The competition on TV CHOSUN’s ‘Miss Trot 4’ has reached a fever pitch, with the latest episode on February 12, 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the race to the finals. Now in its 9th episode, the show’s 16 remaining contestants faced off in the much-anticipated fourth main round, known as the ‘Legendary Mission.’ The stakes? A coveted spot in the Top 10 and a step closer to the ultimate crown of Korea’s next trot star.
The episode kicked off with the announcement of the 6th week’s national viewer voting results, which had fans buzzing with anticipation. According to a report by etoday, the public voting, which ran from February 5 to the morning of February 12, saw Hong Seong-yoon clinching 1st place for the first time—a significant shakeup in the competition. Lee So-na, who had been sitting in 4th place the previous week, made a remarkable leap to 2nd place. Meanwhile, long-time frontrunner Gil Ryeo-won slipped to 3rd, while Yoon Yoon-seo and Yoon Tae-hwa rounded out the top five.
Voting for ‘Miss Trot 4’ remains a daily ritual for fans, conducted via Naver, where viewers can cast their support for up to five contestants each day. This engagement has become a central part of the show’s dynamic, amplifying the stakes as each week passes. As bnt News also confirmed, the exact ranking for the 6th week placed Hong Seong-yoon, Lee So-na, Gil Ryeo-won, Yoon Yoon-seo, and Yoon Tae-hwa in the top five slots, cementing their status as fan favorites—at least for now.
But popularity with viewers is only half the battle. The real drama unfolded on stage during the 1st round of the 4th main event, a one-song battle that tested not just vocal prowess but also stage presence and emotional delivery. In this round, each pair of contestants performed a legendary trot song together, vying for a share of 250 points awarded by the show’s masters—a panel featuring some of the biggest names in the genre, including Kim Soo-hee, Choi Jin-hee, Kim Yeon-ja, and Kim Yong-im.
As reported by Nate News, the one-song battle format meant that only one contestant from each pair could truly shine. The highest score of the night went to Gil Ryeo-won, who dazzled both the judges and the audience with a near-perfect performance, earning an impressive 240 points. Her opponent, Kim Hye-jin, managed just 10 points, landing at the bottom of the rankings and facing potential elimination.
The full results of the round reflected the fierce competition: Gil Ryeo-won led with 240 points, followed by Hong Seong-yoon at 225, Heo Chan-mi at 185, Jung Hye-rin at 170, Yoon Tae-hwa at 160, Yeom Yu-ri at 136, Lee So-na at 130, and a tie for 8th between Yoon Yoon-seo and Jeok Woo at 125. Kim Da-na squeaked into 10th place with 120 points, securing a spot in the next round. However, for Lee El-ya, who finished 11th with 115 points—just five points shy of the cutoff—the journey appeared to be over, at least for now.
Yet, as etoday pointed out, these 1st round scores aren’t the final word. The upcoming individual round and the addition of national representative votes could still shake up the rankings. The Top 10 will only be confirmed after next week’s performances, keeping both contestants and fans on the edge of their seats.
The episode also featured some particularly emotional and memorable performances. One standout was the battle between two seasoned veterans: Yoon Tae-hwa, with 18 years in the trot industry, and Yumi, a ballad singer of 25 years. According to Seoul List, Yoon Tae-hwa declared, “I’ve walked the trot path for 18 years. I don’t want to think of it as wasted time, and I’m not going to stop here. I want to show you the stage of my trot life right now.” Yumi, not to be outdone, shared her own determination: “I’m still thirsty for the stage. I can’t step down like this. I grew up listening to the songs of legends since elementary school. Today, I’ll prove that time.” The two delivered a duet of Choi Jin-hee’s classic ‘Love Maze,’ blending their voices in a performance that showcased both technical skill and heartfelt emotion.
The structure of the competition itself has added layers of suspense. As detailed by TopStarNews, the 4th round’s ‘Legendary Mission’ is designed to push contestants to their limits, with only legendary songs allowed and the masters, national representatives, and even the legends themselves casting votes. The binary voting system—where each judge can only pick one of the two performers—means every note, gesture, and nuance counts. The pairs for this round included high-stakes matchups like Hong Seong-yoon vs. Kim San-ha, Kim Hye-jin vs. Gil Ryeo-won, Lee El-ya vs. Yeom Yu-ri, and, of course, Yoon Tae-hwa vs. Yumi.
The episode also marked the end of the road for several contestants. Those who advanced to the 4th round—Kim Hye-jin, Yoon Yoon-seo, Lee So-na, Jeok Woo, Chae Yoon, Jung Hye-rin, Heo Chan-mi, Hong Seong-yoon, Kim San-ha, Yeom Yu-ri, Jang Hye-ri, Gil Ryeo-won, Kim Da-na, Yoon Tae-hwa, Yumi, and Lee El-ya—had previously survived intense elimination rounds. Meanwhile, Kim Yu-ri, Bae Seo-yeon, Won Ha-yeon, Yoo Soo-bi, Kang Bo-kyung, Lee Se-young, Shin Hyun-ji, Wan Yi-hwa, and Lee Ji-na were eliminated earlier, underscoring just how tough the competition has become.
For those following at home, ‘Miss Trot 4’ continues to air every Thursday at 10 PM and is available on multiple OTT platforms, including Wave, TVING, Chijijik, and Netflix. Public voting remains open, accessible by searching ‘미스트롯4 투표하기’ online—a testament to the show’s interactive appeal and the passionate fan base it has cultivated.
As the competition barrels toward the semifinals, the only certainty is that no one’s place is guaranteed. With the next round promising even more twists, the journey to crown the next trot superstar is far from over—and fans wouldn’t have it any other way.