Ock Joo-hyun creates 'tension' by asserting dominance over junior HYNN during 'Immortal Songs' recording

In the first part of the composer Park Keun-tae special of KBS 2TV 'Immortal Songs' broadcast on the 10th, the behind-the-scenes stories of singers who formed special connections with Park Keun-tae were revealed, including the moments they decided to appear. For singers who had been away from the stage for a long time, this appearance was a challenge that held more meaning than a simple competition. In particular, as it was revealed that Park Keun-tae personally proposed their appearance, the concerns and burdens of the cast also drew attention.

Park Jung-ah revealed that she decided to appear after receiving a direct recruitment call from Park Keun-tae. She recalled that she received the call while folding children's clothes and, upon hearing the suggestion, "Do you want to come on 'Immortal Songs'?", she asked for one day to think about it. She explained that since she had been distanced from the stage, she needed mental preparation to sing again, but she ultimately mustered courage, for reasons she herself could not fully understand, to accept the appearance.

Ock Joo-hyun also confessed that she received contact from Park Keun-tae for the first time in 19 years. She stated that she contemplated the proposal for three days after receiving it. Her story resonated with Park Jung-ah's, as the long-standing connection and the pressure of the stage intersected. This part revealed the fact that even for famous singers, the decision to step onto a new stage is never light.

KCM showed an even more honest reaction regarding Park Keun-tae. Having suffered from vocal cord nodules and being in a psychologically diminished state, he revealed that he contemplated whether to appear for a whole week, adding laughter by exposing that he is afraid of Park Keun-tae, saying, "He doesn't say a single warm word." While it was a friendly joke stemming from long-term working experiences between the composer and the singer, it also provided a glimpse into how Park Keun-tae's strict image is perceived among the cast.

However, the evaluation from junior HYNN was the exact opposite. She boasted that Park Keun-tae is a very warm person who says many good things and buys delicious food. The somewhat strict image conveyed by the seniors and the kind image remembered by HYNN were starkly divergent. The fact that entirely different impressions can be formed about the same person depending on the relationship and experience became a source of laughter.

At this moment, Ock Joo-hyun engaged in a playful 'assertion of dominance' toward HYNN. Instead of drawing lots to decide the order, she suggested that they should just have HYNN go on stage first. Her logic was that if Park Keun-tae favors HYNN, they should make her feel good by letting her showcase her stage first. While it sounded like a senior's consideration on the surface, HYNN could not hide her embarrassment at the mention that her stage order might actually be moved up.

What is even more interesting is that the joke became reality. When HYNN actually went on stage as the first performer, Lee Chan-won made the scene laugh by saying that the wishes of the two seniors had instead become a curse. While expressing her bewildered feelings by saying, "Words have become seeds," HYNN added that she also hopes her dream of winning, which she mentioned in the pre-interview, becomes a reality. While releasing the tension through laughter, she clearly demonstrated her determination to face the competition.

This scene showed the unique fun created by the senior-junior relationship in a competition program. While they compete with singing skills and rankings on stage, outside the stage, long-standing connections, generational differences, and different personalities are naturally revealed. In particular, since a single joke from a senior can feel like an actual burden to a junior, HYNN's tension and Ock Joo-hyun's playfulness drew both laughter and empathy.

However, it is difficult to conclude Ock Joo-hyun's behavior as a situation where she actually disciplined or pressured her junior. Looking only at the scenes revealed on the broadcast, it is close to a joke based on intimacy and variety show situations. Contrary to the strong impression felt from the title, the core lies in turning the subtle tension between seniors and juniors into variety-style laughter. After accepting the unexpected result of being the first in order and boldly mentioning her desire to win, the small happening of the day remained a scene showing the personalities and determination of the cast ahead of the competition.

Read the original (Korean)