Hong Ji-yoon, a singer affiliated with Choi Lab, proved to be a strong contender for the championship on MBN's "Active King 3."

On the 27th, Hong Ji-yoon appeared in the second round of the second preliminary match, the "Ace Match," of "Active King 3." She maintained high popularity by ranking first in the fourth week of the national support voting, following the third week. In the first round "Team Mission," the "Nurungji Caramel" team, led by Hong Ji-yoon, achieved first place with a total score of 434 points.

In the second round "Ace Match," Hong Ji-yoon expressed a sense of responsibility, stating that the fate of her teammates Bin Ye-seo, So Yu-mi, Kang Hye-yeon, and Goo Soo-kyung depended on her. She revealed that to overcome her singing slump, she studied sound in Jindo and even trained in the Jindo Ssikimgut, a ritual to cleanse the souls of the deceased. Explaining that she incorporated Ssikimgut into her performance, she said, "We all created the first place together, so it must not be broken because of me. I have to do better so that everyone can advance, so I will do my best and work hard."

Hong Ji-yoon chose the folk song "Han Obaeknyeon" and performed barefoot on stage. She presented a dance and singing filled with deep sorrow, continuing her song even after sitting down on the floor and shedding tears during the performance. This stage deeply moved both the judges and participants. Judge Yoon Myung-sun commented, "She sang traditional Korean music with sophistication," adding, "I saw the potential in the artist Hong Ji-yoon to draw the entire audience to her side. If she continues like this, I think she will be a strong candidate for the championship."

The "Nurungji Caramel" team maintained an overwhelming first place in the interim scores and secured first place in the final ranking. After sharing her joy with her teammates, Hong Ji-yoon expressed her thoughts, saying, "I will continue to show great performances in the future." Consequently, Hong Ji-yoon advanced directly to the third preliminary round.

MBN's "Active King 3" airs every Tuesday night at 9:50 PM.

[Source: Provided by Choi Lab]