Tensions Rise Between Cha Woong-ki and Jang Kyung-ho in 'Universe League'

The competition heated up in the latest episode of SBS's global boy group audition program, 'Universe League' (유니버스 리그), which aired on December 13, 2024. The fourth episode showcased the players as they faced off in the second round of league missions.

This round featured a showdown between the main and bench players. Team coaches prepared new songs for their main members, while bench players had to perform songs from the opposing team's main members. The stakes were raised as the winning team would have their song released under their name.

Team Rhythm presented the powerful track 'IGNITION', Team Beat showcased the ambitious 'MAMMA MIA (WHO WE ARE)' by El Capitan, and Team Groove brought forth 'Prison', reminiscent of Big Bang and BEAST. The main players expressed their excitement and admiration after hearing the new songs.

The bench players faced the challenge of performing songs from the main members of other teams. Team Groove's bench, having ranked first in the first round, had the privilege of choosing their opponent and selected Team Beat's main players. Notably, the rivalry intensified between Team Groove's bench leader Jang Kyung-ho and Team Beat's MVP Cha Woong-ki, who previously worked together in the group TO1 but now have a strained relationship.

As Team Groove's bench chose Team Beat's main players, Team Rhythm's main members naturally faced Team Beat's bench, while Team Groove's main members competed against Team Rhythm's bench. In this round, the two lowest-ranked teams faced the risk of elimination with yellow cards. The rankings for this round would be determined by a combination of on-site fan votes and online votes. Team Beat's bench had already received seven yellow cards in the first round, adding pressure to their performance.

The first match saw Team Rhythm's main players face off against Team Beat's bench. The lineup for Team Rhythm included the newly traded member, Zeun, who seemed to struggle with the new team dynamics but gradually adapted with the help of Jang Shuai-bo. Zeun expressed confidence, stating, "It already feels like family, so I think we can win."

Team Rhythm's performance of 'IGNITION' was flawless, showcasing the talents of aces like Park Joo-won, JL, Zeun, and Steven, which drew gasps of admiration. Meanwhile, Team Beat's coach, Yoo Kyum, could only bite his lip in frustration.

Team Beat's bench faced challenges, particularly with Park Ji-hoon, who had received the lowest score in the first round due to a lack of commitment during practice. Alongside Ji-hoon, bench members Jiang Pan and Kim Dong-yoon prepared a secret weapon for their performance.

Although Team Beat's bench's rendition of 'IGNITION' received praise, it could not match the quality of Team Rhythm's performance, resulting in a victory for Team Rhythm's main players.

The second match featured Team Beat's main players against Team Groove's bench. Cha Woong-ki displayed his competitive spirit before the match, stating, "It’s funny that we ended up on the same show, but if it weren’t for this, we wouldn’t have met. I didn’t want to see him again. I’ll show him that I’m not still a high school student."

Despite his determination, Team Beat's main players fell short during the mid-check, prompting Coach Yoo Kyum to criticize their performance, saying, "It’s obvious you’re out of breath and can’t even hear the song. Your breathing is all over the place."

Team Beat's main performance of 'MAMMA MIA' was eventually revealed. After intense practice guided by Yoo Kyum's advice, they delivered a high-quality performance that earned applause. Jang Kyung-ho from Team Groove expressed concern, saying, "This battle could get tough," while Cha Woong-ki declared, "I don’t want to lose."

With unresolved feelings fueling their rivalry, the question remains: who will emerge victorious between Cha Woong-ki and Jang Kyung-ho?

'Universe League' is a league-style survival program co-produced by SBS and F&F Entertainment, marking the second season of 'Universe Ticket', which created the global girl group UNIS.

The fifth episode of 'Universe League' is set to air on December 20 at 11:20 PM.