tvN STORY "Handsome Trot" captivated viewers with an extravagant team match that became even more glamorous amid TEAM Lee Chan-won’s second consecutive victory.

In the third episode of "Handsome Trot" (directed by Hwang Da-won, written by Jeong Su-jeong) aired on the 7th, trot producer Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won faced off in a round two 1:1 trot directing mission divided into two teams. Choo Sung-hoon, Ji Seung-hyun, Jeong Gyeo-woon, Tae Hang-ho, Hyun-woo, and Han Jung-wan joined TEAM Jang Min-ho's lineup, while Jang Hyuk, Choi Dae-cheol, In Kyo-jin, Kim Dong-ho, Lee Taeri, and Kim Jun-ho joined TEAM Lee Chan-won as the competition unfolded with the survival of team members at stake, keeping viewers captivated.

TEAM Jang Min-ho and TEAM Lee Chan-won crafted their growth narratives in different ways. Lee Chan-won worked hard to enhance his team members' understanding of trot through various methods, from trot classrooms to quiz sessions, while team members quickly united, displaying their loyalty as "Chan-won Worshippers." TEAM Jang Min-ho not only visited Jang Min-ho’s concert to get a feel for the performance but also sincerely felt the essence of trot while directly receiving guidance from him.

As the much-anticipated battle day arrived, round two featured trot goddess Hong-ja, the ultimate vocal champion of girl groups, Sol-ji, and the hit song maker representing South Korea, Yoon Il-sang, along with the duo known as "In A Coma" (Kim Ji-hwan, Kim Kyung-beom) appearing as special judges. Especially when it was revealed that Yoon Il-sang and "In A Coma" would participate in the T4 track debuting trot singers, the stars were further fueled with enthusiasm.

Round two proceeded as a 1:1 battle. The six winners automatically became T4 candidates, whereas the six losers became elimination candidates. Among the elimination candidates, four who did not receive Super T from Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won were set to be eliminated. With the first elimination on the line, tension was palpable on set like never before, and the Heads of Team Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won also navigated the match order strategically with grave expressions.

The first stage featured a showdown among the visually stunning youngest members. Han Jung-wan, the youngest of TEAM Jang Min-ho with a "maknae complex," declared, "I will eliminate the youngest from team Lee Chan-won," showcasing his determination, but the competitive spirit of Kim Jun-ho, a former fencing gold medalist, was equally fierce. Choosing Yoon Su-il's "Euphoric Confession," Kim Jun-ho fueled the stage with stable vocals, eye-catching choreography, and even a fencing performance.

Making his appearance as the latter performer, Han Jung-wan selected Seo Ju-kyung's "Bench" and delivered a mesmerizing sexy performance. He particularly showcased remarkable growth by absorbing feedback received from Jang Min-ho. As praise poured in for a stage where it was difficult to distinguish between the two from round one, the judges awarded Kim Jun-ho for his dynamic representation of trot. Rising as a T4 candidate, Kim Jun-ho remarked, "I practiced as much as I did when I was in the athlete village to showcase different charms after my initiation."

The second stage featured a contest between the "trot reversal newcomer" Tae Hang-ho and "Lee Chan-won’s top pick" Kim Dong-ho. Kim Dong-ho from TEAM Lee Chan-won chose to perform last as a T4 benefit, leading Tae Hang-ho from TEAM Jang Min-ho to take the stage first, singing Kim Yong-im's "Life Like a Floating Water Plant." His performance, which was meant to cheer on youth persevering toward their dreams, offered a significantly different charm from round one, deeply moving the audience, but the wall posed by musical prince Kim Dong-ho was high. Dressed in a trench coat and singing Han Hye-jin's "Brown Memory," Kim Dong-ho delivered an emotionally resonant performance, claiming a decisive 5:0 victory.

Amid TEAM Lee Chan-won's second consecutive victory, Jang Min-ho pulled out the T4 card for his first win. However, Lee Chan-won countered with the T4 card, leading to an epic showdown. The matchup was between Choi Dae-cheol and Hyun-woo, who had showcased exceptional skills in round one to ascend to T4. Yoon Il-sang noted, "I’m really looking forward to this" while referring to this fierce competition among top contenders.

Choi Dae-cheol took the initiative. He selected Kang Jin's "A Glass of Makgeolli" and said, "It reminded me of my father and my son. It feels like it’s a story about me, like a glass of makgeolli," betting on his sincerity. Choi Dae-cheol wowed the crowd with a refreshing vocal technique that pierced through the ears from the first line, moving hearts with unmatched skill filled with genuine emotions. Hyun-woo, who voluntarily chose to perform later as a "trot strategist," showed his visible tension while watching Choi Dae-cheol's stage, heightening curiosity about the outcome.

"Handsome Trot" airs every Friday night at 10 p.m. on tvN STORY and can also be seen on Saturday at 10:40 p.m. on tvN.

[Photo] tvN STORY

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