INTERVIEW Top 10 contestants from 'Tomorrow's National Singer' prove power of perseverance
Clockwise from top left are Park Chang-geun, Kim Dong-hyun, Lee Solomon, Lee Byung-chan, Park Jang-hyun, Kim Young-heum, Kim Hee-seok, Jo Yeon-ho, Son Jin-wook and Ko Eun-sung, the top 10 contenders from TV Chosun's K-pop audition show, “Tomorrow's National Singer.” Courtesy of TV Chosun, n.CH Entertainment
By Dong Sun-hwa
The top 10 contestants from TV Chosun's K-pop audition program “Tomorrow's National Singer” have one thing in common: All were subject to the vicissitudes of life, but they did not give up singing. And at last, they have proven that “little strokes fell great oaks.”
The program's winner Park Chang-geun, 49, could not step into the spotlight for more than two decades after debuting as a folk singer in 1999. Kim Dong-hyun, the 27-year-old runner-up, inked a contact with a music label when he was 20, but failed to debut in the end. But the two men opted not to surrender and kept striving to make their names known. Their efforts finally came to fruition on Dec. 23, when they were declared the winner and the runner-up for “Tomorrow's National Singer.”
“I think the word 'challenge' sounds too weighty,” Kim said during a media interview in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Wednesday. “I hope people are not overwhelmed by it and just follow their heart to try the things they love, just like I did. This could be a way to start our own story and walk our own path.”
Kim Dong-hyun / Courtesy of TV Chosun, n.CH Entertainment
Park added, “Challenge always leads to growth.”
The other contestants were also struggling before joining “Tomorrow's National Singer.” Jo Yeon-ho, who ranked eighth on the show, made his debut last year, but he had to work at a donut shop to make a living. Park Jang-hyun was in a similar situation, too.
“Although I've released many albums over the past few years, none of them succeeded in grabbing people's attention,” he said. “I was on the brink of giving up… So I thought about starting a new business, but I could not do so due to my lingering affection for music. Knowing this, my family thankfully encouraged me to give it another shot by participating in 'Tomorrow's National Singer.' I told them I will not be able to make money if I go on the show, but they did not mind at all… So when I finished fourth, my wife, who has been taking care of our child alone, jumped for joy.”
The show is the latest hit by TV Chosun, which has launched a series of popular audition programs since the success of “Miss Trot” (2019). The popularity of “Miss Trot” prompted the cable channel to air follow-up audition shows including “Mr. Trot” (2020), which propelled numerous contenders such as Lim Young-woong to meteoric stardom.
In the case of “Tomorrow's National Singer,” the finale, aired on Dec. 23, garnered 18.8 percent viewership nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea. The fact that it featured contenders from a wide age range and diverse backgrounds has contributed to the program's success, but this also made the competition extremely fierce.
Park Chang-geun / Courtesy of TV Chosun, n.CH Entertainment
“I did not expect that I would take first place,” Park Chang-geun said. “I still believe that all the other contestants deserved to win.”
Many jaw-dropping performances were displayed on the show, including Park Jang-hyun's take on “Mia” (2008) ― a debut track by K-pop songstress IU ― and Lee Solomon's performance of Park Ji-yoon's 2003 release, “Gypsy Lady.”
Park Chang-geun, however, took many people by surprise when he crooned his self-written song “Mother” during his final performance.
“I know a lot of people were expecting to see me performing a more impactful and powerful song to win the game,” he said. “But since it was my final performance, I wanted to give my mother a birthday gift by singing this emotional song about her. I also thought a lot of people would find it relatable.”
Now, all 10 singers are familiar faces to the public.
“In the past, hardly anyone recognized me when I went out, but these days, even an elderly couple at a real estate agency can recognize me just by my name,” said musical actor Ko Eun-sung, who clinched the No. 6 spot.
During the interview, the 10 singers, who went through stressful and tumultuous times throughout the competition, looked relieved and carefree. They said they felt pressured during the competition, but now they are preparing for upcoming events with joy and excitement. Beginning from Feb. 26, the 10 will stage concerts nationwide.
“We became more light-hearted after the show, because we do not have to go head-to-head with one another anymore,” Son Jin-wook said with a radiant smile. “We just have to get ready for our upcoming concerts and performances.”
Lee Solomon elaborated, “We finished filming 'Tomorrow's National Singer' a few weeks ago, but we could not get much rest as we had to prepare for our concerts.”
Ko added, “All of us have not yet fully showed what we have. Through the upcoming shows, I think we will be able to reveal more of our unexplored sides.”
Wrapping up the session, the singers spoke of how they have changed after appearing on the show.
“When I first applied for the audition, I only had personal goals,” Park Jang-hyun said. “I wanted to get over my stage fright and bring music back into my life. But thanks to the program, I learned that my voice can bring hope and solace to some people. So now, I wish I could send a message of hope to more people through my music.”