Mr. Trot 4 Masters: Lee Chan-won and 5 Former Contestants Return as Judges
The singers who once stood nervously in front of the judges are now the judges. On October 19, TV Chosun announced the six “masters” for Mr. Trot 4, and every one of them is a former Mr. Trot contestant — led by Lee Chan-won.
What is Mr. Trot?
Mr. Trot is TV Chosun’s audition show for male singers of trot, Korea’s oldest pop genre, known for its distinctive vibrato and rhythm. The first season in 2020 became a ratings phenomenon and turned its finalists into household names. On the show, the judging panel is called the “masters.”
The six Mr. Trot 4 masters
- Lee Chan-won — 3rd place, Mr. Trot season 1 (2020)
- Kim Hee-jae — Top 7, season 1
- Ahn Sung-hoon — winner, season 2
- Park Ji-hyun — runner-up, season 2
- Kim Yong-bin — winner, season 3
- Son Bin-a — runner-up, season 3
From contestant to judge
Six years ago Lee Chan-won was the one listening to the judges’ comments; this time he will be giving them. Ahn Sung-hoon’s story may be the most relatable for new contestants: he was eliminated in season 1, came back, and won season 2. Having experienced both failure and victory, how he judges the newcomers will be one of the things to watch.
Kim Yong-bin, the season 3 winner, makes the fastest jump of all — from being judged in the latest season to sitting at the judges’ table, together with his season 3 runner-up Son Bin-a.
When does Mr. Trot 4 air?
Mr. Trot 4 is scheduled to premiere on TV Chosun in December. With stars from all three previous seasons on one panel, the question now is who will become the show’s next breakout name.
Photo credits — Lee Chan-won (2023): SBS Radio 에라오 / CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Photos are file images and were not taken at the event described.
