Sung Si-kyung Firmly Rejects SORAN's 'Samajoe Challenge' Request, Saying "A Senior Can Refuse"

Singer Sung Si-kyung added variety-show entertainment by firmly declining a challenge request from the junior group SORAN.

In the broadcast of KBS 2TV's 'The Seasons - Sung Si-kyung, Your Eardrum Boyfriend' aired on September 18, 2026, a conversation between the guests SORAN and MC Sung Si-kyung was revealed. In the video, SORAN requested Sung Si-kyung to participate in the recently trending 'Samajoe Challenge', but Sung Si-kyung immediately refused, stating his position as a senior.

"A Senior Can Refuse" Sung Si-kyung's Firm Rejection of the Challenge

SORAN proposed participating in the 'Samajoe Challenge' to Sung Si-kyung, but he refused them to their faces. Through the conversation in the video, Sung Si-kyung stated that a senior can refuse, implying that juniors have the right to cling to and make requests of their seniors at any time. He also added a technical reason, noting that the vocal range of the song is so high that it is difficult to handle even with falsetto.

Sung Si-kyung also mentioned the culture of challenges. He said that while challenges have the nature of 'pumasi' (mutual aid) where people exchange requests, if the requests exceed 50 teams, it can become a 'debt'. He continued with a joking remark that he is a "clean body" with no debt because he has not yet failed to refuse challenge requests.

SORAN's Confession, "We Learned to Sing by Copying Sung Si-kyung's Songs"

In the following conversation, SORAN expressed musical respect by mentioning their connection with Sung Si-kyung. SORAN revealed that they never formally learned singing and built their skills through practice after their debut. In particular, they shared the experience of enjoying and copying Sung Si-kyung's songs while listening to 'We Were Simple, We Were Happy', a track included in an album by Toy.

SORAN shared that during their third year of high school, they practiced things like vibrato by singing along to Sung Si-kyung's songs. In response, Sung Si-kyung mentioned the process of those who have not received formal training finding their own style by copying songs, and replied that he was truly honored by the juniors' confession.