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[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] Kim Shin-young and Chun Dan-bi dominated the stage with a flawless ensemble, lifting the trophy for Part 1 of the 2026 \”Entertainment King of Kings\” special.
On the 28th, KBS2’s Immortal Songs aired as the \”2026 Entertainment King of Kings — Part 1.\” The episode brought together ten acts spanning comedians, actors, creators and shopping hosts: Kim Shin-young & Chun Dan-bi, LALAL, Moon Se-yoon, the Gag Concert Chatflix team, Park Jun-hyung, Song Il-gook & Oh Man-seok from the musical The Hague, Lee Chan-seok, Lee Hwi-jae, Jo Hye-ryun and Hong Seok-cheon. The special drew a nationwide rating of 4.8%, holding the No. 1 spot in its time slot for the 147th consecutive week.
Hong Seok-cheon opened Part 1 with Ailee’s \”I’ll Show You.\” He combined flashy, high-energy stagecraft with strong vocals and quickly had the audience on its feet, reinforcing his reputation as a born entertainer. At the climax, four eye-catching dancers emerged from a jewelry-box prop, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Kim Shin-young marveled, \”He really showed us,\” while Oh Man-seok praised him for staying true to his own artistic color.
Park Jun-hyung took the second slot with Kim Sang-bae’s \”No, No.\” He blended smooth singing with a comedian’s flair and inventive staging. His secret weapon, Park Sung-ho, surprised the audience with a yodeling cameo — an offbeat mashup of the original tune and yodeling that left viewers stunned. Moon Se-yoon noted that Park Sung-ho’s yodeling never felt excessive and landed with genuine emotion. Song Il-gook joked that the trot-yodel fusion might be a world first and applauded the bold idea. In the head-to-head, Hong Seok-cheon edged out Park Jun-hyung.
For the third performance, Moon Se-yoon delivered Kim Dong-ryul’s \”Replay.\” Known for his vocal chops, Moon moved effortlessly from warm low tones to explosive high notes, relying on voice alone to carry the piece. His heartfelt interpretation won over the judging panel almost immediately. Lee Chan-won commented that Hong Seok-cheon should be nervous — the song spans two octaves, and Moon used dynamic pitch control to great effect. Moon Se-yoon defeated Hong Seok-cheon in their matchup.
Lee Hwi-jae selected Choi Ho-seop’s \”As Time Goes By\” for the fourth spot. He performed with a steady, reflective tone, letting the lyrics resonate. Shin Dong-yup singled out the final line, \”Don’t forget, remember me,\” as especially moving. Lee Hwi-jae beat Moon Se-yoon to become the episode’s new frontrunner.
Lee Hwi-jae also spoke candidly about returning to television after a four-year hiatus. He admitted, \”I know where I fell short, what I lacked and the mistakes I made. This was a moment to look back on my 30 years in broadcasting.\” He added, with visible emotion, that the invitation to appear arrived on the anniversary of his mother’s passing, and he wondered if she had helped him. He said the experience made him appreciate his work more, and he enjoyed being in Yeouido and recharging his energy through time with colleagues.
The final performance of the night came from Kim Shin-young and Chun Dan-bi, who tackled Seoul Family’s \”Now.\” They leaned fully into a retro vibe, transforming both the audience area and the green room into a disco atmosphere. Kim’s low register and Chun’s bright highs created a delightful vocal blend, and playful staging that exploited their contrasting ranges brought laughs. The duo completed a six-sided performance that balanced vocal skill, concept and humor. LALAL gave them a thumbs-up, saying they \”slayed,\” and Lee Chan-won praised the pair, likening them to legendary vocalists Wi Il-cheong and Kim Seung-mi. In the final showdown, Kim Shin-young & Chun Dan-bi defeated Lee Hwi-jae to claim the Part 1 crown.
The \”2026 Entertainment King of Kings — Part 1\” special delivered a feast of variety and spectacle, pitting the entertainment industry’s most capable singers against one another. From artists who moved audiences with voice alone to performers who took risks with inventive staging, the episode offered fresh entertainment and left viewers anticipating Part 2.
KBS2’s Immortal Songs, which consistently produces moments viewers want to rewatch, airs every Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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