Park Ji-hyun recreates 'Aesang' with Joy and Seo Bum-soo... by a margin of just one vote
Park Ji-hyun, along with Joy and Seo Bum-jun, won the Grand Prize by perfectly recreating Cool's "Aesang" during the 'I Live Alone' talent show.
'Cooling Cooling' Delivers a Refreshing Summer Stage
Singer Park Ji-hyun showcased a surprising charm, completely different from his usual trot performances. During the '1st Rainbow Summer Retreat' talent show segment aired on MBC's 'I Live Alone' on July 10, Park Ji-hyun formed the maknae-line unit 'Cooling Cooling' alongside Red Velvet's Joy and actor Seo Bum-jun. They performed the representative song 'Aesang' by the group Cool.
The three did not stop at simply singing. To ensure perfect stage quality, they showed great passion by pre-recording their vocals to fine-tune the details. In the actual performance, they boasted high synchronization, featuring vocals that captured the refreshing sensibility of the original song and perfectly synchronized choreography. In particular, Park Ji-hyun anchored the team with his signature powerful high notes and stable singing ability.
In the results announcement following the performance, 'Cooling Cooling' engaged in a fierce battle with Team Da-be-imo. Although they narrowly missed the Grand Prize by just one vote, they ultimately secured the Excellence Award (2nd place), gaining recognition for the quality of their performance.
"He looks like Lee Jae-hoon" Rainbow members pour out praise
Park Ji-hyun's performance was enough to surprise the Rainbow members present on set, as he proved a musical spectrum different from the image he has shown as a trot singer. Watching the stage, the members collectively praised him, saying, "He's similar to Lee Jae-hoon" and "He's not just good at trot." Park Kyung-hye, while rewatching the performance via VCR, expressed wonder at Park Ji-hyun's vocal skills, asking, "Is hitting high notes that easy?"
Park Ji-hyun was evaluated to have heightened the fun of the talent show through his solid performance and teamwork. Although he missed the Grand Prize, he once again imprinted his wide musical range as a singer through this stage.
Joy: Bright energy behind the scenes and recent updates
Joy of Red Velvet, one of the main pillars of this unit activity, shared the joyful atmosphere of the stage preparation process. Through her social media, Joy revealed a waiting room photo with her members, all wearing matching yellow outfits. Wearing a blue hat paired with a yellow top and making a V-sign, Joy expressed her affection for her colleagues by writing, "It's Cooling Cooling Jijo-beom-ip-ni-da. Before the Cooling Cooling stage, my popular bag, my popular bag 2, Rainbow night, Ji-hyun oppa, Beom-jun, thank you. Cooling Cooling is the best."
Having debuted in 2014 with 'Happiness,' Joy has led numerous hits such as 'Red Flavor' as Red Velvet's lead rapper and sub-vocalist. Beyond group activities, she also proved her capabilities as a soloist by reinterpreting remake songs with her unique tone through the 2021 special album 'Hello.' With her first mini-album activities ahead in 2025, this unit activity through the variety show provided a unique joy to her fans.
The power of 'I Live Alone' recording 6.9% viewership rating
The episode of 'I Live Alone' aired that day recorded a 6.9% viewership rating in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking first among Friday variety programs. The 2054 viewership rating, a key indicator of channel competitiveness, also hit 4.1%, the highest among Friday variety programs in the same time slot. In particular, the scene where cast member Yuri made 'Myeongnan Tot Pot Rice' using hijiki hand-picked from the Jeju sea and butter-grilled pollack roe captured viewers' attention, with the rating soaring to a peak of 8.9%.
