Singer Chun-gil has claimed the second Golden Cup.
On the July 31st broadcast of TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday,' the final match to determine the second Golden Cup champion took place. Kim Yong-bin, Son Bin-a, and Chun-gil engaged in an intense three-way competition with generous championship pledges on the line, and in the end, Chun-gil emerged as the ultimate winner and became the Golden Cup champion. The broadcast recorded a 4% viewership rating according to Nielsen Korea's nationwide standard. This was the highest rating among daily cable channels, with peak viewership reaching 4.5%.
The season finale was marked by Golden Star Jung Su-ra. Jung Su-ra opened the show with her opening stage 'Love Once More,' displaying her consistent vocal ability and charisma. In the first match, Choo Hyuk-jin and Cheon Rok-dam faced off. Choo Hyuk-jin selected Jung Su-ra's 'Joy,' creating a festive atmosphere in the studio, but scored only 90 points. Meanwhile, Cheon Rok-dam performed Kim Chu-ja's 'You Are Far Away,' releasing the rock spirit honed through his band activities in high school, and earned 98 points to add a golden star. Chun-gil praised him as the essence of R&Bpop, and Nam Seung-min also gave high praise, saying it was a performance that exceeded expectations.
The matches among top contenders were also intense. Oh Yu-jin recorded 98 points by performing Jung Su-ra's challenging song 'Have You Ever Seen My Love' with a wide vocal range. She was followed by Jung Seo-joo, who was tied with a golden star. Jung Seo-joo showcased her clear tone with Jung Su-ra's 'Was It the Wind,' but only scored 96 points. Oh Yu-jin won by 2 points and secured her 9th golden star. First Golden Cup champion Kim Yong-bin attempted a second victory with 'To You,' but surprisingly scored only 89 points. Choi Jae-myung, who performed next, won with 95 points for 'Bellflower,' ending Kim Yong-bin's challenge.
Nam Seung-min and Yang Ji-eun drew laughs in a battle to avoid last place. Nam Seung-min selected Cho Yong-pil's 'Empty Sky,' but received the lowest score of 87 points. Yang Ji-eun then earned 98 points with Jung Su-ra's 'One Day Suddenly,' winning by 11 points.
In the final match, after Son Bin-a and Chun-gil's direct confrontation, Golden Star Jung Su-ra made a shocking appearance as a catfish singer for the first time in history, surprising the venue. While Son Bin-a scored 95 points with 'Come Back to Busan Port' and Jung Su-ra recorded 99 points with 'Because I'm a Man,' Chun-gil, who poured out song and dance while performing 'Streets of the City,' was the only one to achieve a perfect 100 points, becoming the second Golden Cup champion.
After completing a 16-week race, Chun-gil expressed his emotional feelings, saying that while there were hardships and challenges, the Golden Cup made the entire process feel meaningful. TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday,' which begins Chapter 3 racing next week, airs every Friday night at 10 p.m.
