Tension during filming… Asking a senior in the entertainment industry, 16 years his senior, "Shall we have a vocabulary battle?" ('Manly Man')
Singer Zico retaliated against the persistent criticism from his senior in the entertainment industry, Kim Jong-kook. The two, who had been bickering during their trip to Taiwan, engaged in a war of nerves, even hinting at a vocabulary battle. Zico was born in 1992, while Kim Jong-kook was born in 1976, making a 16-year age difference between them.
The third episode of SBS Plus and MBN's "Real Man's Travel Method in Taiwan," which aired on the 20th, revealed scenes of Choo Sung-hoon, Kim Jong-kook, and Zico traveling together and engaging in a playful war of nerves.
The three enjoyed a meal while watching a national soccer match at their accommodation. Kim Jong-kook, engrossed in the game, disagreed with Choo Sung-hoon regarding the way to eat bibim-myeon (spicy mixed noodles). The squabble between the two, which began over a trivial issue, extended to Zico. Kim Jong-kook repeatedly pointed out the vocabulary Zico used. In response, Zico attempted a petty revenge using a duck egg, and eventually staged an act of insubordination by saying, "Shall we have a vocabulary battle?" Laughter erupted at the counterattack from the youngest member, who had been playing along with his older brothers' teasing.
However, when the South Korean national soccer team scored the winning goal, the three of them cheered together as if nothing had happened. They appeared even more excited about the match result, as the "bird fortune telling" they had experienced earlier in Taiwan had predicted the appearance of a benefactor for victory. Choo Sung-hoon visited a local hair salon to get a shampoo and scalp massage. Although he felt a bit awkward with his new hairstyle, he expressed satisfaction as local citizens continued to ask for photos, saying, "I'm popular with middle-aged women these days."
The war of nerves between the three continued even in the car. When Choo Sung-hoon warned Kim Jong-kook, who had taken his seatbelt, "You better behave yourself," Zico joined in, remarking, "He was indeed authoritarian." Amidst the playful atmosphere, Choo Sung-hoon also shared a serious story. Approaching retirement, he explained to Zico the reason he has pursued mixed martial arts for so long, saying, "I can never forget the feeling that rises at the moment of victory."