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| Immortal Songs / Photo: KBS2 screenshot |
On the 14th, KBS2 broadcast the first installment of a two-part special honoring the 30th anniversary of the late folk singer Kim Kwang-seok. The episode paired tribute performances from Seo Eun-gwang, Yoon San-ha (ASTRO), Seo Jae, Jeon Yu-jin and Kim Dong-jun. According to Nielsen Korea, the show drew a nationwide rating of 4.9%, finishing first in its time slot.
Seo Eun-gwang opened the episode with \"With a Heart That Must Forget.\" Before going onstage he described Kim Kwang-seok’s music as “an eternal jewel in my heart” and said he wanted to be a successor to the late singer — even recreating Kim’s stage outfit. Accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and his voice, Seo channeled Kim’s signature sentiment and commanded the room. He became visibly emotional during the song, moving several judges to tears. Seo Jae later said the performance felt like receiving a heartfelt letter.
Second up, Yoon San-ha chose \"The Story of an Elderly Couple in Their 60s.\" He framed the song around loss, asking, “Doesn’t everyone face moments when we must part with someone we love?” He grew emotional recalling the late Moonbin and asked viewers to listen while thinking of someone precious. Yoon’s earnest delivery earned praise from Lucy’s Choi Sang-yeop, who said, “If that sincerity were fake, there would be no music in the world.”
Seo Eun-gwang won the head-to-head against Yoon San-ha. For the third slot, Seo Jae performed \"I Loved You,\" and revealed the stage reminded him of his older brother, who passed away two years ago. He said Kim Kwang-seok’s music had brought him comfort, and he hoped his own voice might comfort others. Living up to the “Korea’s Celine Dion” label, Seo Jae captivated the judging panel with a plaintive tone and powerful control; Chae Do-hyun said he had to hold back tears several times. Seo Eun-gwang beat Seo Jae to earn his second consecutive win.
Jeon Yu-jin, born in 2006 and too young to have experienced Kim’s heyday firsthand, nonetheless called him “a singing bard” and said she considers him a musical role model. She performed \"Becoming Dust,\" delivering maturity and vocal control beyond her years. Her clear, piercing high notes drew audible reactions, and Forestella’s Gowrim likened her voice to an electric guitar, praising the performance. Jeon halted Seo Eun-gwang’s bid for a three-peat and emerged as the new winner.
The show’s final act was Kim Dong-jun’s take on \"A Private’s Letter.\" He staged a theatrical performance with ensemble members from the musical he’s currently appearing in. Fully inhabiting the narrator’s emotional arc, Kim used a resonant, pleading tone to heighten the song’s drama; the ensemble harmonies amplified the impact. He belted the closing line — “Now begins again: the dream of my youth” — alongside 11 cast members, saluting today’s mothers in a stirring finale that left a lasting impression. Seo Eun-gwang, a military veteran, said he personally connected with Kim’s expressive eyes. Kim Dong-jun then upset favorite Jeon Yu-jin to take the part-one championship.
Immortal Songs, known for producing performances that viewers return to again and again, airs Saturdays at 6:05 p.m. KST.
[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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