On the evening of February 21, 2026, the airwaves of KBS2 came alive with the 745th episode of Immortal Songs, a long-running music program beloved by fans across South Korea. This particular broadcast was no ordinary installment—it was the much-anticipated 'Artist Seol Woon-do Special,' a two-part celebration marking the 44th anniversary of Seol Woon-do’s remarkable career as a singer, songwriter, and mentor in the world of trot music.
The stage was set for a dazzling tribute, with ten teams of junior artists lined up to reinterpret Seol Woon-do’s classic hits. The roster read like a who’s who of rising stars and established talents: Son Tae-jin, Jadu, Kim Soo-chan, Lee Seung-hyun, LUN8, Cheon Rok-dam, D82, Jeon Yu-jin, the musical duo Kim So-hyang & Yoon Hyung-ryeol, and Park Seo-jin. Each brought their own style to the table, ready to compete for the title of next-generation legend under the watchful eye of the master himself.
But before a single note was sung, the backstage area was already buzzing with drama—and plenty of laughter. According to multiple outlets including Newsen and MHN, a playful “family feud” broke out among Seol Woon-do’s so-called ‘adopted son’ Son Tae-jin, ‘adopted daughter’ Jeon Yu-jin, and ‘biological son’ Lee Seung-hyun. The reason? Seol Woon-do’s affection, symbolized by a particularly precious gift: a turtle-shaped suseok, or ornamental stone, from his personal collection.
Son Tae-jin, beaming with pride, revealed, “The teacher told me that only two people have ever received a suseok from him: me and Im Young-woong.” The atmosphere in the room shifted as Lee Seung-hyun, Seol Woon-do’s real son, shot up from his seat and exclaimed, “That’s really from my father’s villa! He won’t even let me touch it!” The playful rivalry drew chuckles from all present, with Jeon Yu-jin, dubbed the ‘adopted daughter,’ jumping in to declare her own ambition: “I’ve never received a suseok from Seol Woon-do. My goal today is to get one.”
As the banter continued, the competitive spirit only intensified. Son Tae-jin and Jeon Yu-jin, once known as the ‘Trot Trendy Jinjin Siblings,’ now found themselves as friendly rivals, each determined to outshine the other on stage. Jeon Yu-jin chose to perform ‘Samba Woman,’ promising, “I’ve never shown a performance on Immortal Songs before. Today, I’m going full diva.” Son Tae-jin, not to be outdone, replied, “I prepared a performance too. If I can beat Yu-jin with my performance, I’ll tease her about it for a year!” The stakes, at least in terms of pride, had never been higher.
Of course, the friendly jabs and jokes were just one part of the evening’s appeal. The episode also highlighted the deep respect and camaraderie among the artists. Park Seo-jin, affectionately called the ‘God of Janggu,’ drew laughs when he revealed the secret to his ever-improving looks: “I put aside part of my performance fees for cosmetic surgery.” When MC Lee Chan-won joked about spotting Park in Seoul’s trendy neighborhoods, Park quipped, “I have a father in Cheongdam and another in Garosu-gil,” referring humorously to his cosmetic surgeons. Yet, when it came to his artistry, Park was all sincerity, sharing, “I once asked Seol Woon-do for advice about playing the janggu, and he told me, ‘If you want to do it, you should.’ That encouragement brought me this far.”
Meanwhile, the competition on stage was fierce. The performers split into two camps: the ‘trot faction’ led by Kim Soo-chan and the ‘other genres faction’ captained by Jadu. Kim Soo-chan, ever the showman, wowed both audience and peers with spot-on impersonations of legendary singers, including Seol Woon-do himself. Even Lee Seung-hyun had to admit, “He’s got it,” when Kim nailed his father’s vocal style. Jadu, for her part, countered with unique performances that highlighted the diversity of musical genres on display.
Lee Seung-hyun, who returned to Immortal Songs after an 11-year hiatus since the show’s family special, found himself the subject of some good-natured ribbing over accusations of nepotism. When Kim Soo-chan joked, “Isn’t this favoritism?” Lee firmly denied any special treatment, insisting, “I once asked my father to look at my singing, and I almost died. He’s strict to a fault.” Lee also shared that his mother, Seol Woon-do’s wife, had written lyrics for nearly all of his father’s songs and had even made his stage costume for the night—an impressive family effort by any measure.
The episode’s emotional high point came courtesy of Cheon Rok-dam, who opened the night’s performances with a heartfelt rendition of ‘Is This What Love Is,’ a song penned by Seol Woon-do’s wife. Wearing a ring from the early days of their relationship, Cheon dedicated the song to his own wife, saying, “I put her through a lot when we first met. I want to sing this beautifully, thinking of those times. Honey, I love you—fighting!” The sincerity in his voice and the sparkle in his performance set the tone for an evening filled with both nostalgia and fresh energy.
Throughout the night, Seol Woon-do’s legacy was everywhere: in the songs, in the stories, and in the obvious affection between mentor and mentees. The man himself took to the stage for a special performance of his hit ‘Last Love,’ leaving many in the audience visibly moved. As Gukje News reported, the tribute was a fitting testament to a career that has inspired generations of singers—some of whom, like Im Young-woong and Son Tae-jin, have even received the rare honor of a suseok from Seol Woon-do’s prized collection.
The ‘Artist Seol Woon-do Special’ spanned two weeks, with the second part airing on February 28, 2026. Each Saturday at 6:05 PM, viewers tuned in not just for the music but for the sense of community, history, and playful rivalry that makes Immortal Songs a staple of Korean television. And as the curtain fell on another memorable episode, it was clear that the search for the next trot legend—guided by the steady hand of Seol Woon-do—was as vibrant, warm, and competitive as ever.
With laughter, heartfelt performances, and a few coveted stones exchanged, the night proved that, in the world of trot, family is as much about spirit as it is about blood.