The TOP9 of Reigning Singer King Season 3 — Hong Ji-yoon, Cha Ji-yeon, Koo Su-kyung, Solji, Kim Tae-yeon, Kang Hye-yeon, Lee Soo-yeon, Hong Ja and Geum Jan-di — will each deliver a distinct, heart-piercing “song of a lifetime” in the final match that will crown the show’s third-generation champion.
MBN will air the live finale of Reigning Singer King Season 3 on the 10th. In that broadcast, the TOP9 will compete in a live final to earn one of seven national representative spots for the 2026 Korea–Japan showdown and to challenge the third reigning champion. The finale uses a 4,000-point system: 1,200 points for the first on-site live round, 1,200 for the second on-site live round, 1,200 for live SMS (text) voting, 240 for the public support vote, and 160 for new-song streaming scores.
Hong Ji-yoon, known for building bold stages through careful study and preparation, told producers before her second final-round set, “I want to stay an artist who never gets complacent. That’s what being active means to me.” She followed with a raw, emotionally charged performance that reflected the pressure of a last-stage moment. Cha Ji-yeon, embracing her “Charge General of Trot” persona, surprised the room by appearing in a simple hanbok with a traditional braided hairstyle and no makeup. Her singular, unforgettable performance left both celebrity and public judges in tears and silenced the studio.
Koo Su-kyung, who has sparked one of the season’s biggest upsets with an undefeated run and proven the power of an underdog’s rebellion, selected Noh Sa-yeon’s “The Winding Road” and wrapped the stage in her trademark rock-tinged trot spirit. Solji called the show “a dopamine shot that threw a stone into the calm waters of my life,” saying she was stunned to see her name on the adult contemporary charts. She earned praise for a perfectly tailored rendition of Jo Hang-jo’s “Time That Cannot Be Turned Back.”
Kim Tae-yeon, the teenage powerhouse who admitted, “I worried a lot because I went through a voice change right before the contest,” hardened her gaze and delivered a show-stopping set that prompted some to say it was the kind of performance that could make fellow singers rethink retirement. Kang Hye-yeon, who re-entered the competition determined to shed her “perennial eighth-place” label, choked up after topping the public support vote in episode one and confessed, “I’ve never been first before.” She poured her dreams into a moving cover of Cho Yong-pil’s “Dream,” touching everyone present.
Lee Soo-yeon, the youngest finalist who squeaked into the second final round, took the stage visibly tense in a way viewers hadn’t seen before, initially drawing sympathy. She then released a passionate performance inspired by her grandmother’s love that filled the room. Despite ongoing vocal issues, Hong Ja acknowledged the struggle—“I had vocal nodules and the flu and faced many difficulties, but I want to give my best final stage for the fans who are no longer with us”—and her tribute moved the audience.
Veteran trot star Geum Jan-di, who staged a remarkable comeback, described the challenge as both “my first and my last” and called the stage lifesaving. She performed a song she says she’s been singing since infancy, earning applause as a true-born trot vocalist.
Producers said the nine finalists poured everything into their final performances as they entered the final match. “The third-generation Reigning Singer King will be crowned by viewers’ votes,” they said, urging audiences to support the TOP9 via real-time SMS voting.
The 12th and final episode of Reigning Singer King Season 3 will air live that evening at 9:40 p.m. KST.
Tae Yu-na, TenAsia reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr
