'2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Battle,' Japan Wins.. Highest Viewership 5.3% Japan's Inoue MVP

*This content was translated by AI.

MBN's '2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Battle' saw the Japanese team claim final victory.

The fifth episode of MBN's '2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Battle,' aired on the night of the 12th (Tuesday) at 10 p.m., featured the final showdown with only the third leg of the preliminary round remaining. In the previously held third leg of the preliminary round, only the combined scores of the Korean and Japanese celebrity judges were revealed, and the interim tally showed Korea leading Japan 4-3. However, the final result saw Japan, after drawing the first and second legs, defeat Korea by a margin of three points in the decisive third leg.

'Korea's 3 Active Kings' Hong Ji-yoon and 'Japan's 3 Active Kings' Inoue engaged in a true showdown between the kings of both nations. Hong Ji-yoon, who selected the iconic Japanese enka song 'Bokyojong KARA,' demonstrated her dedication by personally recruiting a shamisen player from Japan. True to her ambition, "I will defeat the Japanese king with a representative traditional enka song," she captivated the audience with her exceptional Japanese language skills and commanding stage presence.

Inoue, who chose Mamamoo's 'Decalcomanie,' expressed her resolute determination to compete with her pride on the line, showcasing the charm of the song performed by four members with singing, rapping, and dancing without pause. Although Shin Dong-yop praised the selection as "a song filled with respect for the opposing nation," Inoue shed tears, feeling her performance was unsatisfactory. Ultimately, the Korean and Japanese celebrity judges awarded the victory to Hong Ji-yoon over Inoue.

In the Korea-Japan duet showdown, Japan emerged victorious. Korea's Gu Su-kyung and Lee Soo-yeon unleashed powerful, refreshing voices, performing 'Azalea Flower' with seamless chemistry that defied their age difference. Japan's Azuma Aki and Arakawa Karen, though stepping out with concerns of "What should we do?", secured the win by completing 'Longhorn Beetle' with solid vocal harmony.

The final result of all matches saw Japan leading Korea 7-4, making them the ultimate winning team.

The '2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Battle' awards ceremony was also held during the broadcast. The 'Rising Star Award' was claimed by Solji and Arakawa Karen, while the 'Korea-Japan Bridge Award' went to Hong Ji-yoon and Azuma Aki. The highlight of the 'Korea-Japan King of Singers Battle' awards, the MVP, was awarded to Japan's king, Inoue Noh U-e-ga (수상).

Meanwhile, on the 19th (Tuesday), MBN's '2026 Korea-Japan King of Singers Battle - Gala Show,' featuring the top seven active singers from both Korea and Japan, will be released.

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*This content was translated by AI.