the first round of the third stage, featuring a 'one-song battle.' After watching the performance of Noh Ji-hoon and Park Gu-yoon (박구윤), judge Seol Woon-do (설운도) praised Noh Ji-hoon for making the song his own, while he criticized Park Gu-yoon for his repetitive style and dark attire, suggesting it made him appear older. Ultimately, Noh Ji-hoon won the round.

Joo Hyunmi (주현미) commented on the performance of Enok and Kim Soo-chan (김수찬), expressing disappointment, saying, "It was ambiguous. I had high expectations for this team but felt let down. I wasn't moved by their performance." Kim Soo-chan, however, won decisively against Enok.

In a pre-battle exchange, Jae-ha (재하) attempted to intimidate Hwanhee (환희) by suggesting that trot seemed easy, to which Hwanhee confidently replied, "You might beat me, but it won't be easy." After their performances, Seol Woon-do advised Hwanhee to avoid straining his voice during high notes and criticized Jae-ha for not putting in enough effort, stating, "You haven't changed at all. This isn't acceptable."

Joo Hyunmi was taken aback after watching Jin Hae-sung (진해성) and Han Gang's performance, remarking, "You need to incorporate both technique and emotion, but it seemed like they didn't even know what song they were singing today. I will refrain from commenting further."

Seol Woon-do and Nam Jin (남진) agreed that the song should not be performed as a trot. The mid-round rankings revealed some surprises, with Park Gu-yoon, Jin Hae-sung, Enok, and Hwang Min-ho (황민호) among the bottom nine.

The second round of the third stage introduced a twist, where each performance would be worth double the points from the first round. Contestants' rankings would be determined by the total scores from both rounds.