[Sportschosun Lee Woo-joo] On KBS2's "Immortal Songs," Cheon Rok-dam will share how he overcame his battle with renal cell carcinoma.
KBS2's "Immortal Songs" is a flagship music variety show that has continued its history for more than 700 episodes. The 762nd episode, airing today (the 27th), is the second part of the special "Trot Best Friends King of Kings" edition. Following the heated first part featuring Kim Na-hee x Miss Kim, Han Hye-jin x Park Hyun-ho, Lee So-na x Hong Seong-yoon, Hwanhee x Choi Su-ho, and Shin Seung-tae x Kim Junsu, the new lineup of Kim Yong-bin x Son Bin-a x Choo Hyeok-jin, Kim Beom-ryong x Jin Simon, Jeong Geun-woo x Park Gu-yoon x Kim Soo-chan, Jo Hye-ryeon x Shin Sung, and Cheon Rok-dam x Chun-gil is raising expectations.
Among them, Cheon Rok-dam and Chun-gil, who have transformed from ballad powerhouses that dominated the 2000s into rising stars in trot, are drawing attention by forming a duo. Cheon Rok-dam said, "Our team name is 'Chuncheon Imo,'" explaining that it combines Chun-gil, Cheon Rok-dam, Lee Jeong, and Moses. As surprised reactions broke out at the unusual name, he added, "We're aiming to become ambassadors for Chuncheon," drawing laughter.
Lee Chan-won also showed his fanboy side toward the two, catching viewers' attention. He said, "You two may be trot newcomers now, but 20 years ago you were the ones sweeping the hearts of many men. I kept Moses's songs as my mini-homepage BGM for a long time." Then he added, "Is today's stage 'Cheon Rok-dam and Chun-gil' or 'Lee Jeong and Moses'?" expressing his curiosity. Chun-gil responded, "Today, the former Lee Jeong x Moses and the current Cheon Rok-dam x Chun-gil will come together on one stage. It will be a performance that feels like four people even though there are only two," and teased a hybrid ballad-and-trot stage with Cho Yong-pil's classic "One-Hearted Dandelion," heightening excitement.
Most of all, Cheon Rok-dam and Chun-gil will open up about the meaning of their unusual friendship. Beyond their shared move from ballad to trot, the two have grown even closer because they each faced life-threatening moments around the same time, with Lee Jeong battling stage 1 renal cell carcinoma and Chun-gil suffering from ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Cheon Rok-dam said, "I think of it as a life given to us as a bonus. There is nothing we can't do," revealing how he feels after overcoming illness. Chun-gil added, "He is a dependable partner as I walk a new path in trot. It feels like the two of us have become trot itself," showing off their deep bond.
Attention is now focused on what kind of stage Cheon Rok-dam and Chun-gil will deliver with "One-Hearted Dandelion," as they pour both sincerity and a wide musical range into the performance.
Meanwhile, the second part of the "Immortal Songs - Trot Best Friends King of Kings" special airs today (the 27th). "Immortal Songs," which continues to produce legendary performances worth watching again and again, airs every Saturday at 6:05 p.m. on KBS 2TV.
wjlee@sportschosun.com
