Koo Soo-kyung secured a dominant victory with an 80-point difference against Japan's Shimokita Hina in the third round of the fourth preliminary match of MBN's "2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Competition," giving the Korean team the upper hand.

The third round on this broadcast was conducted in a "1-on-1 on-site selection" format. After the first and second rounds ended in draws, maintaining a tense atmosphere, Korea and Japan were tied 3-3. In the final match, Koo Soo-kyung took the stage and challenged Shimokita Hina, resulting in a powerful vocal showdown.

Koo Soo-kyung chose Jin Sung's "Nim's Lantern," overwhelming the stage with a strong power voice and delicate tempo control. The celebrity judging panel commented, "It feels like we've discovered a raw gem. With tempo control as well, she seems to be gradually becoming a complete artist."

As a result of the match, Koo Soo-kyung received 100 points, while Shimokita Hina received 20 points, resulting in an 80-point difference. This put the Korean team ahead 4-3. Only the celebrity judging panel's scores were revealed during the broadcast, and interest continues regarding the final results after combining the scores from the public judging panel.

Koo Soo-kyung reached the finals undefeated after 10 years of obscurity in "Active King of Singers 3," ultimately placing fourth.