2026 ‘무명전설’ Finale: How 성리 and 하루 Captivated Audiences with Their Inspiring Journeys

By Seo Byung-gi, iNews24

MBN’s trot audition series Unknown Legends — The Rank War Among Trot Men concluded on the 13th, naming Seongri its first “legend.”

In the finale, the Top 10 each performed an “life song” that carried their personal stories, wounds, families and dreams, which revealed a wide array of moving backstories.

Winner Seongri (32) moved from idol music to trot and auditioned for five trot competitions without breaking through; she was even on the verge of giving up to learn wallpaper installation. She lost a one-on-one death match to Lee Chang-min in the main rounds, but she seemed to build confidence by pouring herself into every stage and feeling the audience’s response. In the finale she sang “Aega,” savoring the bittersweet joy of a hard-won triumph.

Runner-up Haru (22) lost her mother two years ago and was raised by her maternal grandmother, yet she delivered Kim Jong-hwan’s “A Hundred-Year Promise” with an unflappable expression. At times her youth revealed a lack of experience, but she showed steady growth and emerged as one of the competition’s strongest undiscovered talents. As leader of the “Haru All Day” team in the medley round, she guided the team through both the team and ace rounds and helped secure their overall victory — a clear sign of daily improvement.

In her runner-up remarks she told the grandmother who raised her, “I love you,” and made a point of thanking Shin Hyun-bin, her agency CEO, who has cared for her like a father — a declaration few moments offer.

Unknown Legends staked everything from episode one, building a kind of variety-packed prize box under the show’s name. It even featured Pyeon Seung-yeop (61), who rose to fame with the 1992 hit “Chan Chan Chan” before slipping back into obscurity.

Jang Han-byul, nicknamed “the Crown Prince of Malaysia,” made the Top 7 and finished third after opening with Kim Soo-hee’s “Lost Affection.” He made an impression by placing the chorus’s explosive high notes at the song’s intro, leaving a striking imprint on listeners.

Viewers first noticed Iru-ne’s innate sense of rhythm in episode one. His powerful vocal projection and richly textured tone suited the trot idiom exceptionally well.

Moon Eun-seok quit his job to appear on Unknown Legends. His earnest, wholehearted performances were memorable. The No. 9 finalist, Lee Dae-hwan, offered a heartbreaking confession about being a victim of school violence; it was a painful revelation but also felt like a vow to move forward.

In episode 3, Ryan — a former Parann member turned musical actor — removed his mask and transformed “In Front of That House” into a concertlike moment rather than an audition. I found myself humming “In Front of That House, ooo~” the next day — the kind of lingering effect a great performance leaves. Yet the judges awarded him only 113 points; the live audience, however, gave him overwhelming support.

Eleven-year-old Kim Tae-woong defeated Kang Tae-gwan’s team in the team round but broke into tears under the weight of leadership; he then beat Kang Tae-gwan in the team leader round, proving his solidity. The youngest contestant, nine-year-old Kim Han-yul, moved listeners with a tear-inducing sincerity as he sang his faith in and longing for his mother, earning praise such as “genius” and “he’s got soul.” Kim Tae-woong bested Kim Han-yul and, in the Legend’s Choice (Namjin), even beat Lee Chang-min. In the second final round, Kim Tae-woong sang Lee Mi-ja’s “A Woman’s Life” with the authority of someone who had lived decades.

Finishing sixth, Lee Chang-min stood out as one of the show’s notable successes. He’s written many trot songs and reportedly memorized 1,000 trot tracks before his military service, which gave him an unconventional background. Still, he sang trot with ease and authenticity; he didn’t mimic established stars. His transition from ballad to trot never felt contrived — he retained his charm while savoring the style, creating a fresh take on trot.

When Lee Chang-min performed “Don’t Tackle Me,” Namjin praised him, saying the pop world lacks that color and that singers need to develop their own voice. Jo Hang-jo noted sharpness but emphasized the need for personal color. In the finale, Lee Chang-min sang “Binjige” calmly and without strain.

Among the judges — who also served as mentors and legends — Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo were memorable for offering sincere, senior-to-junior guidance. Son Tae-jin and Kang Moon-kyung provided empathetic coaching and practical tips on leveraging contestants’ strengths, while Im Han-byul and Shin Yu delivered critiques that could be harsh but were rooted in affection; all of these perspectives likely helped the contestants grow.

The show’s MCs were Kim Dae-ho and Jang Min-ho. While MC stands for Master of Ceremonies, Kim Dae-ho struggled to steer the proceedings. An MC’s job is more than calling on singers or judges; with many contestants competing by song, moments can become complex and meaningful, and the MC must organize those moments and convey context briefly to viewers. This hosting team fell short of that responsibility. If they couldn’t fulfill that role, at least they might have leaned into entertaining delivery, but even that was uneven. The hosts were the show’s one noticeable flaw.

Unknown Legends put rediscoveries and comebacks of active singers alongside the growth stories of undiscovered talents on a single stage. With each round, contestants proved their lives and music, crafting a journey toward becoming true “legends.”

The show opened with density and buzz, posting a 6.2% rating in episode 1 (Nielsen Korea) and maintaining a steady upward trend to close at 9.3% for the finale (episode 12) — a very strong performance.

Still, trot fandom has stagnated in recent years. Miss Trot 4, which wrapped on March 5, lacked explosive momentum, and live-show ticket sales have cooled. The basic problem: the fan base isn’t growing.

Trot needs to attract younger listeners. Older fans are becoming less mobile, and the middle-aged female fans who should fill that gap tend to concentrate on a handful of stars like Lim Young-woong. Nationwide fandom remains fixed and lacks diversification.

Winners Seongri (32) and Haru (22) have a charming, delicate appeal regardless of age. Artists such as Kang Moon-kyung (40), who recently gained followers as a Current King of Singers 2 Top 7 member, and Mr. Trot 3 winner Kim Yong-bin (33) project a more mature vibe. For trot to secure a broader audience going forward, the genre needs a wider array of artists with varied styles and sensibilities.