Korean Employee Advances to McDonald’s Song Contest Finals

By Kim Tae-gyu

Staff Reporter

A 20-year-old female employee of McDonald's Korea has advanced into the global final of a "Voice of McDonald's," the third edition of the biannual event, which will be held in the United States, later this month.

McDonald's Korea said Thursday that Hur Jin will represent the nation in the singing contest where a dozen finalists will compete on April 20 in Orlando.

Around 10,000 McDonald's restaurant employees from 119 countries across the world participated in the preliminary rounds and only 12, including Hur, clinched the tickets to Orlando. The finalists were picked via online votes and in-house judges' evaluations.

Hur plans to sing famous pop singer Alicia Keys' ``No One.'' The champion of the competition will receive $25,000 as well as have the opportunity to perform at various McDonald's events to be held around the world for a full year.

``I had to compete with many people to advance in this contest so I will win the championship and show Koreans' competence to the whole world,'' said Hur, a staff trainer. ``I want to become a vocal trainer and help students who have a dream of performing music like me.''

The final winner will be picked by a three-member panel composed of specialists in music.

In the first Voice of McDonald's event in 2006, a Korean staff member also made it to the final 12 but he failed to win.