Hong Ji-yoon, a singer from Choi Lab, showcased a strong presence with her Korea-Japan themed performance in the semifinals of MBN's 'Active King 3.' In the second round of the semifinals aired on the 24th, titled 'One Last Flip: Korea-Japan Special Move,' Hong Ji-yoon presented a Korea-Japan version of the traditional Korean folk song "Boat Song" combined with the Japanese folk song "Soran Bushi."

Having ranked first in the national support voting for the 8th week, Hong Ji-yoon maintained her top position for six consecutive weeks from the 3rd week, confirming overwhelming support. Before the performance, Hong Ji-yoon revealed that she had studied Japanese songs for 6 to 7 years and recently engaged in Japanese broadcasting activities, making her more knowledgeable about Japanese music than anyone else. She said she aimed to convey the vigorous energy of fishermen heading toward a full catch on stage.

Seol Woon-do praised Hong Ji-yoon's preparation process, saying, "Ji-yoon is a singer who researches her stage performances thoroughly. This is by no means an easy stage." As the performance began, Hong Ji-yoon captured attention by removing her glamorous dress and appearing as a fisherman. From the introduction, where she sat on a boat, she dominated the space with a soulful voice, naturally switching between Korean and Japanese, completing the song's narrative in a three-dimensional way. She filled the stage with grand energy through dynamic movements and intense expressiveness.

Park Seo-jin highly praised the performance, saying, "The arrangement, stage composition, and flow were flawless. I knew she had been active in Japan, but I didn't expect such a high level of perfection. I hope she makes it to the TOP 7 and shows great results in the 'Korea-Japan King Battle.'" Yoon Myung-sun commented, "Her 'Han Obaek Nyeon' stage was impressive, but this performance surpassed that. Watching her sing with deep immersion as if overpowering the music with wide-open eyes was more beautiful than her elegant singing in a beautiful dress." She added, "I look forward to what genre and voice Hong Ji-yoon would present if she represented the national team in the Korea-Japan match. She is more than worthy to represent."

Hong Ji-yoon received a high score of 379 out of 390 points from the celebrity judging panel. She ranked third in the final announcement, successfully advancing to the finals. This competition solidified her position as a strong contender for the championship.

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

[Source: Provided by Choi Creative Lab]