Hong Ji-yun wins MBN Hyunyeok Gawang 3 with 3,727 points, takes 100M won prize

Hong Ji-yun is the third-generation Hyunyeok Gawang. MBN's final episode aired March 10, 2026. She scored 3,727 points out of 4,000, enough for the crown, 100 million won in prize money, and domestic and international tour benefits.

The 31-year-old, born March 3, 1995, is signed to Choi Creative Lab. She'd placed on TV Chosun's Miss Trot 2 and spent Hyunyeok Gawang 3's preliminary rounds as the ace of team Nurungji Caramel before winning the whole thing. After the broadcast wrapped, she joined the Korea-Japan King of Trot match and a run of gala shows. The Top 10 Seoul Concert put her on the Kyung Hee University Peace Hall stage twice in one day. A nationwide tour followed.

Her discography heading into the win spanned Sori-kkot 3-jang (2021), Sarang-ui Yeowang (2022), Watjiyun (2023), first full-length album Jiyun is... (September 18, 2023), Gaboja GO (2024), Eoneu Haneul-e Eoneu Bada-e (2024), and Garilang (April 25, 2025).

"This award is not mine alone but thanks to viewers, fans, staff, and family," she said after the win. She pledged to become a more developed musician going forward. (She did lose a camera while trying to vlog the whole thing, which tracks.)