Cheon Rok-dam takes solo lead on Golden Friday after using roulette

Cheon Rok-dam surged into first place on the October 16 broadcast of TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' after scoring 100 points and using a "Switch" roulette option to overtake former leader Yang Ji-eun. The episode, which featured a "Kings of the Century" special, reached a peak viewership rating of 3.7%.

The "Destiny Roulette" determined the fates of Cheon Rok-dam and Yang Ji-eun on the October 16 broadcast of the 41st episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday'. The "Kings of the Century" special featured legendary songs from South Korean music icons including Na Hoon-a, Cho Yong-pil, Lee Mi-ja, and Bae Ho, reimagined by the voices of the TOP10. The episode recorded a 3.4% nationwide viewership rating according to Nielsen Korea, maintaining its position as the number one daily program among general programming and cable channels, with a peak viewership of 3.7%.

A major shift in rankings occurred during the very first confrontation. Oh Yu-jin challenged Cheon Rok-dam by selecting Hye Eun-yi's "The Third Hangang Bridge." Tension was high as Cheon Rok-dam had previously advanced to the round as a winner in 'Mr. Trot 3' using that same song. While Oh Yu-jin led the stage with a clear tone reminiscent of Hye Eun-yi's heyday, she fell short with a score of 96.

Cheon Rok-dam responded by selecting Cho Yong-pil's "Tragic Love." Despite his visible nervousness before the stage, he captivated the audience by perfectly executing the song's highlight from the very first verse. Following his passionate performance, which left him drenched in sweat, Kim Yong-bin praised it as "the best stage." Cheon Rok-dam earned 100 points, and during the subsequent "Destiny Roulette," he drew the "Switch" option. He chose to target Yang Ji-eun, who had been the solo leader with 8 golden stars. As a result, Cheon Rok-dam surged into first place, while Yang Ji-eun dropped to 5 golden stars.

Displaced from the lead, Yang Ji-eun attempted a counterattack with Ha Chun-hwa's "Yeongam Arirang." Having prepared a glamorous dress and an acceptance speech in anticipation of winning the Golden Cup, she relied on her specialty of folk-style trot. Her skillful singing from the first verse drew cheers from colleagues, who noted, "This is the power of a winner." However, Yang Ji-eun, who had been on an upward trend with 100 points for two consecutive weeks, finished with 96 points.

Yang Ji-eun designated Jeong Seo-ju as the next performer. Jeong Seo-ju showcased a different charm by selecting Joo Hyun-mi's "That Person from Sinsa-dong." Known for her strength in lyrical songs, she skillfully handled the catchy rhythm and nuanced singing style to earn 97 points. By beating Yang Ji-eun by a single point, Jeong Seo-ju moved on to face the "Catfish Singer."

The first Catfish Singer was Solji, formerly of EXID, who is currently expanding her musical range into trot. She shook the venue with her powerful vocals and high notes while performing Lee Seon Hee's "Beautiful Land." During the segment, Chun-gil revealed a special connection, disclosing that Solji was his student during his college years. Chun-gil expressed affection for his former student, stating, "I respect you for challenging yourself with trot." Solji also recorded 97 points, matching Jeong Seo-ju; due to the tie, neither singer earned golden stars or golden medals.

In the following match, Nam Seung-min and Kim Yong-bin faced off. Nam Seung-min performed Kim Soo-hee's "Adoration," noting that he kept the advice given by Kim Soo-hee during her previous appearance on 'Golden Friday' in his heart. After the performance, Kim Yong-bin expressed disappointment, pointing out that Nam Seung-min had lowered the pitch compared to the original song. Nam Seung-min explained that he lacked strength because he had recently lost 3kg due to gastric spasms. Despite this, Nam Seung-min earned a high score of 99 points and chose Kim Yong-bin, who had offered the harsh critique, as his opponent.

Kim Yong-bin countered with Lee Mi-ja's "A Woman's Life." He drew attention by sharing an anecdote about a direct phone call with Lee Mi-ja, who revealed she has not missed a single episode of 'Golden Friday.' Despite the pressure of singing a masterpiece by a senior artist, Kim Yong-bin moved the audience to tears with his delicate emotional expression and soulful voice. Yang Ji-eun was also moved to tears, thinking of her father's long illness and her mother's hardships. Kim Yong-bin secured a victory over Nam Seung-min by scoring 100 points.

However, Kim Yong-bin's battle was not over. Shin Seung-tae appeared as the second Catfish Singer for the "Kings of the Century" special. Selecting Na Hoon-a's "Longing for Mother," Shin Seung-tae brought a solemn atmosphere to the venue with his poignant rendition of longing for a mother.

Kim Yong-bin could not hide his surprise at Shin Seung-tae's unexpected appearance. The two also revealed a special history, having participated in the same audition where Shin Seung-tae placed 4th and Kim Yong-bin placed 5th. While they were separated by only one point back then, the results of this match saw Kim Yong-bin score 100 points and Shin Seung-tae score 97 points. Although Kim Yong-bin added a golden star by defeating the Catfish Singer, he drew a "dud" (blank) on his first spin of the "Destiny Roulette," leaving him with 6 golden stars.

Reversals continued in the lower rankings. Chu Hyeok-jin, who had no golden stars, selected Kim Gun-mo's "Wrong Encounter." It was a high-difficulty stage involving a fast tempo, rap, and dance. Chu Hyeok-jin displayed his versatility with stable vocals and "technic" dance moves. Watching him, Oh Yu-jin offered support, saying, "As a fellow performer, it was a very proud stage." Chu Hyeok-jin earned 97 points.

In response, Son Bin-a selected Bae Ho's "Returning to Samgakji." Having always considered Bae Ho's songs to be her specialty, Son Bin-a captured the charm of traditional trot with a deep, heavy low register from the first verse. Kim Sung-joo expressed admiration, saying, "The voice goes back and forth to an underground cave," while Yang Ji-eun praised her, saying, "Her spectrum is truly wide. There is no song she cannot handle." However, Son Bin-a finished with 95 points, losing to Chu Hyeok-jin. This allowed Chu Hyeok-jin to secure 2 golden stars and escape the "Musta" group.

The final match saw Chun-gil and Choi Jae-myeong compete. Chun-gil selected Byun Jin-sub's "To You Once Again." Driven by a desire for the Golden Cup, Chun-gil showed a different side through a sorrowful ballad. He began calmly and gradually built emotion, delicately unfolding the song's narrative. Son Bin-a empathized with Chun-gil's desperation, noting, "I could feel the sincerity toward the stars and the Golden Cup."

Choi Jae-myeong countered with Nam Jin's "My Love, Never Change." He presented a stage contrasting with Chun-gil's, using playful gestures and a cheerful rhythm reminiscent of Nam Jin. The two, clashing emotion against excitement, both recorded 99 points, resulting in a draw. Ultimately, Cheon Rok-dam maintained his solo first place with 8 golden stars, securing a favorable position for the third Golden Cup.

TV CHOSUN's 'Golden Friday' airs every Friday at 10 PM.

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