"10th anniversary, 500th episode". The grand record of 'King of Mask Singer' will be completed today (22nd). In a current entertainment market where season-based formats are common with fewer episodes, 'King of Mask Singer' remains a rare long-running variety show, consistently occupying Sunday nights. Stars who hide their age, social status, and profession showcase their skills solely through their voices in the music variety 'King of Mask Singer'. It is now a national variety show that needs no further explanation. To commemorate its historical legacy, we recently met with the main producer, Jang Hyo-jong, at the office in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
The 10th anniversary, 500th special recording of 'King of Mask Singer' took place 10 days earlier on the 12th. While regular recordings of 'King of Mask Singer' are held every Tuesday, this recording was scheduled on a Thursday to enhance the special significance with a glamorous cast. As expected, the lineup was quite special. From 'invited king' Solji of EXID, who opened the pilot season, to Kim Yeon-woo, the king who led the early syndrome of 'King of Mask Singer', as well as Yoon Min of Touched, who holds the record for most consecutive wins with 9 victories, and singer Jeong Joon-il, as well as the idols who broke stereotypes, Kang Seung-yoon of Winner and Yoo Hwae-seung of N.Flying. Additionally, singers Kim Tae-yeon, Kim Pil, Roy Kim, Park Ki-young, Baek Hyung-hoon, So Hyang, Super Junior Eunhyuk, Jang Min-ho, Hwang Min-ho, and dancer Bata also participated, creating a festive stage.
The stage concept was also presented not as a tournament 'competition' towards the kings of 'King of Mask Singer', but as a 'festival'. Jang Hyo-jong noted about the special recording, "I think the recording went quite well. Usually, we conduct recordings with a panel of 99, including celebrity judges, but this time, we gathered more people than usual to emphasize the significance of our 500th episode. Maybe that's why the audience response felt even stronger."
He continued, "When 'King of Mask Singer' celebrates its anniversaries, the format has always been quite similar. There's a special stage, and the existing competition format is maintained. However, not many entertainment programs have reached their 10th anniversary like ours, and 'King of Mask Singer' has a history unique to itself. Above all, the audience of our program enjoys revisiting the detailed history. So on this 10th anniversary, I thought about how we could look back at the history of 'King of Mask Singer', planning to invite those who had been on stage or had held the title of king and create a one-of-a-kind setup."
Moreover, regarding the planning of the 10th anniversary, 500th special, he stated, "One realistic reason is that every program naturally hopes for consistent ratings over 10 years. However, all entertainment programs thrive on their buzz, and through this special of 'King of Mask Singer', I wanted to show that we are still going strong."
Jang Hyo-jong said, "The response we feel most upset about is, 'Is 'King of Mask Singer' still on?' That’s a comment that truly stings." He laughed and added, "'King of Mask Singer' is a program with such a remarkable history behind it, and it remains a variety show that families can comfortably watch together. I want to demonstrate through the 10th anniversary special that we are absolutely qualified to have written this history."
With such a dazzling lineup prepared with exceptional care, was casting a challenge? Jang Hyo-jong answered, "This type of format without competition is a first for 'King of Mask Singer', but in other shows or year-end awards, like when Baby V.O.X reunited, we thought to show our stage in our own way. Thankfully, those we asked to join readily agreed to appear."
In addition, Jang Hyo-jong remarked, "Solji performed the opening stage, being the invited king since the pilot. Seeing those who have continued to support 'King of Mask Singer' over the last 10 years was touching. People like Kim Gu-ra, Lee Yoon-seok, Shin Bong-seon, and Yoo Young-seok remarked how watching the past performances of kings brought back memories of their first stage. They even remembered exactly what they had said back then. It was an amazing and moving experience for the production team."
The most straightforward indicator of the program's long duration is the number of participants. Jang Hyo-jong stated, "We counted the masked singers who have appeared on 'King of Mask Singer', and it amounts to 2079. Since some of them have reappeared, if considering the number of appearances or masked identities, the total would be even higher."
He stated, "Our production team always collects that data. We organize and keep a unique Excel file detailing when, where, which masked singer appeared and what song they performed." He added, "We meticulously track whether the shape of the mask is an object or human-like, or if the head shape is emphasized, keeping detailed records."
Regarding that, Jang Hyo-jong expressed, "In that regard, I am truly grateful to our writers of 'King of Mask Singer'. There are records collected by viewers on portal sites like Namuwiki. Similarly, our writers have gathered our data meticulously. As time passes, reappearances or cases of selecting songs previously performed can occur, but based on our writers' data, we ensure that a singer does not appear more than three times, and at least give opportunities to those who appeared four to five years ago, as well as ensure that song selections do not overlap within two years."
Amidst the invited masked singers, those who have won the honor of king are few. Among them, the record for the most consecutive wins remains at '9 consecutive wins' as if it were promised. 'Music Commander' Ha Hyun-woo, 'The Emotions of Joy and Sorrow Are Also Rock' Yoon Min of Touched, and Jeong Joon-il of 'More Fragrant than Flowers' have all capped out at 9 consecutive wins. Among 'King of Mask Singer' fans, there is talk of it being a 'nine-year curse'. Jang Hyo-jong emphasized, "More than anyone, our production team is waiting for the king who will break that record and achieve a 10th consecutive win."
However, he remarked, "The burden and responsibility on the kings are truly immense. It seems they feel they must present a stage worthy of being called a 'king.' From the position of an observer, it seems that the actual pressure peaks from 6 to 8 consecutive wins. By that point, former kings seem almost exhausted from just one performance."
He continued, "The most recent king who achieved 9 consecutive wins, Jeong Joon-il from 'More Fragrant than Flowers', originally had stage fright, often staring at the ground while singing. However, since the mask covered his face, he found more freedom on stage. Thus, his confidence has gradually increased."
Moreover, Jang Hyo-jong shared, "Our music director, who also worked on 'I Am a Singer', commented that when kings achieve consecutive wins, they feel as if they are competing in 'I Am a Singer.' This reflects how seriously and meticulously everyone approaches each performance. In that sense, the transition from Jeong Joon-il of 'More Fragrant than Flowers' to the current king 'Antique Mirror' holds significant meaning. While I’m cautious about revealing their identity, I personally believe that 'Antique Mirror' is quite capable of achieving 10 consecutive wins."
Furthermore, he noted, "Our audience judges recruited each time are composed of different individuals, and they're all decisive. Their musical appreciation is unusually high, and they make sharp choices when judging. They are quite unforgiving, it seems. In the past, we had a tendency to eliminate contestants whose voices seemed familiar. For instance, K.Will, renowned for his singing, was eliminated as he could not conceal his voice. Former king Kim Yeon-woo mentioned that he was more concerned about hiding his voice back then, but the audience's reactions have changed. Individual judgments regarding whether the stage is good or not have become more accurate. Every effort is made to select the best performance as the winner."
To satisfy the discerning taste of the sharp general audience and viewers, is there a participant who hasn't made it to the list of 2079 that the production team wants to recruit? Jang Hyo-jong expressed, "Personally, I really want to have Moon Myung-jin join us." He added, "There are still individuals like Park Jung-hyun whom I haven’t met, and I always have the desire to see those who would be regarded as 'kings worthy of being kings' in the eyes of viewers who remember the time of 'I Am a Singer'. If the opportunity arises, I would love to bring 'Kim Na Park' (Kim Bum-soo, Naul, Park Hyo-shin) as well. We are certainly not closed off to casting under any circumstances. Someday, I hope to showcase their performances on 'King of Mask Singer.'"
'King of Mask Singer', sold in 57 countries for its format. Jang Hyo-jong expressed his surprise, "Recently, the format was sold to India as well. They reached out to our MBC distribution department inquiring about how to maintain security and requested production manuals and such." He noted that he received congratulatory messages celebrating the 10th anniversary of 'King of Mask Singer' from local production teams in countries currently airing the show, such as the U.S. and Northern Europe.
Additionally, with a design team creating eight masks for each recording and a production team that has meticulously gathered detailed information for 10 years, Jang Hyo-jong continually expressed gratitude.
Among them, his affection for the panel of celebrity judges who have consistently been present for 10 years stood out significantly. Jang Hyo-jong remarked, "Yoo Young-seok possesses an extraordinary love and passion for music. Whenever talented singers are present, he gets excited like a child." He continued, "Considering how long they have worked on this program, one might expect the judges to become complacent, but they excitedly engage in discussions every recording, eagerly debating whether option 1 or option 2 is better. Everyone has deep musical insight, and it is remarkable that they do not find that time boring; rather, they approach it with even more passion."
He continued, "Kim Gu-ra has an incredible intuition. While listening to his comments, it seems he wears sunglasses and cannot see well, yet how does he know so much? The production team is often astonished by his deductions, as he has a vast knowledge and is well-versed, making him a pillar of the judging panel."
Particularly, Jang Hyo-jong praised MC Kim Seong-joo, stating, "Kim Seong-joo is truly an excellent MC. He spontaneously provided insights about our audience, saying, 'We have gathered 400 audience members, and the staff, including the celebrity judging panel, is about 100, so we are celebrating the 10th anniversary and the 500th episode with 500 people.' Our production team hadn't even thought that far, but his ability to proffer such information on the spot showcased why he is a renowned MC and an essential figure in maintaining the 10th anniversary of 'King of Mask Singer.'"
The efforts of these participants have resulted in 'King of Mask Singer' establishing itself as a long-running variety show capable of satisfying a wide audience. Jang Hyo-jong stated, "As we prepared for this 10th anniversary, I realized once again that 'King of Mask Singer' is an exceptionally well-structured program. Through the accumulation of revisions, supplements, and data by the production crew and guests who have passed through this program, it has become a program that truly does not require any further adjustment."
He mentioned, "I understand that the trend in entertainment nowadays is not one where people wait for a schedule to watch a show. Each viewer has specific preferences for programs that are often clearly defined by age and gender. Many programs are following that trend. However, 'King of Mask Singer' has become a program that everyone can enjoy without discomfort over the 10 years. From the 10-year-old grandson to the 70-year-old grandfather, people should be able to watch and talk about it together, and 'King of Mask Singer' should embody such a program."
Most importantly, Jang Hyo-jong emphasized, "Since our program is primarily about determining the 'king' through competition, the outcome is naturally significant. However, I have heard many masked singers express that the most valuable aspect is being able to deliver a perfect stage based solely on their voice on a Sunday evening program watched by a diverse audience. Ultimately, the heartfelt performances of those who take the stage resonate most deeply with viewers."
In response, he said, "Hearing such statements makes me feel that as a PD, there is absolutely no room for complacency. I, too, tend to pay the most attention to the stages where kings will be born, always wanting to add even one more element. Moreover, these moments are accompanied by the pure interest of the general audience judges, who care about the music and 'King of Mask Singer' stage. Our recordings typically start at 3 p.m. on Tuesday and often finish past midnight. There are 10-minute breaks for meals and relaxation, yet the audience judges never seem to tire. They consistently cheer on until the end, and such responses from the audience have often become pivotal moments for them as masked singers."
Starting from a pilot program and transitioning to a regular program, reaching the 500th episode recognized in 57 countries, completed with collective intelligence, the masked singers who sincerely wore their masks, totaling 2079 individuals, and the judges who gathered to purely listen to the music from the preliminary rounds to the king selection. These are the main figures that filled the 10th anniversary of 'King of Mask Singer'. The dedication of the production team, ensuring those moments are not forgotten, makes us look forward to another 10 years of 'King of Mask Singer.'
[Photo] Provided by MBC.
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